By  Kiran Damodaran ’17, Rakhi Kundra ’17, Jocelyn Tolpin ’17, Editors-in-Chief 

Another school year has come and gone, leaving memories and accomplishments in its wake, but also bringing the farewell of many beloved teachers and friends.  On May 26th, the entire Newark Academy student body and faculty let out a collective sigh of relief as another academic year came to a close.  Bittersweet celebrations occurred throughout the school– great excitement could be seen as middle school girls took pictures in the courtyards, cake was served in the cafeteria, and students ceremonially recycled papers and textbooks, but there was also a sense of relinquishment as we celebrated those who are leaving: Mr. Ball, Mr. Scerra, Ms. Rode, Ms. Ma, Ms. Addison, and the class of 2016.  

The 2015-2016 school year was yet another successful year to record in the books, as there were various impressive accomplishments in our sports, arts, and academic programs.  The NA athletic program was met with great victory as the girls tennis, boys soccer, boys cross country, boys tennis, and boys track and field teams all won their respective state championships, not to mention the incredible individual success of many athletes and almost impeccable records of the girls basketball and girls track and field teams.

Our creative writing program grew exponentially this year as well with 28 students bringing home a record 78 Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, including 22 regional gold keys, two national silver medals, and one national gold medal, in one of the most cutthroat writing competitions in the nation. These accomplishments came amid a number of other impressive writing publications and contest successes.  And it doesn’t stop there; NA’s music programs shined once again as Chameleon won the state competition for the 7th year in a row while two of their bands placed 2nd in the Berklee College High School Jazz Festival, and Academy Voices won the Big Apple Choral Competition in New York City.  

Nonetheless, as we embark upon June term and a well-deserved break from the rigor of five subjects worth of schoolwork, not everything is as calm as it seems. Although an aura of relief seems to pervade the halls, “summer” doesn’t necessarily spell relaxation for all Newark Academy students.

It’s no secret; Newark Academy, like many extremely competitive schools across the country, likes thinking about college. We like talking, worrying, and in general caring about college, and regardless of how much we say we “hate” talking about college, it remains one of the most oft-discussed topics in the school. Regardless of whether it is a good or bad thing, this discussion more often than not continues into summer.

While this obsession with college is natural for rising seniors, as a result of the emphasis on early college intervention, more and more freshmen and sophomores are beginning to worry about and focus on college during what should be the most relaxing time of the year. As early as prior to freshman year, students will be spending their summers taking courses to advance them in school so their transcripts look more impressive to colleges. Rising juniors are likely becoming obsessed with standardized testing while rising seniors visit colleges.

For many of us, summer does not signify the end of stress or work and in fact offers an opportunity for more intense study. It is no secret that college has become more competitive; so does that justify this hyperfocus on college, even in summer? Is it a necessary evil?

As we send off yet another group of seniors to elite universities this year, the answer would appear to be that yes, this focus is justified. Having a goal in mind, or at least knowing that at the end of the high school tunnel there will be the likely possibility of college, can motivate students to work hard while in high school, thus preparing them for college and pushing them towards new interests. At the same time, however, many people get attached to a “dream school” with extremely high academic standards, and particularly when applying to these schools, even the most qualified student is playing a lottery. This situation breeds a stressful environment in which students are constantly worrying that they won’t be good enough for their top colleges; there’s a reason that programs like “Harvard Summer School” have grown in prevalence.

But is all of this summer work worth it? Might a summer of relaxation that allows you to return to the next year rejuvenated be just as beneficial? Unfortunately, as more and more students devote their summers to college preparation, it becomes less of an advantage for those that do participate in these activities and more of a disadvantage for those that do not participate. However, maybe it is time we challenge the widespread assumption across Newark Academy and other competitive prep schools that our activities should directly translate to our college application. The obsession with college admissions far too often makes summer just another step in the college process, rather than an enjoyable, important experience in itself. Newark Academy is full of bright young individuals with a multitude of interests. Summer is a time to relax, and even more so to pursue these interests and opportunities, whatever they may be, that we are unable to pursue during the school year. As the school year comes to a close and we send off another batch of seniors, and along with them some of our finest teachers, let us remember this message: take healthy risks, relax a little, and most importantly, have fun this summer!