I complained about the heat, having 11:30 lights-out, the
early mornings, the repetitive breakfast food, and having homework during the
summer. I miss my bed, home cooked food, and sleeping in.
But this was the best summer that I’ve ever experienced. What was I complaining
about? At ASP I’ve discovered what I want to do with my future, and totally
redirected what I want I want to major in at college. I’ve enhanced my college
application with a new set of college essay writing skills. I’ve made new
friends; friends that I spent time with from first thing in the morning until
the last thing at night. These are the people that we’ve learned, played, ate,
laughed and cried with. It’s been a short five weeks, probably the quickest of
my life. I’m sad to leave the ASP because I know that I can’t come back. Sure
there’s alumni day, but when will we walk to chapel from the hockey center in
the morning, sit in class, play a game of ultimate Frisbee and swim at the
docks all in one day again? I don’t want anything to change from what it is
right now because I’m going to miss almost every part of it. I’ll miss the
gorgeous buildings and grounds filled with squirrels, brick buildings and
construction. I’ll miss my loving dorm mates who are always smiling and
comforting. I’ll miss my house supervisor who gives me a big hug every time I
see her. I’ll miss the fantastic interns who have great advice and know how to
have a good time. I’ll miss swimming at the docks, sweating more than ever at the
dances, and chapel. I’m definitely going to miss the closeness of the mass
media family, and loving every moment of the ASP experience in its entirety.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
A Bittersweet Ending
BY HALLEY ROGERS
Four years ago, I sat in the very last row of the Memorial Hall watching Friday Night Live. I was so impressed by how many skits the Mass Media class had produced and by the overall flow of the movie. As an amateur film maker who had just picked up a camera a few months earlier, I had been experimenting with it. I would spend hours playing with Windows Movie Maker editing the footage I had collected. Seeing how hard it was to put a film together; from putting the script together to finding interesting angles and then putting it altogether to music and other audio, I respected the Mass Media students for all their work. I wanted my movies to be as well done as the Mass Media students'. Sitting there watching, I couldn't wait for the day that I would be one of the students sitting in the front row watching all of my work I had done for the past five weeks on the big screen.
When that day finally came, it was different than I had expected it would be. Sitting there in the front row with the screen towering over me, I was a little overwhelmed. As each skit would play, I noticed that I was focusing less on what was happening in front of me. Instead, seeing the bus finale brought me back to frantically trying to teach everyone the moves and trying to get the clips to match up with the audio. It was a whole new experience for me watching my own work instead of just being an observer. I was reminded of all the hard work my classmates and I had put into Friday Night Live. I found that watching Friday Night Live was bittersweet. I was so happy with all the work we had all done, but I was having a hard time grasping that ASP was coming to a close.
Four years ago, I couldn't have anticipated tearing up during the introductions. I didn't have any idea how much I was going to miss my classmates and the bonds we had formed. I would just like to thank all the Mass Media students, as well as JB and Meagan, for making this such a wonderful experience.
Four years ago, I sat in the very last row of the Memorial Hall watching Friday Night Live. I was so impressed by how many skits the Mass Media class had produced and by the overall flow of the movie. As an amateur film maker who had just picked up a camera a few months earlier, I had been experimenting with it. I would spend hours playing with Windows Movie Maker editing the footage I had collected. Seeing how hard it was to put a film together; from putting the script together to finding interesting angles and then putting it altogether to music and other audio, I respected the Mass Media students for all their work. I wanted my movies to be as well done as the Mass Media students'. Sitting there watching, I couldn't wait for the day that I would be one of the students sitting in the front row watching all of my work I had done for the past five weeks on the big screen.
When that day finally came, it was different than I had expected it would be. Sitting there in the front row with the screen towering over me, I was a little overwhelmed. As each skit would play, I noticed that I was focusing less on what was happening in front of me. Instead, seeing the bus finale brought me back to frantically trying to teach everyone the moves and trying to get the clips to match up with the audio. It was a whole new experience for me watching my own work instead of just being an observer. I was reminded of all the hard work my classmates and I had put into Friday Night Live. I found that watching Friday Night Live was bittersweet. I was so happy with all the work we had all done, but I was having a hard time grasping that ASP was coming to a close.
Four years ago, I couldn't have anticipated tearing up during the introductions. I didn't have any idea how much I was going to miss my classmates and the bonds we had formed. I would just like to thank all the Mass Media students, as well as JB and Meagan, for making this such a wonderful experience.
What ASP Means to Me
BY ERIN RAMIREZ
I stepped out of my
car, and walked straight to my assigned house. After eight months of waiting the moment had finally
come. I had only heard stories of
ASP so, based off of other peoples’ experiences, I wasn’t entirely sure what to
expect. As I looked at the large
brick building in front of me, little did I know that that place would change
my entire life. After five weeks,
the stories that I had heard before I started ASP had come true. I had been challenged beyond my limits
and the friendships that I made were irreplaceable. The students, faculty, and campus that surrounded me, were
like no other I had encountered before.
Those in my class, enthusiastic, funny, cheerful, and brilliant, helped
me strive for my potential in all aspects. We had pushed each other in class discussions, group
projects, and outside study hour sessions. We had become a family and I had learned to love those
people as my family. We all had
our differences, but yet we had one common similarity, the desire to
learn. We came up with numerous
nicknames and jokes that were unique to our class and will remain with us
forever. Although it was only five
weeks, I felt as if I had known these people from birth. ASP has given all of us something that
no other place could have, a unique community that we all cherish and will
remember forever.
Why You Should Go to ASP
BY DREW SWEDBERG
It’s hilarious how chance can make you appreciate everything
so much more. It was by chance
that I attended this program, but now looking back I cannot imagine what my
summer would have been like if I had not been here. It was by pure dumb luck that I was here in the first place,
but that luck, whether it was part of my destiny or not, brought me to this
beautiful place where I made more friends in five weeks than I have in my six
years of high school. What would
have happened if I hadn’t decided that the meeting was better than the class I
was sitting in on? What if I had
been in the middle of a test instead of listening to a lecture? What if I had lost the letter instead of
picking it up a week before the first part of the application was due? What if I had listened to my friends
instead of my heart? Quite simply,
I wouldn’t be where I am today; I wouldn’t be confident in the major I want to
go into, and I wouldn’t be leaving this place with no regrets and with so many
new and incredible friends.
Let’s
quickly discuss the reasons for going to a nerd camp. First off, I believe you may want to change your definition
of nerd if you are to call it this.
The nerds here are capable of running two miles in under twelve minutes,
dancing in a crowded and sweaty place, and singing to their heart’s content in
front of hundreds at a talent show.
The people here are not your stereotypical nerds; they are people just
like the rest of us that all have one thing in common: dedication. The students here aren’t here to have
fun, although time and time again they find themselves doing just that. They are here to get ahead using St.
Paul’s prestigious advanced studies program that takes the best and brightest
from New Hampshire. I guess it
just so happens that the best and brightest aren’t just nerds.
Opportunities
like this do not come up every day in a typical high school setting, and so I
must advise you to take advantage of the hard work you put in to be part of the
elite in your school, and attend this program. For those of us who have attended, there aren’t any regrets
being left behind. Perhaps you
left your friends behind to go away for five weeks, and perhaps it was even
against their ideas, but just realize that as you go home to the people who
miss you, you leave behind a great deal of friends who are missing you and the
place you left.
Mass Media's Unforgettable Impact
BY GRACE PUKSTA
Filled with an array of diverse students, one crazy blonde intern, and a teacher who’s always stylin’ in colored pants and Converse – ASP’s Mass Media class was ready to break new bounds with their intellect and thrive for creativity. With every project and class discussion the students exploded with enthusiasm and vivacity.
After every project the class gathered to watch and critique one another’s works. Everyone would laugh and make jokes, but come away with new knowledge and ideas for the next project. Some assignments had the whole class involved, (newspaper, Friday Night Live) and students were forced to work together as a large group. But this was not a problem for these Mass Media personnel. They took it as a challenge, and set off with late nights in the study room and early morning interviews. Each student did their part while the rest of the school watched in admiration.
Mass Media students were the talk of the school. With chapel announcements every other day about upcoming articles, podcasts, Twitter feeds… etc – the rest of the ASPers were well aware of the St. Paul’s news. The media kids were seen running around with cameras and voice recorders, coaxing other students to join in their madness and participate in videos, and dancing through public buildings in full custom. These are only a few of the adventures the class participated in.
Mass Media had a huge impact on every ASP students’ experience. They will be remembered as social, outgoing, active, adventurous, hard working, dedicated, creative, and the journalists of St. Paul’s. Mass Media kids won’t be forgotten, and their work will carry on as a template of excellence for the classes to come.
Filled with an array of diverse students, one crazy blonde intern, and a teacher who’s always stylin’ in colored pants and Converse – ASP’s Mass Media class was ready to break new bounds with their intellect and thrive for creativity. With every project and class discussion the students exploded with enthusiasm and vivacity.
After every project the class gathered to watch and critique one another’s works. Everyone would laugh and make jokes, but come away with new knowledge and ideas for the next project. Some assignments had the whole class involved, (newspaper, Friday Night Live) and students were forced to work together as a large group. But this was not a problem for these Mass Media personnel. They took it as a challenge, and set off with late nights in the study room and early morning interviews. Each student did their part while the rest of the school watched in admiration.
Mass Media students were the talk of the school. With chapel announcements every other day about upcoming articles, podcasts, Twitter feeds… etc – the rest of the ASPers were well aware of the St. Paul’s news. The media kids were seen running around with cameras and voice recorders, coaxing other students to join in their madness and participate in videos, and dancing through public buildings in full custom. These are only a few of the adventures the class participated in.
Mass Media had a huge impact on every ASP students’ experience. They will be remembered as social, outgoing, active, adventurous, hard working, dedicated, creative, and the journalists of St. Paul’s. Mass Media kids won’t be forgotten, and their work will carry on as a template of excellence for the classes to come.
24 Hours
BY MADI CLEMENT
It’s funny to think that in just over 24 hours we will all be heading home. We will go our separate ways; our respective parts of New Hampshire will welcome us home. But a piece of us will always be left here. The summer of 2012 will always belong to our time at ASP. It’s been five weeks, five amazing weeks, five weeks I will never forget. I have met 22 amazing classmates, 24 amazing girls from my house, 1 house supervisor and 3 sassy interns. Aside from the in-class and in-dorm experience, I have met and made so many good friends.
I feel like I have known everybody here for so much longer than the five weeks we’ve been here. And everyone I have met here has helped me grow as a person. I will never forget the people here. The classes and the friendly faces have been exactly what I needed this summer. I have learned so much about, not only myself, but media, and even about specific people, and people as a whole. Honestly I will miss everything here so much.
And so I have decided to make a list of 24 things I have discovered at ASP.
1. First impressions are often wrong
2. People can change
3. Five weeks sounds like a long time, but it goes by so, so quickly
4. Friends will always be there when you need them
5. Being “cool” is overrated
6. The days go on forever, but the weeks fly by
7. Living in a house with 25 girls you will never be alone
8. It is okay to cry
9. The trek to Turkey Pond is so worth it
10. I am a huge over packer
11. Twitter is cool, not “cool”, but actually cool.
12. Going all out at the triangle of fun #bestthingever
13. The news is what people say it is
14. ASP is summer school on steroids
15. You don’t have to be a good singer to have fun singing
16. If you start singing Don’t Stop Believin’, people will join in
17. You can make instant friends
18. Sleeping on the third floor requires many fans
19. PlayFair is unexplainable
20. We will never own enough freeze pops
21. Being around people everyday
22. I will miss the Mac n’ cheese here
23. I will keep in touch with the people here
24. You’ll find us chasing the sun
So thank you ASP for making me a better person, and giving me the best summer of my life. As much as I will miss it, ASP will always have a special place in my heart. Goodbye ASP, I will never forget you.
The Memories Live on Forever
BY SAI SHYAMSUNDAR
I left my house around 3:00 pm and entered the St. Paul’s campus. I was amazed to see the many pine and oak trees that surrounded the campus. My dorm was large and my room was located on the first floor. The first night service began and Katie Solter, the Chaplain at the Advanced Studies Program, mentioned the word “courage”. As I did not understand it at first, I believe that I have come show this in a pomp manner.
Classes began the day after and I got introduced to John Bouton, our master teacher, and Meagan Shamberger, our intern in Mass Media. We received four books on the first day with lengthy materials. We were expected to read each book and understand it. The main focus of each book is how media has changed from the past to the 21st century. After a long course introduction, we followed it by icebreakers. We learned each others names and schools and I was in a room full of nice and smart people. Everyone was equal here and we all came here with a purpose. After few hours, we headed to Writing Workshop where my teacher, Gregory Lawless, told us the purpose of this workshop and how it sure to help us in the future. I was surprised to hear that a three page essay on a person who has impacted us was due the next class. I felt that it was going to be a tedious summer!
Several days after classes started, we began sports. My first session sport was Squash and it was truly amazing. Even though I’ve played Squash before it was an enjoyable experience that I loved. My second session was Tennis and it was the sport I never got a chance to play at home. After it started, I found it was harder than I thought. Match after match, I was no match for other players. However, by the end of the sport, I have improved. I was able to score points and was even win games called “Rip your face off” and “King of the Court.”
Chapel was a great way for me to get in touch with my spiritual life. By going to morning Chapel, I was able to stay calm with my mind and body and pray for the goodness of the people all around me. ASP is a spiritual place and has helped me understand how al the religions are intertwined.
Mass Media covered a variety of things this summer like podcasts, newspapers, advertisments, music videos, radio shows, and even blog entries. But our final project was Friday Night Live. We were in charge of three skits and stressed teamwork in high pressure level situations. After a week of intense work filming and editing our work finally paid off. FNL was a huge success and I was so happy of the way it turned out. We received a standing ovation, and we were proud of ourselves.
ASP is an amazing experience that taught me a valuable experience. From the triangle of fun to classes, I will miss it all. As I am about to leave, I will always remember these fondest memories with life long friends that I will always cherish for life. ASP will always be a place I can call HOME!
I left my house around 3:00 pm and entered the St. Paul’s campus. I was amazed to see the many pine and oak trees that surrounded the campus. My dorm was large and my room was located on the first floor. The first night service began and Katie Solter, the Chaplain at the Advanced Studies Program, mentioned the word “courage”. As I did not understand it at first, I believe that I have come show this in a pomp manner.
Classes began the day after and I got introduced to John Bouton, our master teacher, and Meagan Shamberger, our intern in Mass Media. We received four books on the first day with lengthy materials. We were expected to read each book and understand it. The main focus of each book is how media has changed from the past to the 21st century. After a long course introduction, we followed it by icebreakers. We learned each others names and schools and I was in a room full of nice and smart people. Everyone was equal here and we all came here with a purpose. After few hours, we headed to Writing Workshop where my teacher, Gregory Lawless, told us the purpose of this workshop and how it sure to help us in the future. I was surprised to hear that a three page essay on a person who has impacted us was due the next class. I felt that it was going to be a tedious summer!
Several days after classes started, we began sports. My first session sport was Squash and it was truly amazing. Even though I’ve played Squash before it was an enjoyable experience that I loved. My second session was Tennis and it was the sport I never got a chance to play at home. After it started, I found it was harder than I thought. Match after match, I was no match for other players. However, by the end of the sport, I have improved. I was able to score points and was even win games called “Rip your face off” and “King of the Court.”
Chapel was a great way for me to get in touch with my spiritual life. By going to morning Chapel, I was able to stay calm with my mind and body and pray for the goodness of the people all around me. ASP is a spiritual place and has helped me understand how al the religions are intertwined.
Mass Media covered a variety of things this summer like podcasts, newspapers, advertisments, music videos, radio shows, and even blog entries. But our final project was Friday Night Live. We were in charge of three skits and stressed teamwork in high pressure level situations. After a week of intense work filming and editing our work finally paid off. FNL was a huge success and I was so happy of the way it turned out. We received a standing ovation, and we were proud of ourselves.
ASP is an amazing experience that taught me a valuable experience. From the triangle of fun to classes, I will miss it all. As I am about to leave, I will always remember these fondest memories with life long friends that I will always cherish for life. ASP will always be a place I can call HOME!
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