• ParkBulletinCover - The Park School

What the Ninth Grade willTake and Leave BehindAsher BohmerI am taking a large plaster head that stillisn’t dry and new-found self confidence.I am leaving behind my kid sister, Isobel.Annalin CarrollI am taking my independence and goodmemories. I am leaving behind my 11years at Park.will learn something meaningful from hearingmy words today that you can take withyou as you move on to the next stage ofyour lives.Let’s start off with what I’m sure will bea memorable image for all of you. The yearwas 2000; the place was the sixth-grade hallwayon the third floor. The time was about7:55 a.m. The outfit. . . sometimes I shudderto even think about it. . . black dress shoes(with the straps across the foot), white socks,black dress pants, and a bright pink buttonup. Oh, and let’s not forget the cornrowbraids and pink bubbles in my hair . . . ohgoodness. Let’s just say I was trying to make astatement. . . that’s classy though, right?But all jokes aside, I entered my first dayat The Park School as a new kid with onlyone mission: to get good grades. Growing upin a Nigerian household where excelling wasthe only option, my mindset upon enteringmiddle school did not anticipate the need ordesire to be involved in anything other thanacademics. Now, don’t get me wrong, I neverforgot how grades are still very important.But as I look back, I can say I have this wonderfulinstitution to thank for exposing me tothe importance of extracurricular activities.Although I entered middle school thinkingthat grades were the only thing that mattered,“While here, my teachers encouraged me to find my voice,and with the help of their kind encouragement, I did.”the exposure that The Park School gave me tovarious sports and performance activitiesshowed me not only how much fun theycould be, but also how crucial they would beto my growth in the long run.For me, Park School was an opportunityto experience so many new things for the firsttime. While here, I tried everything from therecorder, to soccer, even knitting club! Somewherealong the line, I found that sports andthe performing arts would combine to be aperfect fit for my passion and talent. While atPark, I was exposed to one of my first soloopportunities in Ms. Hillmon’s seventh-gradechorus. I also had the opportunity to leaddance club for the fourth- and fifth-gradersalongside one of my best friends at the time,Liz Wilsker. Singing and dancing are still twoof my biggest passions today, and I am sograteful to have found these passions while Iwas here, passions that to this day help me tostay sane in the midst of a rigorous academicenvironment at Princeton.As for sports, I tried quite a few, but Ifound basketball to be my absolute favorite.8 The Park Bulletin | Fall 2010