With 72 new students from all over the world, the farthest one from South Africa, which is 7,970 miles away from Lake Placid, Northwood School continues to be an exceptionally diverse community. Overall, we have 194 students from nineteen states and 24 different countries. This diversity allows students and faculty not only to learn about others’ unique cultures, traditions, and values but also to create lifelong friendships.
New students may feel uneasy or intimidated about meeting different people, but they soon end up feeling at home, learning many similarities among differences.
Luke French ’20 (photo provided)
“I am a post-graduate from Overland Park, Kansas,” said Luke French ‘20. “My hobbies here at Northwood are playing on the junior hockey team and playing senior golf. I decided to come to Northwood to further my hockey career and my education so that I’m more prepared for college and my upcoming years,” said French.
Though Northwood is different from his home in that the school is “in the middle of nowhere,” according to French, he likes that Northwood allows him to meet new people. “I went to a public school before this year, so going to a prep school is a lot different. People come from all over the place, creating more diversity, instead of just a bunch of kids coming from one city. My first impression of Northwood was good because of what I have heard of it. But when I first pulled up [to the school], I was a little bit uneasy. After being here for about a week or so, I got to meet a lot of new people, and everyone has been treating me very well. The way I feel about the community is very great because there are so many open people that can help you with anything you need. I feel welcome here at school,” French said.
Marie-Jeanne Prince ’22 (Photo provided)
Marie-Jeanne Prince ‘22 is a U16 alpine skier who learned about Northwood from her neighbor Sarah Bennett ‘19. Prince said, “I am a new tenth grader from Quebec. I am fifteen years old, and my hobbies are mostly skiing and fitness. I came to Northwood because of the skiing program. Northwood is very different from home because where I am from, everybody is more independent. But here, we are more like a community, which is really nice. My first impression of Northwood was that everybody was super nice and welcoming and included every new student in their group.”
Ben Norton ’22 (Photo provided)
Like French and Prince, Ben Norton ‘22 is looking forward to furthering his athletic career as well. “I am from England, and I am fifteen. I came to Northwood for hockey. Northwood is a lot different from home because there are a lot of different cultures here. My first impression of Northwood was that everyone was very friendly and welcoming. [Northwood] seems like a great place to live,” Norton said.
Though Magdalena Erbenová ‘20 took time adapting to life in the United States, her attachment to Northwood has been steadily growing since she has arrived. Erbenová said, “I am a post-graduate, and I am from the Czech Republic. I am eighteen years old, and my hobbies are hockey, playing piano, skiing, and hanging out with my friends. I came to Northwood because I need to get better at English for my upcoming years at a university. Northwood is very different from where I went to school at home. I usually just went to school then came home instead of spending time with the people at school. So it is quite different that I am on campus at all times.”
Magdalena Erbenová ’20 (Photo provided)
“At home, I had about 14 subjects, but here, I only have five. There was also no dress code at my old school. We could wear whatever we wanted to. My first impression of Northwood was good because I really liked the location of the school, and I really liked that it is a small school with not a lot of people. I really like the community here at Northwood because everyone is very close to each other, and everyone, including teachers, helps each other out. Everyone seems connected to each other,” said Erbenová.
Although there are many differences among the students and faculty at Northwood, the diversity throughout the school continues to create a stronger, more bonded community, allowing new students to feel comfortable and at home.
