Hebron Review Fall '23

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter From The Editors

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Happening At Hebron Welcome Back, Winterlude

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Let Us In!

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Hebron Vs. Breast Cancer

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The History And Evolution Of Hebron Academy With Mr. Midd

Student Photography

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Global Spotlight Hebron Students On the Palestine/Israeli Conflict

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Where Do We Go From Here?

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Freedom of Beliefs

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Humans of Hebron Humans of Hebron

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Rediscovering My Childhood Spark: A Journey Through Memories

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Scoreboard Reflecting On the Varsity Golf Season

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Reflecting On Our Boys Varsity Soccer Season

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Student Artwork

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Hebron Writing Contest: Fight the Power Fitting Into The Bigger Box

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My Fear of Advocation

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Authority

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Letter From The Editors

By Mason Hat eld ’24 and Hannah Sullivan ’24 Mason and I worked under the great Nola Goodwin and Cotton Strong throughout our Junior year, helping put together the Spring 2023 edition. Through their guidance, we were eased into the world of student-led magazines.

Thanks to them, we have put our heads together, and after countless hours of brainstorming, encouraging, influencing, editing, and most importantly nagging writers for their pieces, we present the Fall 2023 Edition.

We believe Hebron Review, being a magazine written by the students, for the students, is a catalyst for change. It is a way to bring the community together and allows for students’ voices to be heard. Everyone has a spot in the Hebron community, and we believe that this magazine encapsulates that very idea. No matter what your strong suit is—whether it's writing, artwork, or something abstract—the Hebron Review will listen to what you have to say, and tell your story.

We never could’ve produced this magazine without the unconditional, undying support of our fearless leader Ms. Waterman. She has been our mentor throughout the Hebron Review, as well as throughout navigating our high school years. Ms. Waterman has provided us with everything we could’ve ever needed in this process, often taking her own time to jump through hoops for us. Without Ms. Waterman, the Hebron Review

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wouldn’t exist, so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

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Welcome Back, Winterlude

By Mason Hat eld ‘24 We did it. Last year, I wrote about my sorrows concerning the lack of Winterlude. This year, after innumerable hours of campaigning and buckets of blood, sweat, and tears, Winterlude returned. Now dubbed “Intermezzo,” the wonderful week of relaxation and resetting has made a comeback, and a powerful one at that. The student body let out a collective sigh of relief this August when the yearly schedule was released, revealing not one, but two weeks of out-of-class learning experiences. Not only does Intermezzo provide a vital reset for the ever-

Students in the “Farm to Table” Intermezzo

evolving minds of tomorrow, but it also adds balance to the schedule.

Ever since the switch from a trimester-based curriculum to a semester-based curriculum, the final weeks leading to the end of the semester feel absurdly long. Last year, by the time finals rolled around, I was burnt out. I was beyond ready for a break and every student I talked to was I was beyond ready for a break and every student I talked to was in the same boat, we needed a break. However, vacation started in the next few days so a break was entirely unrealistic. unrealistic. On the contrary, this year, as Thanksgiving Break stares at me behind a three-day wait, I couldn’t be more ready for class and engaged in learning. I attribute this solely to Intermezzo. The break that my peers and I yearned for last year was given to us right in the middle of the semester. This allowed us to reset and recharge, ready to tackle the month of learning leading up to Thanksgiving break with a full battery.

The importance of going into finals week ready to tackle the exams cannot be stressed enough. What Intermezzo gives students is truly a gift. The difference between taking a test while exhausted, out of it, and desperately trying to leave and taking a test while prepared, ready, and intrigued is the difference between a C+ and an A. I would like to thank everyone who made Winterlude a reality again, especially Dr. Swenton, for all of their hard work, dedication, and

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assistance to my GPA.

Photo from Mr. Miller’s mountain-biking intermezzo

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Let Us In!

By Martha Morrill ‘24 This year, Hebron Academy short-sightedly decided to install locks on dormitories and lock all students out of their rooms until 3:15 P.M. Even if the administration did not have malicious intent, the cons of this situation far outweigh the pros, and I think it is time for a change. These locked doors create a discrepancy between genders, put students at risk of hypothermia, negatively affect students' mental health, and put boarding students' safety at risk. It is paramount that a change occurs in the near future.

With Halford dorm isolated on the other side of the busy road, girls suffer more from the locked dorms than anyone else. Each day at about three o'clock in the afternoon, girls start swarming around the dorm, waiting for fteen pathetic minutes to pass in order for them to be let into their own home.

After a long day of studying, all any student wants to do is put their bags down and rest for a few minutes; however, Hebron Academy has decided that their boarding students do not get this opportunity until exactly 3:15, leaving Halford

Photo by Martha Morrill

residents waiting on the side of the road. Meanwhile, boys in Sturtevant dorms have a plethora of lounges to wait in and can often sneak into their dorms by one of the many entrances. This school loves to boast about placing value on "equity," citing it as one of the main reasons for locking students out of their dorm rooms in the rst place. However, Hebron is unable to follow

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through in their desire for equity when countless students beg for it, and an entire gender is

6 left waiting in the freezing cold. Speaking of the cold, winter is right around the corner, and it is becoming increasingly challenging to wait outside the dorms in these horrible weather conditions.

Furthermore, our schedule will soon change for the winter, and students will have even less time to prepare for winter sports, meaning that each minute waiting outside their dorms is a minute they cannot prepare for winter activities like skiing snowboarding, or snowshoeing. These activities require countless layers and take a very long time to get ready for, meaning students need adequate time to prepare for their sport of choice. Additionally, taking the time you need to get ready could easily make you late, leading to a punishment that feels almost forced by the school. These locked dorms prevent students from managing their time calmly and put them at risk of forgetting vital things like mittens and hats to keep them warm.

The locked dorms are not only causing students to forget mittens but are also causing students to forget to prioritize their mental health. A boarding student's day starts at eightthirty and does not stop until nine-thirty at night, leaving little time for students to balance their social life and alone time. Many boarding students relied on their free period to decompress, spend some time alone, do things like laundry and cleaning, and even take a nap in preparation for the long day still ahead of them. It is often argued that it is not fair that boarding students can go to their rooms while day students must wait in academic buildings. However, this argument is weak since day students can go home at night and are not required to eat dinner during a strict time frame or attend study hall, leaving plenty of time to unwind in their room. And, realistically, many day students frequent the dorms and could use the space to unwind themselves, along with their boarding friends. Therefore, it is actually more equitable to allow students into their rooms during their free period, and it is only negatively affecting the mental health of students to lock them out of their own rooms.

Each student's desire to access their room has caused many students to prop doors open in the hopes of getting into the dorms later or letting other students in. Unfortunately, the propping of doors puts students' safety at risk since the dorms become open to anyone passing by rather than just the appropriate key card holders. The administration will never be able to prevent every student from propping the door open, and I promise students will never stop propping the door open; therefore, the only way administration can adequately ensure our safety is to attack the problem at its root–the dorms being locked to all students. If administration allowed students to use their keycards into their dorms during the day, the propping of doors would not be a problem, and every student would be far better protected from the general public.

7 There are clearly countless reasons to allow students access to their own dorms, so the question remains: when will Hebron nally listen to the student body and trust their students to go in and out of their dorms on their own, as they have for so many years?

Hebron Vs. Breast Cancer

By Kali Salazar-Perez ‘24 In 2022, I proudly organized the first-ever Hebron vs Breast Cancer fundraiser. I organized this fundraiser through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), making my own fundraising website and designing Hebron Academy’s webpage. Although at first I found it difficult and intimidating to start, in the month of October, or Breast Cancer Awareness month, Hebron quickly raised one thousand dollars for cancer research. The touching experience of contributing to my community on such a personal level inspired me to continue this fundraiser in October of 2023. Revamping the webpage I had previously made and reaching out to every member of my community, I successfully raised over three thousand dollars within just that October!

Along with this fundraising, one of the main aspects of this fundraiser is the school-wide Pink Day. Pink Day is essentially

Left: Students who participated in “Pink Day” Right: Kali Salazar-Perez ’24 poses with her hard work

just one select day out of the month of October when Hebron celebrates, remembers, and brings awareness to Breast Cancer by wearing as much pink as they can find. Last year, I handed out a number of supportive bracelets to those who asked, but this year I handed out pins, bracelets, and even some pink tutus! The school-wide pink day was an inspiring moment that showed exactly how Hebron could come together as a community.

Experiencing the Hebron community unfolding into one united front supporting a good cause was an incredible feeling. The uncomfortable topic of cancer has affected everyone’s life in one way or another. This fundraiser not only helped draw awareness research but also created a space where everyone could talk about their own personal experiences and feelings without fear of judgment. With four thousand dollars raised in total, I could not be grateful enough to every person who donated, reached out, or helped in any way. Without the unwavering support of Hebron Academy, this fundraiser would not have been possible and would not have made the impact that it did. I am forever thankful to this community and all it has done for me with this

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fundraiser and all that it will continue to do.

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The History and Evolution of Hebron Academy With Mr. Midd

By Alex Hounsell ‘27 If you’ve been at Hebron Academy for a long amount of time, or you just started attending this year, there is no doubt that you’ve most likely heard at least mentions of how old this school is.

As always, old age comes with many changes, especially at Hebron. Since this school started, there have been many changes made to make the community and campus the way it is today. I have interviewed Mr. Middleton, a faculty member who is very skilled and has much knowledge about Hebron’s history, to cover just how expansive our school’s evolution is.

One thing about schools is that sometimes their priorities change; however, sometimes a priority is so strong that it

Bell-Lipman Archives of Hebron Academy, photo taken in what is now known as “The Bowl” with Sturtevant school building in the back

remains consistent throughout the years. Given its extensive history, Hebron would be expected to change its many facets.

However, one thing has always remained at the top of the priority list: “The school’s priorities have always mainly been pretty similar to now, especially since World War Two. It has always been a private preparatory school, to bring out the best in people, and the school’s core has always valued getting students ready for college,” said Mr. Midd A key thing that most people are aware of at our Academy is our sports. We have strong teams, and each season is always memorable. There are many key elements to our sports teams that make these seasons so memorable.

So we wonder, what were those aspects back then compared to now? How different are they? Mr. Midd says: “Because enrollment has fluctuated, the enrollment of boys and girls has changed team sizes. Another big change over time is a decrease in JV teams or teams in general. It really has to do with the school’s population. Over time there’s a decrease in teams, but it really depends on the enrollment.” Students may or may not know that Hebron Academy used to be an all-boys preparatory school. But, of course, now it accepts any gender: “Over time, the question about accepting girls became more important. This was extremely controversial for this school at the time, and later too. When the school was all boys, some women wanted to go, but resulted in turning to other schools instead. When the school accepted the idea, they got the enrollment of women, but only a bit at first. In 1972, one girl came; by 1974, the school started including girl’s sports. It was during the recession, a different time, and would depend on enrollment, so basically it became a usual and rising

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thing for women to come, more in the 70s.”

For Hebron, the 70s were a significant time. Without these events, the school couldn’t be what it is today. And there were many more significant time periods than just the 70s. Mr. Midd noted: “There were three big events that I feel impacted the school the most. The first was the death of William Sargent, a previous head of school, which had led to the school becoming all boys. The second was the recession of the 70s, where the enrollments changed rapidly, and the school was making do with what it had. The third event to have a great impact was the burning of Sturtevant in 1819. Other than catastrophe, any time there is a leadership change, there is a significant impact on the school overall, both good and bad. The pattern is also that all of these events almost caused the school to close.”

One aspect still manages to stay the same as time and evolution goes on: our campus. Mr. Midd walked us through the changes: “In 1804, the school started as a tiny schoolhouse. But later than that, there were around three waves of change. The first was in 1890 to 1910 when new buildings were built: Sturtevant dorm and Atwood. This began the creation of the modern school we now know and love. The next wave of new additions was in the 1920s. The Sargent Gymnasium was built, and Hebron Academy built the first indoor hockey rink in America. The Sturtevant dorm was also rebuilt in 1927. The third is the 60s, when Halford dorm, Treat Science, and the Hupper Library were built. Then there’s the last

ten years. The Williams Center was opened, and when that opened, so did Allen Field. Then later in 2019, Kaneb was built. These changes were all extremely significant to the school.” With all of these stories and the trials and tribulations of Hebron Academy, some of which are never even really heard of, we may wonder if Hebron's history is celebrated and remembered as much as it should be? He pointed out: “There are times it is celebrated, but it could always be celebrated more. It depends as well on curiosity, and what is really taught about it. There is learning, but you can always learn more.”

Hebron’s history is crucial and important to the school we know now. It is no doubt that Hebron Academy’s evolution has shaped Hebron in ways nothing else could.

Bell-Lipman Archives

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Student Photography

Tucker Kenney ‘24

Addie Lydon ‘26

Alpha Zhao ‘26

Liam Aaronson ‘24

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Hebron Students’ Perspective on the Israeli/Palestine Con ict

By Martha Morrill ’24 and Louisa Strong ‘26 With the Israeli-Palestine conflict becoming such a significant social issue, we thought it was a good idea to learn how the students of Hebron Academy are affected by it. We wanted to know, in particular, how they are being educated about this topic, what sources they gather most of their information from, and how this issue has directly impacted their lives. We learned that almost every student has heard about this conflict and feels compassion for the innocent lives lost. We discovered that most students first heard about the conflict through social media, specifically Instagram, and quite a few feel they need to learn more about the topic. We also learned that very few students who were not directly impacted by the fighting hold strong beliefs regarding it.

With no permanent solutions to this conflict in sight, we hope that students educate themselves on it and are not afraid to voice their opinions and speak up for what they believe in. Moreover, we hope that students take time to make sure those directly impacted by these events are doing okay and offer their unwavering support to the students who need it regardless of what side they may be on. #1 Hi, I would like to ask you a few questions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East.

Okay How did you first hear about this conflict?

Social Media. I didn't hear that much, but I had seen a few things.

Has this conflict directly impacted your life in any way?

Not really; I feel sorry for the people, but it's not like I am living my personal life any differently.

What source did you first hear about the conflict from?

Instagram.

Do you hold any strong beliefs or feel passionately about this conflict? Yeah, I feel really sorry for the children and the families.

Have you been part of or overheard any debates regarding this conflict? No. #2 How did you first hear about this conflict?

I heard of it because friends who live in Israel told me, and also my parents explained to me what was happening Has this conflict directly impacted your life in any way?

No Do you think it was fair that the Jewish people were placed in Israel and the Palestinians were

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expected to adjust?

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I mean, for the Jewish community in a lot of places, yes. For example, in my school in Mexico, now we have a lot more security, and we can't go to a lot of places that we used to, and we can't go to Israel.

Do you hold any strong beliefs regarding this conflict?

Yeah, definitely.

Have you overheard any debates regarding the conflict?

I have heard there are two sides: the Arabic side and the Israeli side, and their differing opinions. #3 How did you first hear about this conflict?

Social Media, mostly Instagram.

Has this conflict directly impacted your life in any way?

It's hard to see Palestinians suffering. I see a lot of videos about all the children and women dying every day, and it's really difficult for me to see them losing their families.

Do you hold any strong beliefs regarding the conflict?

Yeah, I care a lot about it.

Have you overheard any debates regarding the conflict?

Not many, but sometimes I see some on the news. #4 Do you think that this war is necessary?

I think that the war really should not be happening, to preserve the lives of those who are innocent

Indyk, M. (2017, February 14). President Trump’s “Ultimate deal” to end the Israeli-Palestinian

Is there a possible solution to the war? conflict. Bookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/president-trumps-ultimate-deal-toend-the-israeli-palestinian-conflict/ I think that as long as there are Israeli people and Palestinian people, there’s always going to be a conflict between the two.

Do you think it was fair that the Jewish people were placed in Israel and the Palestinians were expected to adjust?

Personally for me, since I’m also Jewish, they could split the land, half and half. I think that would be better than Palestinians having one-sixth of the land and Israel taking over other parts. I think that’s just really unfair. #5 Do you think that the war is necessary?

War is definitely a horrible thing, and I feel like the U.S. should stay out of it.

Is there a possible solution to the war?

I don’t think that the Palestinians should be removed, but I think there should be set borders put in

place on the land. I mean it gave them a safe place to go and get away from all the troubles, so yeah I do

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believe it was.

Do you believe that Israel is rightfully the Jewish people’s?

Yes. If Israel is rightfully the Jewish people’s, where are the Palestinians now supposed to go?

I don’t know. I don’t have an answer to that.

Where do you get your information on the conflict?

Mostly the news, FOX and CNN.

Where Do We Go From Here?

By Belle Beauchesne ‘25 The events of October 25, 2023, will forever be remembered as one of the darkest moments in Maine history because of the Lewiston shootings that took place. October 25th was my parents’ 20th wedding anniversary, and the day my Hebron Girls Varsity Soccer team secured a 4-0 victory against Tilton — and I scored all four of the goals. What was supposed to be a peaceful night full of celebration for me and my my parents turned into a night of devastation and fear. Unbeknownst of what was to come, we decided to go out to Gritty’s, a restaurant in Auburn, Lewiston’s adjacent city, to have a nice family night in the middle of a busy week. Everything was going according to plan at first, with our orders having been placed and our food having been delivered. It wasn’t until the blinding blue lights and sickeningly loud sirens from the multiple police vehicles zoomed by that something seemed off. Sadly, my suspicions were confirmed when I looked out the windowed wall pressed against my side and saw multiple police officers with enormous assault rifles surrounding the restaurant. Fear crept into my body as I wondered if the police were trying to keep something out of the restaurant or draw someone out of it. I didn’t have much time to ponder that because in an instant one of the managers pulled out a microphone, communicating to us a terrifying message: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have just been warned that there is an active shooter a few minutes away that shot up a local bar, and there are concerns that we could be a target location on the shooter’s radar. Out of concern for your safety, we will be shutting down and checks will be brought to the tables as soon as possible.”

The restaurant seemed to erupt in a state of madness with waitresses frantically tabbing people out and sorting the credit cards to be returned to their rightful owners. While my parents were trying to get us out as quickly as possible dealing with the check and credit card fiasco, with shaking hands I was trying to type out a message to my sister, Lily, who was in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a student at King’s College. At the time, we didn’t really know where the shooter was, just that he was nearby, and in those terrifying few moments at Gritty’s, I was questioning if we were going to be next. Thinking about this horrifying possibility, I quickly thought to message Lily because it very well could have been my last time communicating with her. We finally made it out of the restaurant and started our drive home. At this point, we knew that the bar that had been shot up was Schmengees Bar & Grille Restaurant, which was five minutes away from Gritty’s. Soon it became public knowledge that Sparetime Bowling had also been attacked, a place that is three minutes away from my house. It felt as if we were leaving one warzone and entering another.

That night was filled with raucous sounds and blazing red and blue lights from the police officers’ cars that

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were speeding up and down Main Street behind my house. Police helicopters circled over my house like sharks circling their prey.

In a

few hours, my hometown of Lewiston, Maine had become an international news story, proving Maine to be no different from Texas, Florida, or the rest of the United States when it comes to gun violence. Lewiston had joined the long list of mass shootings in America, becoming one with Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting,

York, Matt. 30 Oct. 2023. Associated Press, Lewiston, Maine, https://apnews.com/article/lewiston-maine-massshooting-35e78383dfb4fd84bfe07bcfc63760ca . Accessed 14 Nov. 2023.

Texas’ El Paso Walmart mass shooting, and Florida’s Orlando nightclub massacre.

Maine has always been a reactive state instead of a proactive one, because we’ve relied on being an extremely safe state, explaining the lack of gun prevention laws that have been in question across the United States. With recent news revealing that the perpetrator’s mental health was brought to local authorities' attention, the responsibility for the shooting falls not just on Robert Card, the shooter, but also on the state of Maine as well. Had stricter gun laws been at play or Card been kept in a mental health institution, there is a possibility that lives could have been saved and unnecessary trauma could have been prevented. It is clear that Maine needs a solution to make sure that this never happens again, but change takes a long time, especially when there are two sides to the argument of stricter gun laws that still have not come to a happy medium to keep everyone safe. Where does Maine go from here, and what actions will be taken to be able to move on from this gut-wrenching event with the peace of mind that this won’t happen again?

As the Lewiston community moves on, and the rest of the world forgets about the eighteen people who died and the thirteen people who were wounded during the devastating events of October 25th, 2023, this story will become like many others, just with different names and locations if nothing is done to bring awareness to gun violence. As a nation, we must break the cycle of monotony of no changes being made regarding gun laws because of tragedies such as this one, and activate laws to lower America’s mass shootings. Until then, the Lewiston, Maine shootings are just one small blip on a much larger scale that should be more of a focal point for politicians to do something about. Just as Martin Luther King Jr. once famously said “I have a dream,” I too, have a dream for the development of America. I have a dream that reasonable gun laws will be established for the safety of our country.

I have a dream that children and teachers will be able to go to school without having to worry about the possibility of a school shooting drill not being just another drill. I have a dream that people will be able to go out to bars, restaurants, or bowling alleys without the fear of being mercilessly killed at the hands of an assault rifle.

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Freedom of Beliefs

By Robbert Schroder ‘24 Open mindedness is a trait that would be described as desirable in today’s society. Everyone has different backgrounds, ideas, struggles, and so much more; it’s important to understand everyone has different views.

Similarly, freedom of speech is a value our country was built on. It is what makes our nation so much different than others. This allows us to discuss the important ideas and topics that influence our lives and the world around us. This idea means we all have our opinions when it comes to politics, and to be honest, right now it seems as if our country is in a war between Republicans and Democrats with how opposite their beliefs are. However, a quote that has stuck with me that opposes this idea is: “We are not as divided as it seems.” –Barack Obama

The political systems we have today are far from perfect. Labeling ourselves as Democrat or Republican just drives a wall between us, immediately causing conflict. It stops us from understanding how similar our beliefs are. One of my greatest role models, George Washington, said something similar in his Farewell Address. He clearly warned us about forming a multi-party system of government. In looking through his address, I found the following quote from Dave Morris responding to it: “In all of my dealings, the only uses I have ever found for political parties is to hide corruption and divide the people.” – Dave Morris

In recent years, I’ve realized how much this idea affects me and my life. In our school, a utopia for growth separated from the rest of the world, we should support each other's differences of opinions and beliefs. Our small community has

Kelley, S. (2018, May 2). Psychologists: ‘There is no alternative to free speech.’ Cornell Chronicle. https://news.cornell.edu/ stories/2018/05/psychologists-there-no-alternative-free-speech

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so many people willing to share their differing perspectives; we need to take advantage of that. It is important to not let these broad labels cloud our vision of others. This task is much easier said than done.

When I applied for Proctor last year, I had an experience that highlights how labels affect the way we are viewed. Some students at the school knew I identified as Republican at the time, and some spread rumors about me. I felt outcast from the place I call home. Just because I identified with a certain political party, I was labeled as racist and argumentative. To completely disregard and attack one of our parties diminishes our freedom. In reality, if anyone had asked about the subject, I would say honestly that I don’t know what I believe. We are all at an age where we take after our parents, especially when it comes to politics. If I am being completely truthful, I have no idea what I believe in and I shouldn’t have to; I’m still in high school. This should be a time for us to find ourselves, challenge ideas, and learn from each other, not a time to see people as labels or stereotypes.

During this time I felt like it was as bad as an act of violence to say “I am Republican” or “I support our

president.” This is a major problem with our society that we built on the idea of freedom. We as a whole fail to recognize that everything is a spectrum–nothing is black and white or set in stone–whether it relates to our beliefs, ideas, politics, or anything else. If history has taught us anything, being forced to conform to a certain political ideal is the opposite of progress; everyone should have the freedom to express their opinion.

We need this conflictive discourse to build strength in our ideas. How are we meant to make progress if we can’t choose our own paths through discussion, acceptance, and conversation? If our country is to continue to prosper, we need to forget this idea of political parties and value people over political labels and stereotypes. I hope that our community can grow to a point where we can have these discussions that influence us and our society. Let us embrace each other for our differences of opinions, our ability to problem solve through collaboration, and lead through compassion. These ideas allow us to inspire change in ourselves, our school, our country, and the world.

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Humans Of Hebron

By Hannah Sullivan ‘24 Humans of Hebron is inspired by photographer Brandon Stanton’s blog and book, Humans of New York. Humans of Hebron has been brought back in this edition as a lighthearted way to exhibit some of the experiences and thoughts of Hebron Students.

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Rediscovering My Childhood Spark: A Journey Through Memories

By Maja Mulley ‘24 As I reflect upon my earliest memories, I find myself standing at the threshold of a hazy recollection. My childhood memories blur together, an intricate tapestry of colors and emotions, elusive and distant. They beckon me to recall them, yet they remain just out of reach, like echoes of whispers. I yearn to grasp the taste of my childhood, a fleeting sensation that dissolves on my tongue. A trace of my mother's cookies or the aroma of my grandmother's Christmas ham. I wish to return to those moments and savor the scents that defined my youth, from the evergreen trees to the fresh candles, from chlorine-infused hair to the blend of sunscreen and my mother's perfume. These cherished fragments blend into an indistinct blur, a mosaic of love and nostalgia that I long to resurrect but cannot.

If I were to venture a guess, my earliest vivid memory would transport me to a time when I was a spirited four-year-old, a natural-born performer. My insatiable thirst for attention led me to regularly commandeer the family camera. As any parent knows, leaving a toddler unattended is an open invitation to mischief. I would often dress myself in outlandish costumes, demanding the spotlight and applause from my amused parents. In my earliest memory, I am adorned in oversized, gaudy sunglasses bejeweled with faux gemstones, my tiny fist serving as an impromptu microphone. I sing my heart out to the infectious rhythms of "Mamma Mia" by ABBA, darting back and forth across the kitchen floor, my sockcovered feet leaving behind telltale signs of my joyful escapades, complete with toe-sized holes.

My passion for performance knew no bounds. Singing, dancing, and cracking jokes were my forte. But then, abruptly, the curtain fell, and the music ceased. The exuberance of those impromptu dance parties and the readiness to strike a pose for the camera vanished. I was left wondering what had extinguished my inner spark. Could it have been a cruel word from a classmate or the scorn of being too dramatic? I remained in the dark until one day, while assisting my mother in transferring old family videos to a thumb drive, I stumbled upon the answer.

In that treasure trove of memories, I unearthed a video of my baby brother—a cherubic, spaghetti-sauce-covered infant, the epitome of adorable. In stark contrast, I was bedecked in my most flamboyant ensemble, ready to dazzle the audience with my performance. My mother's camera initially focused on my brother, capturing him as he coos and babbles in the secret language of babies. I, ever the showstopper, inserted myself into the frame, craving my mother's attention and eager to showcase my talents. In response, I received a nonchalant, "Yes, Maja, very nice," while the camera remained steadfastly trained on my brother. As I watched this poignant moment unfold, I realized that it was the birth of my brother that had dimmed my own radiance.

With the arrival of a new family member, my parents' attention had naturally shifted. The fight for their undivided focus was a battle I could never win again. The spectacle I created, the dramatic performances, , lost their appeal without

an audience to appreciate and applaud them. I had to reconcile myself to the new dynamics of our family, where attention was shared, and my spotlight no longer shone as brightly.

In the end, my journey through fragmented memories and the rediscovery of my childhood spark taught me valuable lessons about adaptability, family bonds, and the ephemeral nature of attention. While I may never fully recapture the vivid colors of my early memories, I have found a new appreciation for the rich tapestry of experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. Though the spotlight may have shifted, the show must go on, and I am determined to continue embracing life's stage with enthusiasm, whether it's in the spotlight or in the wings, supporting those I hold dear.

Maja Mulley, age 7

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Hebron Through the Years

By Casidhe Madsen ‘26 I interviewed Ms. New, a teacher at Hebron Academy who was also a former student. I decided to ask her perspective on what Hebron is like now, versus what it was when she attended.

Ms. New grew up in South Paris, Maine. She went to Paris Elementary School, then to Poland Middle School, and transferred to Hebron her sophomore year. She was a day student in her sophomore and junior years and then was a proctor her senior year. Ms. New made sure to mention that she had a spot in the dorm and really loved living there but was fortunate enough to leave whenever she pleased. When describing her High school experience at Hebron she said, “I really loved my time at Hebron. I had so much fun and was really sad when I left. Hebron was stressful because of the work, but it really prepared me for college. The social aspect of Hebron was really great too. I made so many great friendships”.

When Ms. New graduated from Hebron Academy, she went to college, and then came back to be a teacher. When I asked her what it was like to return back to campus as a teacher rather than a student she said it felt “strange.” She followed that up by saying that it is weird to be colleagues with the people who were once her teachers! However, there are only a few faculty members who are still here from when she was at Hebron. Ms. New also said: “It is interesting to see all of the things that go on behind the scenes; being a teacher is hard work but also super rewarding!”

Maddy says the environment has changed, but not necessarily the staffing and buildings: "I think there have been a lot of changes to the environment but it still feels like home... I think that for a while Hebron was straying away from the Hebron everyone knows and loves, but it is making its way back to being the same old Hebron."

Something that came as a bigger change this year was our dress code, I wanted to hear her thoughts on that as well. Ms. New essentially said that the dress code she had was stricter. When she went to Hebron there were no jeans, joggers, sweatpants or sweatshirts, hats or leggings. The boys were expected to wear khakis and collared shirts. The girls could wear pants or dresses. She also said that there were definitely days when you didn't want to follow the dress code, but everyone always did. It was kind of flipped; by dressing down, you stood out from everyone else who was dressed nicely. Ms. New mentioned that she feels the new norm is to not follow the dress code, unlike when she was there.“We are a prep school and I feel as though we should dress in such a way that represents that.”

Women's sports have come a long way, and Ms. New's experience with sports was described as “rewarding.” She followed that up by saying, "Being a female athlete at Hebron was very rewarding. For soccer, we won MAISADs and made it to New Englands. We had a really great group of girls for the three years I was here, so we were able to create a really good team. As for basketball, my sister and I along with another girl all came to Hebron at the same time. Before we came, I didn’t think the program was really that great."

However, while I was here we won MAISADs twice, and I almost got 1,000 points in 3 years.” After playing basketball as a student, she decided to create a women's basketball team for the 2023-2024 season, since Hebron has been without a female basketball team since 2020. Ms. New said: “Being a coach has been really fun. However, it saddens me to see how the girl's programs have slipped through the cracks. I do think that they are coming back and there has been a lot of support from everyone to get them up and running again.”

In addition to dress code and sports, Hebron has also created a new daily schedule since Ms. New left. I wanted to compare it to Ms. New's old daily schedule. She said “ I think that the daily schedule we had when I was here was a lot easier to manage than the one we have now. However, I know that this is the first year that we are trying this schedule and it is a work in progress. When I was here, we had free periods and the class periods were shorter.

Free periods were spent working on homework in the library or meeting with teachers. I think that the changes in the library were not beneficial to our community because they took away a meeting space for students to work and collaborate together. I remember spending so much time there during school and after working on homework and projects. I also think that our lunch periods are too short, and by the time you get through the line, it's time for class. Lastly, being a middle school teacher I have had to advocate for the younger students, I think that they are too young to be in the classroom for 60-75 minutes at a time with no break.”

It was very interesting to here how Hebron has and hasn’t changed, through the perspective of someone who has seen the before and after of major changes.

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Re ecting On the Varsity Golf ’23 Season

By Evan Miller ’25 With Fall sports underway, the Hebron golf team hit the links. The team was looking good in practices, and we headed up to beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee for a match against Brewster Academy. The team played well and most of the matches were close despite the 6-0 loss. The next match was away against Austin Prep at Hillview Golf Course, and again the team played well but ended up losing 4-2. With another away match, the team would head to Belgrade Lake with our rivals, Kents Hill. Our team ended up losing our third straight in a close match 3.5 to 2.5. We headed home to Summit Springs for the first home match of the season. We played the powerhouse of Brewster Academy, losing the fourth straight game 4.5 to 1.5. We would play Gould for the first time of the season at home and won our first match 5 to 1.

Our team then went on a winning streak, beating NYA 5 to 1 and defeating Gould again 5 to 1. After the streak, we lost 4 to 2 to rivals Kents Hill again but would come back to defeat NYA for a second time with a score of 6 to 0. Finally, our team traveled back to Lake Winnipesaukee for the MAISAD championship.

The Lumberjacks finished in second Matt Canavan '24

place in the MAISAD

championship meet behind Brewster Academy. We had finally beaten our rivals Kents Hill. Matt Canavan tied for 3rd place overall, and both Gabe Cote and Mateusz Kaus finished in the top 10. The team finished the season with an overall record of 7-6. The team looks to continue to improve next season and come one step closer to finally

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winning the MAISAD championship

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Re ecting On the Boys Varsity Soccer ’23 Season

By Dilamar Segundo ‘24 The boys varsity soccer season was one to be proud of, especially being a team that had no recruiting. This team had gotten together, sharing a passion for soccer and one goal in mind: play! Each player has demonstrated their passion and love for the sport, almost as if there was a burning flame inside them. This flame made itself noticeable in every practice and game, with each individual giving their 100% at all times, whether it was Jack as a manager, Hiro with his insane goals, or Jeremy saving a penalty in the crucial moments of a match.

What started as a group of unique players combining experiences from all different sports, all across the globe, ranging from hockey to tennis became a close-knit group of friends by last week of practice, recalling unforgettable moments that they had together. People who otherwise would have likely never talked developed unbreakable bonds and became lifetime friends.

Under the leadership of Coach Santos and Coach Lemieux, the team strived to develop, having players with little soccer experience becoming consistent starters, and each player developing their own individual abilities. With this being said, no team can thrive with individual players, and ours showed how powerful we are when we play as a unit.

In the matches that we played together as a family we dominated; no

The Boys Varsity Soccer Team

one could stop the one-to-two touches strategy that Coach Santos taught us.

Each player worked selflessly, making up for someone else's mistake and making sure the other person had the best pass possible. Being part of this team was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am sure no player will ever

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forget.

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Student Artwork

Louisa Strong ‘26

Nora Tobey ‘24

Silvia Saito ‘27

Evie Willer ‘26

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Fitting Into the Bigger Box

By Kate Hashiya ‘24 We live in a world where too often the majority defines normal and holds the power. This is the case in many places, or at least the places I have been to. The term "common sense" implies that an idea or action is so simple that it’s essentially muscle memory; however, common instances where common sense would be applied vary across the globe. When someone is exposed to a culture where the norms and common senses differ from their own, it is called a“culture shock." I have experienced many culture shocks, especially when I was in elementary school, learning English and American cultures for the first time.

In Japan, people speak Japanese. In the United States, people speak English. In Costa Rica, people speak Spanish.

And if I try to speak any other language in a certain place, people will look at me like I am a crazy person.

Although I knew that different countries speak different languages, I was shockingly unprepared for the instances in which most people would simply use common sense. Nobody ever taught me how to ride an American bus, nobody ever told me not to take my shoes off when I enter a house, and nobody ever told me that a “tall” size in Starbucks is triple the size of a “tall” size in Japan. When I encounter these situations, I feel discouraged. The feeling of not being able to do things that I know I can was one of the most frustrating experiences in my life.

Although by now I may have all but mastered American norms, but the world is still a vast place that I will never be able to completely explore.

Last spring, During my process of learning my third language, I encountered the same feeling that I had almost forgotten in Costa Rica. I was much older and more intelligent than

Spector, D. (2011, November 15). Big, beautiful pictures of Wal-Mart stores around the world. Business Insider. https:// www.businessinsider.com/walmart-store-fronts-earnings-2011-11

when I experienced my first culture shock in the United States; therefore, I expected more from myself. I expected that this time I would be able to roll with the punches and have an easier time adjusting – I’ve had a lot of practice adjusting. Simply put, I was wrong. It was as if a time machine had put me back in the same position where I was in elementary school. I battled through it and graciously made the adjustments I needed to. However, I made a vitally important discovery that I think everyone should know. Through my experiences of learning three different cultures, I have found a place where anybody - regardless

28 of race, gender, age, sex, appearance, IQ, or title - will question their power: the supermarket. If I were to ask just about anybody where their local supermarket is, they would have an answer. Not many people go out of town just so they can get the same milk that they can get at their local supermarket two miles away. Everyone in their town goes to their local supermarket; therefore, it has a sense of community. The longer you live in the area, the more people are going to remember you. They’ll remember your face, then your name, then more and more about you. People who work there are locals, they have local accents, haircuts, and mannerisms, if the locals spot anybody from a different place, they will stick out like a sore thumb. I rst went grocery shopping by myself in Japan when I was seven. I learned to do the math, to pay the money, and to get the change back; just the basic steps of how shopping works. Then when I came to the United States at thirteen, I learned that people at the checkouts speak much faster than my ESOL teacher and that they seemed to be in a hurry even if there were no lines behind me. However, they still somehow ask every customer, “How is your day going?” I felt ashamed when I had to ask them to repeat themselves over and over on the basic questions. As soon as I represented myself as a non-native English speaker, I felt like a thick wall between the counter and me sprouted and grew exponentially, and that I was no longer respected by the community since it was obvious to them that I was the newcomer. I was worried about my English then, but now I have grown so much that I worry more about my total price than the conversation part.

Four years later when I was forgetting the thrill of going through the checkouts in different countries, there was another opportunity for me when I visited a supermarket in Costa Rica. It was a close walking distance from my host family’s house in a rural area, where you would describe everything within walking distance as local. Adding on to the difference in languages, going to a new supermarket felt like a maze. All the sections were in different positions, and it took me a while to nd everything I needed. After I had everything in my cart, it was nally time to check out; a time to determine whether I was going to be accepted into this community. My level of Spanish wasn’t as good as my English when I rst came to the United States. Therefore I had no clue when they asked me something like “cash or card?” After realizing that I was not from there, they stopped asking me all the questions that they were asking the customer in front of me. I was no longer able to place my groceries as I meant to, pay the money like I knew math, say no when they asked me if I wanted to make a points card with their establishment and have some nice little conversation with the cashier. I felt like I was taken over. Although people who work there don't care much about a single customer, this checkout meant so much for me in terms of growth.

It is a learning step. But it is a learning step that I can’t make excuses for. Whether it is my second, third, or seventh language to learn, people won’t know or care in the real world, such as in places like supermarkets. Yet, the reason I keep learning different languages is so that I can go visit and experience how people with different cultures see the world.

Therefore, I want to enrich myself in other cultures and grow to a point where people treat me like I belong there. Not in a tourist sense of belonging, but in a sense of comfort, because that’s when I’ll know that I am nally on a starting

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line of empowering myself in a more diverse world.

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My Fear Of Advocation

By Ky’ra Bullard ‘26 Have you ever done something stupid because of your feelings? Whether you would say yes or no, we can all agree nobody’s perfect, right? Everyone has made a mistake at some point in their lifetime because of how they feel. With this in mind, I’m reminded of when two of my former schoolmates had almost started a serious fight while we were in Physical Education class.

At about 2:15 P.M. that day, my P.E. class started. The coach started the class with two laps around the two basketball courts inside of the fenced yard, then the coach had us doing some general leg and arm exercises to warm-up for the sport we would play that day. We played a somewhat simple game, we lined up, chest-passed the ball to someone near the basketball hoop, and let them score it.

While this may appear to be extremely simple, my class ran into some obstacles. After about an hour to an hour and a half of practice, one of my classmates, who I will call Olie, was yelling out to a classmate, advising on how to play the game better. That’s when another girl who wasn’t participating due to an injured knee, Alex, decided to critique her from the gate’s opening rudely.

Suddenly, Olie’s temper had boiled Lafontant, O. (2022, February 18). Five best places to play pickup basketball in Broward County. Caplin

over and approached Alex

aggressively, who was matching the energy. While I knew they weren’t on the best terms, I had never expected them to nearly fight in the middle of class, let alone in the class that we have the strictest teacher in. After the commotion cleared up, our coach was furious. For whatever reason, he began to yell at the entire class as we stood out in the sun after the two girls who tried to fight had been sent to the school’s office (which, mind you, has air conditioning and seating). As a punishment, he made everyone run laps around the two basketball courts, saying that if one person refused to run, we would run for the next hour until school finished at 3:00 P.M. I huffed and puffed as my other classmates and I trudged around and around the two courts, over and over again. To top off this cruel and unusual punishment, one boy in the class was too lazy to even consider running. He refused to run until the entire class was upset and yelling at him. I wanted to yell and escape the grueling grasp of the basketball court’s fencing, but I was too exhausted and scared of my coach to do

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either of those. By the time we were finally allowed to rest, the coach repeatedly lectured us all, attempting to explain he was “teaching us a lesson about fighting,” even though the two who actually fought were sitting down in the cool A/C of the school office! I was enraged, but I kept quiet, hopefully preventing him from dishing out another 50 laps to us for talking out of turn.

The aftermath of the running was terrible, and quite frankly, embarrassing for all of us students. A girl almost

had an asthma attack, my friend claimed they could see the heat coming off of people, and me? I was crying from the burning I felt in my legs and chest. My throat was as dry as the desert, and it felt like I could drop to the floor and die at that very moment from the sun’s heat. I was embarrassed and disappointed in myself for seeming so weak and sensitive in front of the people who see me every single day. I thought people would see me differently after that. I was worried they would taunt me, call me unathletic, but I wouldn’t have come out of those laps unscathed even if I were a trained and fit athlete.

When he finished lecturing us, the clock miraculously turned to 3:00 p.m. the school’s bell tolled, signifying the end of the school day. I gathered my things and ran to my father’s truck– well, I hurried as fast as I could, the coach’s torturous punishment stole my ability to run for the next few days. After a brisk walk, I hopped in weakly and told my father about it immediately. I was extremely annoyed and very disgruntled with my P.E. coach. However, his menacing figure, booming voice, and strictness deterred me from even telling someone from school about how I felt about it. It was like I was (and still am) scared that he may somehow hear my complaints, and give an even worse punishment to the class because of me.

Authority

By Cecilia Ross ‘28 Authority defines us. Authority is what constructs our opinions and views of life. Authority can be right, or wrong; it is only you who decides that. Authority can lift you high, as if you can touch heaven, or push you so low in the depths of hell. Authority is an acceptor, a denier. It is cotton candy: sweet and light as a cloud, but soon melts away into thin air. Sometimes we love authority or despise it. We all feel the need to be superior; we want our opinions, and our choices to be the right ones, and be respected with praise. But sometimes we want authority. We feel lost in a deep never-ending black hole of confusion. We turn to others for guidance, to become more successful than we could have been on our own. When authority from others, especially from someone your age, catches you off guard, it becomes what you make of it. Every once and a while another human being comes along with emotions that we can not obtain ourselves hurt, fear, sadness, jealousy. All can lead to one sentence that can change the way someone may look at their day: “Shut up.”

Now, when I first heard this word come out of their mouth, the harshness of their soul decoded. As I saw the look on their face and the tone that was used, I could clearly tell this person had overlooked myself and considered themselves, authority. And from other looks of surrounding groups, tension in the room grew. All the auditory, side eyes, and sudden turns of backs was the silent language of “This can’t be good.”

As this comment came out it did make me feel small. However, while others sunk in their chairs and turned

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their backs, I took another approach.

My own authority of myself would disagree with the idea of suppressing others. But this person did not seem to have any empathy. They just simply moved on like it was a common conversation. But I don’t let obstacles stand in my way. How would I be able to climb a mountain with a boulder in my way? Would I go head-on and move it?

Or would I find a way to go around it? This boulder seems superior to me. Like I can't move on unless I back down. But when I am just at the top of the mountain that holds beautiful sights, why would I hike back down the mountain because of an obstacle?

So, what would I do? There were only seconds for my response. With my face evident of uncertainty, I stood up straight.

“I will not.”

A glare was exchanged.

Soon enough, the tension in the room faded, everyone returned to normal conversations, and the music faded in the background. It was like nothing had happened, nothing had changed. But why should we leave conflict in this way? I feel as humans, we should understand why someone said something and what happened to them to prompt them to say such a thing.

I mean, I was just listening to music, minding my own business, and there was no reason for me to tell someone those words in exchange.

All I did was deny. I denied the authority presented to me. I denied the presented superiority of another

Cantalupo, S. (2019, January 9). 348 Voice Empathy Cues. Florida Tech News. https://news.fit.edu/ psychology_behavior_analysis/348-voice-empathy-cues/

person. And it felt wrong. It felt like I should have backed down. But I knew that I was allowed to defend myself.

Authority can catch us off guard, whether it is a parent, a coach, or a friend. We might disagree with the way we are being treated. I knew this friend of mine was trying to have authority over me. As I was the same age, I knew they should not act superior. And with that, challenging authority can show where you stand, and your expectations on how you should be treated.

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Editors Mason Hat eld ‘24 Hannah Sullivan ‘24

Graphic Design Nora Tobey ’24

Faculty Advisor

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Barbara Waterman