Closing Thoughts
A New Beginning Far Away From Home By Ashlyn Chin ’16
In the fall of 2013, I made a decision to apply to Westminster as a Fifth Former. I was born and raised in the capital city of Malaysia, over 10,000 miles and 24 hours away by plane. Growing up there, it wasn’t typical to go to boarding school in the U.S. What really matters is that I did find Westminster, and for that, I have absolutely no regrets. I remember my first day on the Hill. It was like fruit punch: sweet will miss our late-night Wii dance parties, matching festive onesies, but a jumble of all sorts of unfamiliar things — seeing the pristine cuddle sessions on the Sixth Form Lawn, singing “Wherever I Go” from campus in the flesh, meeting my first-ever roommate in Cushing, learning “Hannah Montana” in the basement and unsuccessful attempts at the “Cotton-Eyed Joe” in the Texas line dance that will forever be watching the sunrise. ingrained in my memory, and having an overall feeling of liberty and Music, too, was a big part of my excitement that came alongside this new beginning, Westminster experience. The performing arts especially one so far away from home. These various communities community was always one in which I felt The first few weeks at Westminster were intertwine to form a comfortable, and being surrounded by people who challenging, especially as a new Fifth Former trying were just as or even more passionate than me, to swivel my way into existing friend groups, having unified yet diversified reminded me of why I fell in love with the arts in a busy schedule right up until bedtime check-in, Westminster community the first place. From jam sessions to performances Saturday classes and just trying to get into the groove of boarding school life, while most of my that you shape for yourself with some of the most talented yet humble people I know, I created some of my fondest memories and peers were already perfectly settled. Neither had — a community comprised met some of my closest friends. And of course, this I ever been the “new kid” nor considered an community wasn’t the last of them. “international” student, so being asked “where’s of pockets of people who At Westminster, there is this overarching Malaysia?” while dealing with the common genuinely care about you. warm familiarity — the comfort of walking around skepticism as to why I did not speak “Malaysian,” campus and knowing almost everyone. which isn’t a language, and convincing my peers Westminster takes pride in its close-knit community, and if my words do that English actually was my first language were new to me. After the not give testament to that, I’m sure the collective tears at the Sixth Form initial rollercoaster of emotions steadied and I learned to accept my receiving line on the night of the Lawn Ceremony do. differences, coming to Westminster was worth it. Leaving Westminster isn’t just leaving a school; it’s leaving a home. Any Westminster student will agree that the biggest cliché is to Being an international boarder added to the whole dynamic of that. In mention Westminster’s strong sense of community, but I promise there is my Fifth Form year alone, I spent almost 150 hours flying to and from truth to my words. The community is special because it’s small and made Malaysia. It was virtually impossible to go home unless there was a long up of even smaller, more intimate groups of people who are passionate break, so inevitably, Westminster became home. Between Simsbury and about their interests and beliefs. You don’t have to be just a musician, Kuala Lumpur, I am glad to have been able to live the best of both worlds. athlete or writer; you can be all of those things. These various It hasn’t been long since graduation, but already I am feeling communities intertwine to form a unified yet diversified Westminster somewhat empty. All that Westminster is and was has become such a community that you shape for yourself — a community comprised of big part of who I am. Before I came to Westminster, I had no clue what to pockets of people who genuinely care about you. expect. I didn’t know how it felt to need that Hill Holiday, be pulled onto My first immediate community was my dorm. Picture yourself living the Sixth Form Lawn, eat notorious “Westy chicken,” live on Brookside in a large house with your best friends and having them just a door knock bagels, or leave the school with this almost unexplainable Westminster away when you need comfort. You learn about priorities. You realize that identity. When I look back at my two years, I am in awe of all I sometimes being a shoulder to cry on is more important than rushing to experienced: personal growth, new perspectives, independence, finish an assignment, or that when feeling down, laughing your troubles exposure, friendships and precious memories. I know the special bond away with the famous Westy dip at a dorm feed is probably much that tied the Class of 2016 together will transcend through oceans and healthier than wallowing away on your bed with Netflix. Having a steady skies, and forever linger. While we Martlets have broken free from the support group whenever needed is something I will always treasure. birdcage and don’t know what is out in the wild, we will always be able Every dorm becomes a huge family with corridor supervisors as parents, to return and visit the Hill. When we do, I hope that things will feel just always there to feed you and listen to your petty issues, and an eternal the way they used to. group of sisters or brothers. To my fellow seniors of the Gund House, I 82
Westminster Bulletin