By Kaya Patel ‘22, Editor-in-Chief

I remember my Accepted Students Night quite vividly. When Mr. Ashburn gathered all of the incoming 6th graders, he asked, “Who can tell me what year you’ll graduate from Newark Academy?” Many students quickly did the math in their heads and screamed “2022!” Mr. Ashburn continued, “That’s right. Welcome to the Class of 2022!” I recall thinking at the time, “2022? That’s such a long time from now…” Little did I know how fast that time would go. 

As I’ve spent my final weeks at Newark Academy, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on what the past seven years have meant to me. Recently in the CIA program, I’ve reminisced about my first classes at Newark Academy and all the small moments and individuals that shaped my time here. When helping students with their atom projects and 3D-printed sustainable city designs, I was immediately transported back to my fond memories of sixth grade science. I found myself reliving many of my early experiences at NA through my conversations with the students and my work in the classroom. I thought back to wiping the bathroom with bread on the first day of school and collecting water samples in the NA pond, and I pictured these moments as if no time had passed. However, as I observed these students working on projects that I once did, I also realized how much the school has changed since I was a sixth grader. 

Throughout my seven years, I witnessed the creation of a new Middle School from the ground up, the renovation of the Coraci Performance Hall, the expansion of the dining hall (twice!), and the transformation of the old Middle School into a series of physics classrooms and the College Office. When I think back at how much the school building has changed, I’m reminded of core memories like Middle School Moving Day, where we spent the whole day helping teachers set up their new classrooms, or Morning Meetings in the gym while the auditorium was under construction. These experiences, although seemingly unimportant, were small instances that attest to how NA’s vibrant community extends beyond the building walls. In moments like these, the community joined together in unexpected situations and made the most of our time together. Sometimes when I play card games in the College Office during lunch, I grin as I recall the days when it was once the Middle School Office, where I would hang out and play puzzles with friends at Mr. Rezvani’s desk. Ironically, despite the complete transformation of this space’s purpose, its culture remains the same in my heart. Although the physical appearances and schedules have evolved and teachers have come and gone over the last seven years, the essence and community of NA never changes. 

So what did I learn from all of this reflecting? Well, over the past seven years, NA has given me a community that has inspired my passions, supported my wellbeing, and fostered my love of learning. Beyond the academic knowledge, passion, and life skills that I’ve gained, this year in particular has reminded me of how special the NA community truly is. Through morning small talk and card games in the College Office and conversations on the Senior Mountain Day trail, I realized that there are so many people in my grade who I never really got to know before this year but have impacted our community in many different ways. As I now see, time moves fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in our own chaotic lives. Yet, when you take the time to get to know the people around you, you’ll find that NA is filled with extremely talented and inspiring individuals with unique backgrounds and experiences. 

So yes, if you want advice on how to do well in APUSH or how to pick a good topic for your IB Chemistry IA, I can gladly help you after my seven years of experience at this school. I can persuade you to join certain clubs and activities or take certain classes, but in the end, all I can hope is that you make the most of your time at NA and embrace this amazing community you are a part of. Before you know it, the time will have passed, and you’ll be graduating just like me.