Contents - Milton Academy

corina ramirezDhahran, Saudi ArabiaHathaway House, Class IMy Studio Art class is a greatplace to relax and let go. I get tobe creative and visual, and it’s anice break from the academic day.In art class at my old school wewere only taught how to paint specificlines and colors. In art classnow we’re given the tools and arethen taught to just “paint.” We’reencouraged to express ourselves.We’re directed to just “work” andshow what we’re feeling. I didn’tknow I was a good artist until now.I don’t know if I’ve gotten whatI expected out of Milton. I thinkI’ve gotten something more,something better. I’m much moreopen now than when I came here.I’m aware of more things, differentthings, things I didn’t knowanything about before. Milton hasopened me up to so many newthings.spencer gaffneyWest Newton, MassachusettsClass of 2008At Milton I’ve learned that stoppingthe station-to-station operationof life, to focus on whereyou are and what you’re doing atthat moment, has value. I learnedabout focus from football; on thefield you have no choice but tostay in the moment or you end upflat on your back. I learned aboutthe team thing from football aswell. Football provides a mosttangible measure of personal success:It’s measured instantly bythe people behind you. I’m notnecessarily the strongest individualathlete, but I’m part of a greatoffensive unit.I’m on the baseball team too, andin baseball there are individualbattles: pitcher versus batter,outfielder versus the sun and theball. In football, 27 things haveto go well to succeed. Therefore,sometimes just being average,or worrying about not making amistake, is okay on a play. But theminute you stop thinking aboutjust avoiding mistakes, you cango to the next level of ability, andthat’s when it really starts to befun.beverly leonWrentham, MassachusettsClass ITwo of my most memorablemoments at Milton involve myroles as an athlete and a volunteer.As captain of the girls’ soccerteam, I was so proud to lead myteam to a 3–2 victory over ourrival—a then undefeated Noblesteam. We rallied to come backfrom a 2–0 deficit to win thegame with just enough sunlightleft to see the massive crowd ofMilton students and faculty cheeringus on after the final whistle.That was such an awesomemoment.As a volunteer and member of theCommunity Service Board, I’vebeen involved in a bunch of serviceopportunities, and the SpecialOlympics track and field eventthat Milton hosts every spring myfavorite. As a track runner andjumper myself, it was great to seehundreds of athletes on campuscompeting with such passion andexcitement. The fact that Miltonstudents volunteer every year—this year with the highest turnoutever—makes me even moreproud of Milton, its athletic community,and the amazing peoplewho make up this School.45