Layout by: Jianing (Jennifer) Lin ‘24
SALMAGUNDY The Official Student Newpaper of Miss Porter’s School Graduation 2024 The Class of 2024: Guinea Pigs, or Trailblazers?
By Jaimie Ng ‘24 As the 2023-24 school year draws to a close, and Spring tional AP level. For those who wish they were offered AP traditions are in full swing— students cross their right arm classes instead, as someone who attempted to self-study over left and sing Moonbeams, New Girls start rehearsing AP Calculus BC— you don’t. their German, and Daisy Chain practice begins— Seniors begin to reminisce about their time at Porter’s. While it Perhaps most notably, we were the first grade to partichas been a tumultuous four years for the Class of 2024, it ipate in the AIS Global Experience program, where stuis undeniable that the past four years have been extremely dents traveled to Costa Rica, France, and Germany as part memorable, and have molded us into the graduates we are of a trimester-long class. Though those trips did not come today. Though a lot of change has occurred in that time— without their challenges, it is without a doubt that students hence the nickname “guinea-pig grade”— a lot of that returned to the classroom with a changed perspective on change has created unique, engaging experiences for our the world and how we should travel. class, enriching our perspectives as ‘informed, bold, resourceful and ethical global citizens’ while simultaneously Finally, we were also the first grade to participate in a manchallenging us, ultimately shaping us into better people. datory AIS Professional Experience program, which has Perhaps, being the grade to experience everything first was prepared us for life beyond Porter’s. From setting up our a blessing in disguise. LinkedIn profiles, practicing our handshakes, and participating in mock job fairs (and many, many more), we are We were the first grade to start freshman year with a two- leaving high school with essential skills for success later week quarantine in our freshman-only dorms, having to eat in life. What other high schooler knows how to do their meals either in our rooms or outside, six feet apart. When taxes? day students returned to campus, they spent their time sitting in squash courts— also six feet apart. Despite the obvi- So, as we walk with the Daisy Chain, jump in the fountain, ous challenge that Covid-19 posed to forming friendships, and smile through our tears at graduation, let’s remind ourwe made it work. Many friendships formed in freshman selves of the amazing memories we have made as a class, year are still going strong today, and continue as we head and perhaps, start making plans to meet up with each other off to college. in the future. The past four years, though rocky at times, have shaped us all into who we are today— hopefully, ‘inWe were also the first grade to never have taken any Ad- formed, bold, resourceful, and ethical global’ guinea pigs vanced Placement (AP) classes. Instead, we were able to or trailblazers, whichever you prefer. take AIS classes, which are equal to or beyond the tradi-
Class of 2024. Photo from Miss Porter’s School