The Coolest Thing I've Done At CSW Was ...

"…learn to take risks. After an art class in my freshman year, I had scheduled a meeting with my teacher and advisor to discuss a grade I had not been satisfied with. I felt that my work had deserved a more acknowledging grade. Upon discussing this with my teacher, I realized something that has stuck with me ever since: the assignment had not just been about the final product, but about the decisions that I made along the way. I had chosen something I felt familiar and safe with, and although my teacher liked the finished product, she made me realize how much more I may have learned by taking a risk. That discussion allowed me to see that while having an introverted and comfortable attitude may still produce a pleasant result, I can learn far more by putting myself in a place where I have never been before." - Sarang, 11th grade (Sherborn, Mass.)

"…going to the court house with Doug Healey's class"
- Cordelia, 11th grade (Cambridge, Mass.)

"…creating an installation that I've wanted to create since freshman year and have it be so well received that it remained up for far longer than it was supposed to."
- Jennifer, 12th grade (Lexington , Mass.)

"…being a teacher’s assistant for a photography class, [taking] an early childhood class, voting in a assembly dance-a-thon and seeing the science building's bunny play soccer."
- Nina, 11th grade (Cambridge, Mass.)

"…going to Costa Rica and Panama [with the Ecology and Culture in the Neotropics of Latin America, an off-campus class].
- Jackson, 12th grade (Bedford and Somerville, Mass.)

"…helping out in the [CSW] kitchen, collecting organisms from vernal pools with my zoology class, and the trip to the nursing home with fellow boarding students."
- Katie, 11th grader (Millis, Mass.)

"…assistant directing the major productions has been unbelievable. It's another example of being able to accomplish whatever you want—I have a real role as assistant director. I am not just a stage manager. I talk with Robin (the director) about blocking, I disagree with her, she listens to me, she disagrees with me, I listen to her-it's a dialog. I am put in charge of a group of actors and I have to work with them, and they respect me. It's like presenting a motion to town meeting, and you get the feeling that everyone there is going to listen to you because you have something to say, and because they know that if they were up there speaking, you would be listening to them."
- Sam, 11th grade (Weston, Mass.)

"…creating my own [D-Block] Origami class to teach my friends. Totally challenging, but a good time."
- Ji-Hyun, 11th grade (Seoul, South Korea)

"…writing a paper comparing a Public Enemy song to the philosopher Paulo Friere."
- Isabel 12th grade (Cambridge, Mass.)

"…taking an opera workshop. I entered the class not knowing much about opera or my voice. By the end of the mod, not only did I know quite a bit about Mozart, but I knew how to sing opera pieces that most people don't know until they're in college."
- Celina, 9th grade (New Haven, Conn.)

"…taking the Experiments in Nonfiction writing class taught by Ted Munter. It was only a one mod class but I learned more about writing in that one class than I had my entire middle school career, and I adored it. The other thing is that for the battle of the bands, nine students got together and made a funk band that continued on its own afterward. I was asked by a junior to be a back-up singer in this band and we are entirely self-organized and it has been an incredible experience that shows the motivation of CSW students."
- Olivia, 9th grade (Sherborn, Mass.)

"…helping with Katrina relief. CSW offers so many great experiences to learn beyond the classroom and this was just one of the many that I chose to take advantage of."
- Britney, 12th grade (Hillside, N.J.)

"doing [admissions] tours, actually. Showing other people my school has offered me a wonderful opportunity to see it in a new light. Aside from tours though, probably doing my friend's capstone. I am a theatre addict, and adding up all my performances would probably total up to about seven or eight on-stage experiences a year. So, theatre is nothing new to me—but French theatre most certainly is! For Luna's capstone, I learned a ten-page, entirely French, script. I have always been terrified of speaking in French, though I love the language and have been taking it for years. So getting up on a stage and becoming an entirely French character was horrifying. Also, one of the most liberating experiences of my recent past."
- Emma, 10th grade (Concord, Mass.)

"…living in a dorm with 19 other girls."
- Naomi, 11th grade (Mashpee, Mass.)

"…attending All Boarders' Weekend and working in the Children's Garden. I made a lot of friends through activities during All Boarders' Weekend. Also, I am working in the Children’s Garden [for school service] and I love spending time with kids. They make me laugh and I enjoy every little minute with them."
- Julie, 10th grade (Seoul, South Korea)

"…being on the Judicial Board. I think it’s a great opportunity within our community and it’s definitely an amazing experience. It has its ups and downs, but being able to participate in that is really cool and great."
- Kat, 10th Grade(Roslindale and Revere, Mass.)

"…going [camping] for All Boarders' Weekend with the boarding community. I really liked it because it was free, fun and a great way to meet new boarding students."
- Jayshil, 10th grade (Passaic, N.J.)

"…being able to create a technology program for my capstone project, working alongside the Assistant Head of the School, Dan Coleman. As part of this project, I have been presented with amazing opportunities such as speaking at a faculty meeting and leading a faculty seminar. It has been an amazing experience, so far."
- Kabren, 12th grade (Newton, Mass.)

"…taking the Drawing III class. That is where I learned that a drawing is not just a pencil on paper, but so much more. One of our assignments was to do something which most people would not describe as a drawing, and then ask people if they thought it was a drawing…I learned in that class that a drawing was an object on a surface, and it opened my mind up to new perspectives on art. It was the best class I've taken at CSW or ever in my life, and I highly recommend it to anyone, even if they don't think they like 'drawing' because this class is so much more."
- Sara, 11th grade (Sudbury, Mass.)