Sean Duncan, Head of The Winchendon School’s Brooklyn Campus took some time last week to catch up with Abby.
Sean: How has been your transition to college…especially a big New York City college!? Do you feel prepared?
Abby: At first, I was really nervous going to college. I’ve heard horror stories about professors who give you a zero for putting the wrong date on your paper. However, I was way more prepared than I thought, especially compared to some of the other students in my classes who seemed lost. Aside from learning self-discipline and time management at The Winchendon School, the course material I learned over my three years there has already reappeared in my classes this year, which has been incredibly beneficial to me. I already have a good understanding of what I am currently learning in my classes, and I am able to keep up with–and impress–my professors when they take it a step further.
Sean: And what are you pursuing and learning?
Abby: I am currently an environmental science major, and I would like to eventually become an environmental engineer. Overall, I love the city and St. John’s University, and am grateful to have attended a high school that prepared me so well.
Sean: Can you talk a little bit about your academic experience at The Winchendon School? Any classes, skills, or habits that you think you will be able to apply in college?
Abby: All of the academic classes at The Winchendon School build off each other, which was very valuable in my education. The things that I learned about in my sophomore year circulated back into my classes junior and senior year, and were useful in my understanding of all subjects, from science to history. My experience with small classes at Winchendon was very beneficial to me because it allowed me to build close relationships with my teachers and students. By being comfortable with my peers I wasn’t afraid to fail, and I learned a lot from them through experiences of their own.
Sean: What was it about the music and theatre program at The Winchendon School that you really loved? That really helped you grow as a student?
Abby: I loved the atmosphere created by my instructors and other students. Everyone was always incredibly supportive and helpful to me, especially as someone with very little experience in music. When I first came to school I was very shy, but the music and theater programs at Winch helped me open up and become more creative. Public performance still makes me nervous–it makes anyone nervous–but it was so important in helping me become more confident.
Sean: How about Softball? What role did it play in your experience at The Winchendon School and your growth as a student?
Abby: Some of my best memories came from the softball field. Softball season was my favorite season, not only because I came to Winch as an experienced pitcher, but also because it was so much fun to spend time with all of the girls on the team. Our team was full of positive energy all around. Although many of the girls were rather inexperienced, I ended up benefitting from this because I learned to stay true to the spirit of the game by having fun while staying competitive. This also taught me how to coach girls my own age and to become a leader.
Sean: Could you describe some of the most memorable activities you participated in, and explain why they were so valuable to you?
Abby: The musical, Model United Nations, and service learning were part of my most memorable experiences at Winch. In all of these, I met and worked with lots of new people that I never had a chance to interact with before. I created friends and many memories from working together towards the same goal for whichever activity.
Sean: What about your friends? The community? Could you tell us a little bit about what it means to be a part of The Winch Family?
Abby: The people I met at Winch have all remained close to me even after graduating. Now that I am living in the city, whenever one of my friends is in the area, they reach out to me to catch up. The Winchendon community was my favorite part of going to school because of its closeness. Since it is so small, everybody learns at least a piece of who you are while connecting with people and learning about each other. Even though I’ve graduated, I know I’ll always have friends–teachers and students – at The Winchendon School.
