Not Just Yet

BY SARAH EGNER

            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. 

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.

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.

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!

Not Completely Changed, Just Better

BY ELIZA CONRAD

          If you have never been to ASP, you are probably wondering why I would choose to spend over a month of my summer vacation doing school work. At first, I couldn’t explain why. I mean, it would look good on my college application and I was really interested in the course that I got into. Right before ASP began; I started to get cold feet, wondering if I made the right choice.

            Well, I would have to say that this has been the best summer of my life. I am not trying to be cliché, but ASP is literally magical. No matter how sleep deprived you are, you can still get your homework done before crashing. Somehow, the hockey center never runs out of cantaloupe ever. Even though there are four chapel services a week for five weeks, they never get boring. At ASP, everyone is here because we are driven students who care about our future. This lets us form unique bonds of friendship that will stand the test of time.

            I can be myself at ASP and so can everyone else. We all support each other. There is always someone who will help you with homework, make you laugh, or wake you up if you are about to sleep through your sport. ASP has given me the opportunity to learn from the most amazing teachers, interns, and students. Each day, I take in all that those around me have to offer. I constantly ask my house supervisor and interns about college, try to participate in class discussion, and listen to my classmates because their experiences can be learning opportunities for me, too.

            I never imagined that ASP would have such an impact on my life. I haven’t changed in a dramatic way. My friends back home will still recognize me and hear my hysterical commentary they are used to. I will feel different, though. I will have so much more knowledge about the media, writing skills, confidence, and family to miss. ASP is my home, Mass Media and the Ford House is my family. They will always hold a special place in my heart. I could never imagine what my summer, senior year, or future would look like without having the ASP experience.

Classes, Friends, and Fun

BY CHERIDAN CHRISTNACHT


       Would I learn anything? Would I make friends? Would I have fun? These were the questions I couldn't stop worrying about during the weeks leading up to ASP. Sitting here, five and a half weeks later, I can confidently say that the answer to all of those questions is yes.
        Did I learn anything? Of course, I have learned so much this summer! It's hard not to when you sit in a classroom for four hours, six days a week, with students just as motivated to learn as you. I came into Mass Media not really knowing what to expect and hardly knowing anything about journalism. I am now leaving this class having created articles, blog entries, videos, a podcast, a music video, and a final Friday Night Live episode.
        Did I make friends? Absolutely, I have made so many lifelong friends here that I am going to miss like crazy. I feel like I have made more friends here in the past five weeks than I have in the past five years.  I love how open and accepting everyone is here which makes it so easy to form relationships. Leaving all of my new friends is going to be the hardest part about going home. I only hope that I am able to keep in contact with the people I have met here once I leave.
        Did I have fun? I don't even know why I had a doubt about this to begin with. This has probably been one of the most fun summers I have ever had. Dorm bonding, serenades, feeds, the triangle of fun, study hours in the library, Frisbee, exploring, tennis, glow sticks, writing workshop, movie nights, radio shows, the docks, sauce, random filming, and glitter are just a few of the things that made this summer so unforgettable. Thank you ASP!

Who Wants to Spend Five Weeks of Summer in School

BY ALEX HEBERT


        ASP was an awesome way to spend the summer.  At first I was hesitant to come.  Who wants to spend five weeks of the summer going to school?  And with all the great things I was hearing about it, I thought there was no way it could possibly live up to the expectations.  However, I was wrong; it exceeded them.
        Mass Media was a ton of fun.  I got to make puzzles for a newspaper, broadcast my voice over the airwaves on WSPS, and create some fun skits for Friday Night Live.  I learned a ton of information about the new age of communications and took some awesome field trips to the Concord Monitor, NHPR, and WMUR.  Even writing workshop was great; I learned how to write personally as opposed to academically and even got a headstart on my college essay.
        This program provided me with invaluable resources throughout the summer.  The college meeting was extremely helpful, as was the college fair.  I got to play badminton and ultimate frisbee almost every day, something I do not get to do at home.  Even Chapel was inclusive, funny, and entertaining.  It was a great way to start the day with all my fellow ASPers. 
        It is amazing how the days can drag on forever here, yet the weeks fly by.  After spending five weeks on the St. Paul’s campus, I am sad to leave.  I can’t even imagine how normal school is going to be in the fall after the incredible experience I had here.  All-in-all, it was the best summer of my life, a summer I am glad I did not miss because I wanted to sleep in.

Closing Thoughts #iwillmissthis

BY ANDREW KERNS

​The media is the new way to communicate in the 21st century. No longer are we worried about what we post in the newspaper to be seen locally or nationally, but we now have the capability of sending a few small sentences all across the world for all eyes to see. The media is amazing to see at work. Survival of the fittest is seen every day as the weaker media, that can’t connect to as many viewers and isn’t personalized, dies off and the new, stronger, and faster media makes its way onto center stage out of all the media. We see this with newspapers slowly diminishing each day and sites like Facebook and Twitter rising. People want fast and personalized in this century and th at is what the Internet is happily giving them.

             I'm sorry to say that this is my last blog entry at ASP. It was a fun run with the Mass Media class of 2012, Meagan Shamberger, and John Bouton. This class has inspired me to be more connected to others through the Internet and updated and open to all forms of opinions on all topics.

             I have one last thing to say to the ASP community: Stay classy ASP...Goodnight and Goodluck.

One Last Thing

BY BECCA COSTA

           As ASP comes to a close, I catch myself looking back at how I began this entire experience. Like everyone else, it started with an application. I never expected to get in, and after being accepted, argued with parents, guidance counselors and ASP 2011 friends that I was NOT going.

            Five weeks later, I have to say goodbye. I hate saying goodbye, and this is the most dreaded goodbye I have ever had to say. Goodbye little dorm room on the third floor that served its purpose. Goodbye Lindsay, Memorial Hall, AFC, School House, Hockey Rink, Ford, Ohrstrom, Chapel and Newspace. Goodbye to the best Saturdays nights of my life. Goodbye dining hall food. Goodbye Turkey Pond. Goodbye late night studying and lines to use the printer. Goodbye room 21. Goodbye Momma Cotton. Goodbye JB and Meagan, and thank you for being the best mentors I could ever ask for. And goodbye to the boys and girls from Mass Media, for being the best classmates and friends I could ever ask for. The summer would not be the same without any of you. Thank you all for making this summer the best summer of my life. 

Stay Tuned!

BY SAI SHYAMSUNDAR

         The students at the ASP face a rigorous five-and-half week program, testing their knowledge in a variety of fields. But this program is also a time for some enjoyment. A few students have enjoyed their time here by singing, dancing, and performing which brought out the ASP spirit of “courage” extolled by Chaplain Katie Solter at the Opening Night Service.

         For Brendan Jones, an ASP student enrolled in Studio Arts, music has always been a part of his life even as a kid. He used to watch Disney movies while his mother sang around the house. He said, “When I was 7 or 8, my brother, Drew, got into music and started playing guitar. And then I started listening to music. I was fascinated by the idea that you could create music and sounds. When I was 12, I started playing the guitar and drums on and off, and when I got to high school, I joined chorus and band where I developed my musical skills some more.” Jones has already performed for ASP students at Chapel, talent show, and on a WSPS radio show. He also hopes to play at the next talent show.

         Many vocalists have also risen from the shadows and trained their voices. Breanna Mochida, an Astronomy student at the ASP, was originally part of the ASP singing group, which disbanded. According to Mochida, this was due to date and time issues along with major courses, writing workshop, and sports. The entire group felt it was not fair having rehearsals, which cut into other people’s busy schedules like Astronomy and Ecology. Instead she has moved on to giving solo performances and duet performances at the talent show. 

        Dancing has also been popular among many people here at ASP. Students worked together with their entire dorm and rehearsed a combination of singing and dancing for a serenade. Students took the responsibility of learning all the songs and dance steps in order to give an outstanding performance. For example, Justin Daignault said, “I took up the responsibility of choreographer because I was one of the few people in our dorm that had previous dance experience. My interest in dancing originates from the notion that movement can create emotions. I took dance first session and I learned a variety of new skill sets that I can use at my disposal.”

Electric Shutdown Causes Confusion

BY ANDREW KERNS

            Many students at St. Paul’s School (SPS) were confused when they were unable to go into specific buildings on Thursday, July 12^th. The ability to go into such buildings as the library to study was unavailable, forcing students to find other areas to do their work.

            Students either got the notice when they tried to enter the library or by the email from faculty. They were warned that they needed to save any information on their computers or electronic devices in case the power were to shut down in their respective buildings. Many students didn’t need to flinch if they stayed in their dormitories because the electricity provider only advised SPS to shut down systems that use substantial electricity.

People were held out of these buildings because there was a shut down in power for electricity and air conditioning. St. Paul’s School participates in a Demand Response Program run by the New England electric grid operator, ISO-New England. They ask large commercial and industrial customers, who can, to voluntarily shed some of their electric load for a few hours to do so to protect the grid from automatically shutting down. St. Paul’s contributes to the program one or two times a year.

Benjamin Jorgensen, Director of Facilities Operations & Engineering at St. Paul’s, says, “We [preserve power] at SPS two ways, either we switch most of our buildings over to standby generators or we shut down non-critical large loads like central air-conditioning… These events generally occur when temperatures in New England are very high but can occasionally be triggered by a major power generating plant going off line unexpectedly.” Air conditioning was lost in the Lindsay Math and Science Center, Athletic and Fitness Center, Sheldon building, and the library last Thursday.

Lindsay Houses First Set of Students

BY ALEX HEBERT

        Opened in November of 2011, the Lindsay Center for Mathematics and Science houses ASP classes this summer for the first time in history.  Although a few classes are located in the Schoolhouse and other buildings around campus, most courses for the summer are held in this beautiful new facility.  Fortunately, it is one of the few buildings on campus with air conditioning, so those in class there do not boil during school.

       The Lindsay Center has 14 science labs, 21 classrooms, and 2 lounges/study rooms.  The building also features a large greenhouse, a solar observatory, and a 70-pound Foucault pendulum suspended from a 60-foot wire.  It was built to replace St. Paul’s Payson Memorial Science Building, which had eight classrooms, three laboratories, and one lecture room.  The Payson Building was torn down shortly after Lindsay’s construction was complete.

       According to the St. Paul’s School’s website and the informational television found in the lobby, the Lindsay Center was built with the environment in mind.  It uses 25% less energy than its conventional counterpart, the Forest Stewardship Council certified all of the wood used in its construction as sustainable, and over 90% of the debris created by its construction was recycled.  Even the floor is made of composite materials.

        With beautiful artifacts lining its hallways, its “Science on a Sphere” room, and its incredible array of exit signs that don’t lead to an exit, the Lindsay Center is a very intriguing building.  However, one will notice that there is nothing hanging from the walls in the Lindsay Center’s hallways.  This is not simply because St. Paul’s faculty believes students learn best when surrounded by white paint.  According to Janene Hersey, a custodian from Loudon who has been working at the Lindsay Center since it opened in November, “It’s destructive to post things on the walls, which is why we have designated the bulletin boards for it.  Tape is difficult to take off, and sometimes leaves pieces behind that need to be taken off with a razor, which can scratch the surface of the wall or glass.”

          Students here at the ASP love having classes in the Lindsay Center.  Henry Johnstone, a Psychology for Performance student from John Stark High School, says, “The Lindsay building is great.  It has air conditioning and huge classrooms, which is very nice.”  With all of its educational resources, the Lindsay Center is one of the most state-of-the-art buildings located at any preparatory school and an invaluable educational resource, especially for classes like Artificial Intelligence, who are able to use the robotics lab, Astronomy, who can access the observatory, and Ecology, who enjoy the greenhouse.

What The Teacher Learned: The Joy of Doing Something with Friends

by JOHN BOUTON

Even though I had taught at ASP for four summers, I was struck by the intensity of teaching the major course. The hours are impressive: three to four hours a day in class, two hours a night of homework, meeting six days a week. As Director Mike Ricard has observed of ASP in Chapel, “The days seem interminable, but the weeks fly by.” I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the time we spent in class, by the amount of hands-on work that studying media allowed us, and by the facility and fluency that our students demonstrated across a variety of media. While there were some challenges and areas that I would like to improve, overall this was an outstanding experience for me as a teacher and learner.

This was a likeable cohort, one that came together quickly. They proved responsive to shifting expectations and responsible in task and project management. Because they appeared to have fun throughout the summer, the work often felt like play. Yes, we did some academic heavy lifting with our texts and needed to become more effective contributors to discussions, Socratic dialogues, and presentations, but overall the class gained knowledge about media's roles and outlets, becoming citizens rather than consumers, an historical continuum of media, and how freedom of expression contributes to a good life.

Unlike the solitary and conference-based work that reflective writing entails, a lot of Mass Media activities were hands-on and learned through trial-and-error. While our work with print reporting taught us to prize clarity and arranging others' ideas and words, much of the course involved creative self-expression, often through visual images and spoken scripts. Again, the group genuinely seemed to enjoy being together, whether it was in room 21 editing sound or on the grounds filming a hockey game in the rink from three angles. The zeitgeist of the course seemed captured in “Last Friday Night,” a music video that took the spirit of our field trips and brought everyone together to sing and dance. Our intern Meagan proved indispensable in managing the creative process and the technical side of production. There would have been no final show without her; indeed, there would have been no class without her! When I recall the entire show, in fact, it is dance that stands out for me – music videos proved a highlight, an apt reading of ASP culture this summer. Another master teacher commented that she appreciated the relative sophistication of the humor that our students displayed in their show. One of my favorite parts about ASP is the public nature of the final demonstrations of knowledge and skill, and the video certainly showed our class' spirit and enduring understandings.

As I explained to the class during one of our opening meetings, ASP was instituted in part to pursue alternative ways of teaching and learning that may find later expression in winter-school classrooms. While I have taught a long time, this course took me far from my own comfort zone and reiterated that the best teaching occurs when energy meets energy. For me the students will always prove more important than the content. To me their enduring understandings will come in the form of self-knowledge, creative self-expression, the ability to work as part of a team, finding their individual voices amidst the tumult of an emerging objective, meeting deadlines, knowing when something is “good enough,” and finding joy in work. The technology will change, but the ability to learn from it and with it has emerged as a twenty-first century skill. We all gained experience with print, radio, broadcast, and digital media and the software and hardware that underlie them; encountered inspiring practitioners making a joyful living in the media; and worked together to create a portfolio of projects that reflects our appreciation of the experience. Leaning into discomfort, seeing conflict as a catalyst for change, letting the game teach one, and embracing a diversity of voices and qualities in production make the most of the technologies that surround us. These values were reaffirmed for me this summer in Mass Media. I loved our time together.

Preparing and Leading Up to London 2012

By SARAH EGNER


Preparation for the 2012 London Olympics Games has been extensive and tedious, but is quickly coming to a close this month, Several different cenues have been prepped and are ready to go for July 27th Londoners and Olympic attendees alike have lots to take into account for the duration for the games including some risk of terrorism hitting the games, as well as, the traffic that is sure to take over the London area. One aspect of the Games is already underway with the Torch Relay and is looking to start up the enthusiasm for later. 

Yo Ho, Yo Ho: 'tis a Pirates Life for Me

By ALEX HEBERT


Recently, several bills have been circulating that would squelch online copyright infringement, but these come with severe threats to the privacy of the average internet user and harsh legal punishments for non-violent “criminals.”

Student Loan Interest Rate Extension: a Temporary Solution to a Much Larger Problem

By HALLEY ROGERS

College students and graduates are signing in relief as the extension of the 3.4% interest rate on the Stafford Loans is signed into law; a long term solution to the issue is vital.

Argentine Kidnappings

By ERIN RAMIREZ


On Thursday July 5th, 2012, former dictator of Argentina, Jorge Rafael Videla, was sentenced to fifty years of prison for his involvement in illegal kidnappings. Ever since the Dirty War, Videla has been convicted unjustly for the many crimes he has committed in the seventies and eighties.

Clarifying the Education Laws

By ANDREW KERNS


“It's time to make education America's national mission,” Barack Obama states. How are states able to be innovative under the “Race to the Top” competition while some states still have to follow “No Child Left Behind?” States need clarification on the policy they need to follow for education.

If the Universe has the Final Answer about Mass, What would be the Question?

By SAI SHYAMSUNDAR 


On July 4, 2012, Physicists confirmed the existence of the Higgs boson, an elementary particle in Physics that will explain many unknown mysteries and secrets, including where mass came from in periodic elements. According to Martin Archer, a physicist at Imperial College in London, "The Higgs boson is the last missing piece of our current understanding of the most fundamental nature of the universe."

South Korea's Declaration Enrages Whale Enthusiasts

By MADI CLEMENT


On July 5th, South Korea decreed that it will start hunting whales off it's shorelines. The declaration was made on the controversial basis that South Korea needs to do scientific research regarding their depleated fish populations. The hunting will continue despite a worldwide moratorium in place since 1986. 

Flight 447

By ELIZA CONRAD


On Thursday, July 5, 2012, the BEA released the Final Report on the Air France Flight 477 crash that occurred in 2009. The report included twenty-five new safety recommendations that will impact the international aeronautical community. 

The 2012 Olympics are Filled with Surprises

By CHERIDAN CHRISTNACHT

The summer Olympics are fast approaching and their year's games are filled with plenty of excitement, competition, and unexpected changes. 

Libya Surges Towards Democracy After Years of Turmoil

By DREW SWEDBERG


It has been sixty years since Libya had a free election, but finally, one year after the death of Muammar Gaddafi, the country looks to push towards a bright future in which power is shared by the two-hundred elected members of the National Assembly.

New President Helps Egypt Find its Economic Groove

By REBECCA COSTA


Mohamed Morsi has a lot of rebuilding to do since becoming president of Egypt. With the depressing economy, Morsi along with the Islamic Brotherhood, is trying to come up with a way to get Egypt back to its economic groove.

Out of Corruption - Afghanistan Will Rise

By GRACE PUKSTA


Afghanistan struggles to provide for themselves after troops leave in 2014; foreign aid pledges $16billion. Country prepares for a change in government to better protect and give new liberties to the people.

Friend Me: Mixing Home Life and the New World of ASP

By MADI CLEMENT

Rising high school seniors came to this summer’s Advanced Studies Program from all over New Hampshire, leaving friends and family behind. They packed up bags and drove sometimes for hours to reach the campus in the woods, the

St. Paul’s Advanced Studies Program (ASP). We came for various reasons, and for those reasons we made the choice to spend the summer in a classroom setting. We have developed a form of community, with houses, new families, and new friends. The question is, should the students of ASP spend time online talking to friends from home, or living in the moment at ASP? 

The first opportunity for friend visits came on Wednesday, June 27, 2012. Many people’s friends and family flooded the ASP campus in search of tours and friendly conversation. ASP engineering student Emma Sosa commented about seeing her friends for the first time since the summer started. “I felt a little empty when they left. This isn’t home for me and seeing them made me miss the parts that form my daily routine.” Sosa wasn’t alone in her feelings about being reminded of home. World Religions student Evan Howard observed that when he saw his mother and friends “I thought of home, I didn’t necessarily miss it, but I thought about it.”

The Night Life at ASP

By DREW SWEDBERG


Since 1958, the advanced studies program at St. Paul’s has thrived on challenging dedicated students in many rigorous courses outside the typical high school curriculum.  However, there is only one course here that asks students to work outside the typical high school time schedule: astronomy.  With access to the school’s observatories and the class’ nocturnal nature, the students who are presumably walking around after lights out in a state of rebellion, are actually putting in mandatory extra hours that are unlike anything they ever experienced in high school.

Most people see the night sky as both beautiful and mysterious as they stare into the vastness that peers deep into the vacuum which makes up the space outside our atmosphere.  The curiosity has always existed inside our minds, but it was the students here that decided to expand upon their curiosity besides the occasional rhetorical question.  Astronomy student Aubrey Wesson described her first experiences with the sky as “overpowering” and went on to say how she saw the night sky as “almost supernatural.”  Wesson, who received her first telescope at a young child, instantly developed a curiosity for the world outside our own.  As she grew up Wesson took another approach to the subject of astronomy.

The Glue That Holds Us Together

By ANDREW KERNS

No matter where students come from or what their interests are, they are welcomed at St. Paul’s. The glue that holds the Advanced Studies Program (ASP) together is community. All are received and included throughout the campus. The biggest way at St. Paul’s to express togetherness is the long-standing tradition of going to Chapel four out of seven days a week.

Chapel is not your everyday Christian gathering. Here at St. Paul’s they receive anyone from Christians, to Buddhists, to atheists. Interns, students, and faculty don’t sit forward facing the altar or speaker, but towards the middle facing one other; there aren’t only just readings and hymns, but activities for students, interns, and faculty to express their personalities.

Questing The Quest

By ELIZA CONRAD

At the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School, the majority of classes are self-explanatory. World Religions studies world religions and Shakespeare for Performance rehearses and performs Shakespeare. Not many ASP students, however, can define The Quest. Mary Beth Sareault of Milford, who takes Engineering, thinks “its one giant scavenger hunt for the meaning to life.”  Connor Harding of Central, who takes Shakespeare for Performance, believes “The Quest is for, like, something awesome.” Before classes started, students in the class did not even have a good idea of what they would be studying while at ASP. Student Maeve Dolan of Winnacunnet “knew nothing.” She took the course “because I wanted to find out.”

           
Even though this class still remains a mystery to many, Mr. Holding, who teaches one of the sections of the course, gives a general idea of what actually happens in the classroom. The Quest is a “literature course that focuses on the human condition and the search for meaning in life” as well as “a philosophical element”. There is a film component to Harding’s section, as he has a degree in film studies. Intern Victoria Sobocinski’s favorite aspect of class is the discussion among students. ASP “Questers”, however, have a favorite activity so far: the scavenger hunt.

iCollege: Making the Ultimate Playlist

By REBECCA COSTA

College: it’s a word that places fear in some while filling others with excitement. It’s a word that has been weighing heavily on the minds of students at St. Paul’s School this summer. It’s a word that as hard as one may try, in the next few months (and for some the last few months as well) will come up very frequently—if not every day. For some ambitious students, the college process is well on its way, while others slowly trail behind. Either way, every student here is serious about his/her education and has something that they want to accomplish in the next five weeks.


Maura McCarthy and Cory Waldinger are the counselors on campus here and meet with each student for a 30 minute session where McCarthy or Waldinger “provide whatever help may be needed.” During the meetings, McCarthy feels as though her job is to reassure students that they have done good work up until this point. “They’re wonderful,” said McCarthy referring to the meetings at the Advanced Studies Program (ASP). Not knowing the students, McCarthy does feel she needs to read between the lines a little bit, but feels she can usually get a good sense of a student. According to McCarthy, the best case right now is for students to have taken the SATs, seen a few schools and done some research, but if a student hasn’t done that yet, he/she is not too far behind.

          

Don't Be "Mishing" Out

By HALLEY ROGERS


As classes ended on June 27 at the Advanced Studies Program, students made a mad dash to the indoor tennis courts to be first in line for the Mishop’s grand opening. In a line that snaked around the exterior of the tennis courts, which seemed to emulate the premiere of a hit movie rather than the opening of a thrift store, stood, according to Mishop staff, about 150 eager students seeking a bargain. By the enormous turnout the Mishop received, one can deduce that it is not your average thrift shop, and in fact, it is not.

The Mishop is part of a deeply rooted St. Paul’s School tradition. The thrift store is one of many projects conducted by the Missionary Society. The student club, commonly known as ‘MISH’, was founded in 1860, making it the oldest organization at St. Paul’s. During the regular school year at St. Paul’s, MISH conducts service projects and fundraisers for nonprofits such as the Audubon Society and Doctors without Borders.

Twice as Many Students Enjoy World Religions this Summer

By CHERIDAN CHRISTNACHT

World Religions is one class offered at the Advanced Studies Program, and this summer there are two teachers and two classes for the exact same subject. This course was so popular that all of the eager students couldn't be contained into one class. The two classes are separate, but both study the same  religions and write, do projects, and go on field trips to convey their knowledge. However, with different teachers and groups of students there is no way that the classes are completely identical. The students in each class have a slightly different but equally informative experience.

The tradition of having two separate world religions classes began last summer during the Advanced Studies Program. Due to construction on the Linday Center, not as many science courses could be offered to the students, and more humanities courses were needed to replace them. World religions has always been a popular choice among students, so it seemed logical to create second class.

Lock and Roll

By ALEX HEBERT

As students at the Advanced Studies Program, we have access to many of St. Paul’s beautiful facilities, but there are certain buildings to which we have limited or no access.  For example, let’s take the Freeman Center, a fantastic student lounge and excellent center for recreational activities like ping pong, pool, and foosball.  Understandably, the Freeman center is only open from one to seven o’clock, as that is the only time we would have to enjoy all that the building has to offer.  But why is it that we need a key to obtain entrance into this building?  Fortunately, Michael Ricard, the director of the ASP for the summer, has stated in an interview conducted Friday night that soon the Freeman Center will no longer be locked during the hours that it is open.

           

Arabic Class Pushes Students to Greater Lengths

By ERIN RAMIREZ
While many high schoolers hit the beach during the summer months, those attending the Advanced Studies Program at St. Paul’s School do not.  Instead they are working diligently in the library, reading books and completing assignments.  One particular class offered at ASP, Introduction to Arabic, is highly intensive and plans to teach its students to write, speak, and read the language by the end of the five week period.

           
The course was first introduced to ASP in 2011.  Michael Ricard, the director of the ASP, had the idea to incorporate the course when he realized the “prominence of the Arabic language in American society.”  He thought that the course would tremendously benefit the program “given the dynamics of our current global society, my belief was that adding the Introduction to Arabic Language & Culture course was not only extremely relevant, but critically important”.  With twelve currently enrolled, he was soon to find that he was right.  

Grand Master Terminator, Mathletes, and Bromances: Something in Common

By GRACE PUKSTA 

For five weeks at St. Paul’s School, 269 students spend the majority of their time in the separate dorms. The main focus of the houses is the common rooms. Each room has a different feel, a different look, and creates an all-together separate vibe. We take an in-depth look into three dorms, two boys’ and one girls’, and hear insights straight from the students. The first installment of this blog focuses on the foremost houses that came to my attention: North, Brewster, and Manville. We view and compare the styles, sizes, and features of each dorm. Students express their personal connections to their common rooms, and what they love about their house community.

I waited in the common room of North for a minute, while one of the boys went to fetch the others. The common room was small with a low, dark-paneled ceiling. The furniture was mismatched and scattered throughout the room in no particular order. The space was somewhat old and musty, and a broken ping-pong table sat in the corner - collecting dust. From down the hall I could hear the boys running towards the room, chanting and yelling.

Many Faiths, One Conversation

By SAISHRAVAN SHYAMSUNDAR

On June 22, 2012, several students were dropped off around noon to start attending the 55^th session of the St. Paul’s ASP summer program. It was a thrilling experience for many as they began their lives at St. Paul’s campus. The whole campus was immensely large and many pine and oak trees surrounded the campus. On the opening day, students were required to attend the First Night Service at Chapel. Considering this, one may reasonably ask: does the Chapel and First Night Service make people feel welcome, whatever their faith traditions?

Students Adjust to the Multiculturalism of ASP

By SARAH EGNER

The 269 students gathered in Concord, NH for the summer to make St. Paul’s School their 5-week home come from 82 different high schools, all of which have their own culture, traditions and demographic make-ups. For most of us, the ASP experience is very different from what it’s like attending high school for those 180 long school year days. So much distinguishes the St. Paul’s ASP experience from what we have at home. Off the top of our heads, we think about the students, mostly brand new people. We think about living with those people in dorms. We think about eating every meal together and playing sports. But something else that few people think about is the racial diversity on campus.

Among all of the many things that are different about all of our respective public schools, the demographic make-up of other schools racially is not usually among our first points of interest. According to the 2010 census, New Hampshire is 94% Caucasian, whereas the nation as a whole is 78% white. For the first time in our nation’s history, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half the children born in the U.S. This fact is not evident in many New Hampshire schools, but exceptions are certainly existent. Although diversity is typically thought of as a good thing, the lack in diversity of the type of student the ASP represents is beneficial for the type of learning environment it promotes.