Hi, I’m Garrett O., a freshman here at The Founders Academy. I joined the school in their second year, and have had a great experience. Having come from a larger public school that didn’t always go into depth on the things we were learning about, I was very impressed with Founders and what they taught. The school has a focus on English and History, both subjects I love. When I heard about the school and its mission, I was enthusiastic about it, and very excited to apply. When my mom told me I had been accepted, I was over the moon. That year I had an incredible experience, did so many amazing things, and met so many new friends.
The teachers are astounding. As a student, I can say that there is so much passion behind what they teach, and it shows. They are always willing to help students if they need it, and make the class engaging and make learning fun. Some prime examples of this are my french teacher, Madame Barlow, who holds fun, challenging, competitive review games before each quiz or test. Mr. Van Ewyk, my history teacher, holds Socratic seminars, in which for five minutes, each student has to debate something with the teacher, while he tries to contradict everything you say. I know to some it may not sound fun, but trust me, it really helps you understand what you learn. It’s also the most stressful five minutes of your life. He’s that good.
There are also many fun and interesting student-run clubs and extracurricular activities available here. Yes, you heard me right student-run clubs. If you have an amazing idea for a club you want to start, you can present your idea to administration and there is a good chance it will become a reality! Last year one of my best friends started a club all about board games, and each meeting we would play a multitude of them. And just today, another one of my friends, the founder of her own language club, held her first meeting. And the extracurricular activities are amazing as well. The middle school drama club is right now preparing for their Christmas play, Wenceslas, and the high school drama club just held auditions for their play, Little Women.
And of course, how could I talk about this school and not mention the incredible community. The overall atmosphere here is a very welcoming one, and I love walking into this building every day. The teachers and students are very friendly, and are always willing to help you and each other out. Let’s say you need help in math. All you need to do is just talk to your teacher, and they will almost always schedule at time for you to meet them that same day. And as someone who struggled in algebra last year, I can say that first-hand. My teacher, Ms. Henry, was always willing to help me in and out of class.
So in conclusion, this school is amazing. There is something here for everyone, I certainly discovered that. This school truly is passionate about what they do, and get the students here excited about what they are learning. This school was definitely the perfect fit for me, and I hope you come and try it. You won’t regret it.