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Prior to attending the Delphian School, I was several grades behind in reading and was having quite a bit of difficulty catching up. The Delphian School’s individualized approach to education is really the only reason I was able to catch up at all—I had to make up four grade levels to reach my current reading level.The Delphian School also helped me get out of my shell. I had moved around several times before attending the school and struggled with shyness and not really knowing how to make new friends. The Delphian program, with all of its extracurricular activities, slowly but surely helped me come out of my shell.

This may be an unusual answer, but I think the best thing that happened to me at the Delphian School was being cut from the soccer team. During tryouts one year, I was convinced I was excellent at the sport and that there was no way I wouldn’t make the team. Toward the end of tryouts, we were given a simple instruction: run a timed mile. I walked the mile and ended up with the slowest time, and—shockingly—I did not make the team.This was a heavy blow to my ego, and at first, I resented both the coach and the school. I asked the coach to reconsider, and he politely said no, explaining that there were other sports activities I could pursue instead. After some insistence—well beyond my comfort level—the coach gave me a challenge: beat the best time for the one-mile run.It took about two weeks of running a mile several times a day, including over my lunch breaks, to prepare. When I showed up to practice, I managed to beat the record by one second—heaving and out of breath, but victorious.This experience taught me a lasting lesson in humility, perseverance, and taking challenges seriously.

The only advice I would give my younger self attending boarding school for the first time is to participate in as many activities and clubs as possible.Of course, take time to get comfortable in a new environment, but don’t let yourself get too comfortable. Education is about personal growth, and you can’t achieve that by staying inside all day.

What I liked most about the Delphian School was the balance of feeling part of a community while also maintaining my individuality. The school has a unique culture that allows you to be fully yourself while being part of a greater community of equally diverse individuals.I haven’t really experienced this outside of the school community, and it’s something I hope more people learn to embrace.

My only words of wisdom is to be willing to immerse yourself in the program and all it has to offer.

The academic program was customized to fit each student’s needs and goals. When I first arrived at Delphian, I was several grade levels behind in my reading ability, so that was taken into account. I also had a strong interest in music, and I was able to take unique courses focused on music and the music business.Being met at my level and having my academic education connected to my interests was what I enjoyed most about attending the Delphian School.

Athletics was a big part of my time at Delphian. I mostly played soccer—but I played it a lot, haha! What was unique about playing sports at the Delphian School was that my teammates came from all over the world: Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and more. Although we sometimes faced communication barriers, we were all united by the sport. I still stay in touch with many of my teammates to this day.

The Delphian School arts program allowed me to really explore my creative interests. During my time there, I played bass guitar for four years in the school’s jazz band, had a rock band with friends and performed at the school’s Friday Night Performances (talent show), and participated in school plays. At one point, I even chose, directed, and executed my own student-run production.This aspect of the school helped me the most in getting out of my shell and overcoming my shyness.

There is a lot that could be said here, but I’ll just focus on the Student Council and the role I had there. As a student, you start out with minor responsibilities, like washing dishes or keeping the gym clean, and as you progress through the program, you move on to roles with greater responsibility.For me, moving up to higher roles was not a linear path—I failed, stumbled, and needed to be picked up—but I’m grateful I learned those lessons in high school rather than in my first job.Having now worked in HR for almost ten years, I see many adults learning the same basic lessons of responsibility that Delphian taught me and my peers when we were younger.

I didn’t actually live in the dormitories until my senior year of high school. My family and I decided that moving into the dorms would help me manage the challenging workload of academics and extracurricular activities I was trying to fit into my final year.Living in the dorms taught me how to share space with others, be respectful of their needs, and set healthy boundaries for my own space. What I liked most about dorm life was being able to hang out with friends and fully take advantage of the school’s programs.

I didn’t have any issues with the food—there was always a good variety. We had dessert every Friday, which quickly became a game among my friends to see how many of the “take one only” desserts we could get before getting caught. The answer is seven, by the way.

The school is located near two small towns (I think each has about 5,000 people), where you can get food and snacks from a local market. There are also some restaurants and fast-food options.The most exciting things nearby are probably in Portland or Salem, both about an hour away. The school organizes trips to these larger cities from time to time, which is great for scratching the “I need to get off this tiny hill” itch.

My social life changed a lot from my first year to my senior year at the school. I started out very shy and awkward, and while I managed to make a small group of friends at first, participating in sports, choir, and other extracurriculars helped me expand my circle. By the end of my time there, it felt like I was friends with everyone at the school.