The 2020-2021 school year was unique in a myriad of ways. Despite all of the schedule changes, virtual days, and missed opportunities, the class of 2021 made it out alive. It is hard to imagine what they went through; however, their determined attitude is certainly admirable. A few seniors reflected on their time at GA, noting their favorite memories and special moments. Here is just a glimpse of the impact GA has had on them:
Senior, Charlotte Dilello, said that the Make-A-Wish tournament is her favorite memory because she “actually [played] in it and the fan section [was] always electric.” She commented on how she felt “supported and loved” that everyone came out to watch.
Ella Brant’s favorite memory, also relating to sports, was winning the Inter-Ac in 2019 with the field hockey team.
Daelyn Nwaosabi remembers the China trip he took with GA his freshman year having an impact on him. It was a three-week trip with a relatively small group visiting a partner school. Nwaosabi stated that “getting to see everyday life and getting to meet the students from the partner school, Capital Normal, was really life changing.”
A common favorite GA tradition is GA/PC Day festivities. Sophie Towne loved this tradition. She enjoyed “the field hockey team getting ready, playing, then going to the football game and telling everyone [they] won and cheering on the other sports.” Dilello was a big fan of “hallway decorating, everyone getting involved, and cheering the teams on.” Brant is another fan of pre-GA/PC Day celebrations. Her favorite tradition, despite it not taking place this year, is Senior Strut. Another event that sadly could not take place this past year is the Multicultural Potluck. It is one of Nwaosabi’s favorites because he “appreciates GA’s effort to embrace a variety of cultures through food, which is something everyone likes.”
A common element that these seniors are going to miss is being able to say hi to everyone in the hallways. According to Nwaosabi, “the intimate connections we get with teachers and students is a dynamic that [he] will miss.” Brant notes that “feeling like [she’s] friends with everyone on campus” is what she will miss the most.
Many important lessons are taught at GA, such as time management and how to make meaningful connections with peers. Towne’s most memorable lesson is to “be personable, reach out to people, introduce yourself, and try to make a good impression.” Similarly, Brant stated that “using your available resources” is a direct path to success. The most memorable lesson for Dilello is to “be kind to everyone.” When “[she] was new, everyone was really nice to [her],” and she constantly felt “supported,” which was a nice environment to step into as a new student.
Overall, the class of 2021 may not have had the senior year they were all hoping for, but they still learned some valuable lessons and are happily looking back on the memories they made at GA.
