“If I had to describe myself in three words, they would probably be ‘bubbly,’ ‘reliable,’ and an ‘ambivert.’

“Coming to Northwood, I think I became more open-minded and adventurous. Back home, I didn’t want to do anything except shopping and going to cafes, but here, I started hiking, and I tried rock climbing. Now I’m super open-minded about trying everything for the first time and seeing how it goes. And skiing too—I tried skiing when I got here and grew to love it so much. I’m super excited for ski season. I’m also more active now; I love going to the gym. Here, surrounded by athletes and coaches, I ended up going to the gym and lifting, and I really enjoy it since it helps with my mental health.

“Dance here is really fun. I always liked dancing, but I never took a serious course in it. When I joined the dance program here, I felt like I had a team, and I made friends, and, of course, I loved dancing as well. I got to experience the more serious side of it, which was really fun. Performing was scary, but then it eventually created more confidence for me. I started doing ballet, which is super technical and hard, so I’m still learning and improving, but I noticed that over my three years here I’ve been getting better at the techniques of ballet.

“My favorite time at Northwood so far was last year, my junior year. I love the springtime, because in the winter I get really gloomy because of the weather, but in the spring, the sun gets out and I’m always just very happy to be outside. My friend group last year, which had Ashley [Guevara ’24], Sophia Miller [‘24], and Avery [Novia ‘24] in it, was tight throughout the year. During spring, they got ready to graduate, and I was really upset but happy for them at the same time. We created so many good memories together, and it was just really fun being with them. We were going outside 24/7, going to town, skating on the oval, things like that. I love the town of Lake Placid. I think I made a lot of good memories there too, and in this room, which was Ashley’s room last year. We spent a lot of time here just hanging out together until 2 am.

“I’m an only child, but I live with my grandparents, so I’d say the family’s five, because we all live together: my parents, my grandparents, and I. Back home, in Ho Chi Minh City [Vietnam], I have long-term friendships; I’ve known all my friends since middle school, so I think I’ve been friends with them for about seven years. We have tight friendships, and we kind of grew up together.

“Coming here and making new friends was overwhelming because I used to be shy and making friends was hard. Also, because I have such tight friendships already, I wasn’t used to making new friends back home and stuck to the same friends every year. At Northwood, it’s totally different. Every year, people leave, and people come, and I learned how to be more social and be more open about making friends and just having fun with people you meet.”

As told to Sasha Luhur ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“A few years ago, my grandpa told me, ‘You never know who’s watching.’ He meant this regarding hockey and recruiting and how I also need to put my best self forward to have integrity always. But over time, I have implemented it into my daily life, and it is something I live by to this day. It lives on with how I carry myself and present myself to the outside world. I think about his words often, and they have shaped my mindset to what it is today. Always improving while always being kind. Because he is right, you never know who could be watching.

“I joined Northwood last year as a junior from Saratoga Springs, NY, seeking an environment that would foster both my athletic development and academic aspirations. Next year, I am excited to attend the University of Vermont, where I will compete in Division 1 ice hockey while pursuing a future career in sports broadcasting. The aspect I value most about Northwood is the multitude of opportunities available and the unwavering support provided in every endeavor, whether on the ice or in the classroom.

“I cherish the unique atmosphere of living in Lake Placid, as these experiences are unparalleled compared to what I might find back home. At Northwood, I have encountered a community of like-minded individuals, all driven by similar passions and aspirations, facilitating meaningful connections and making it effortless to forge strong friendships.

“If someone were looking into Northwood and asked me my biggest takeaway, I would tell them it is the drive you have to have to be in a place where everyone is working for a common goal. You constantly work and find ways to differentiate yourself from the same groups. Northwood has been the best thing when it comes to experiencing and putting myself in a position to be uncomfortable, fulfilling what I have dreamt of, and making lifelong friends. We are so lucky to be here.”

As told to Eliza Quackenbush ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“My biggest fear is spiders.

“I came here mostly because of soccer. I’m a post-grad, and it’s my first year here. Coach Moodey recruited me, and I wanted to come here for some good academics and the good soccer program to set myself up for college.

“I was a senior last year at Saratoga Springs, New York. I played varsity basketball and was a starter, and we did pretty well. In the summer, I play a lot of golf. I’m a scratch golfer, which I think is pretty cool, but I’m kind of getting worse as I don’t play as much anymore. I try to mix it up as far as sports go, so I don’t burn out and because it makes it more fun.

“Saratoga is unique because of the many activities and how it brings the community together with good crowds at school sporting events, places to eat, the racetrack, parks, and golf courses, where kids even in middle and high school ride their bikes downtown to meet up, especially in the summer and after school.

“At my old school, we had a lot of athletes for basketball. We had six seniors who were in the rotation, five of whom started, so we’d get all of our friends out for a few games. We had 300, 400, 500 kids in the student section, so it’d be a packed gym, and it was super, super fun to play in front of. All the parents would come out, a lot of the town would come out. So it was awesome for basketball as well as soccer.

“It is somewhat similar here. I’d say definitely on a smaller scale, as opposed to 2000 students back at my old school, we have 200 here, but kind of runs the same. I mean, all the soccer kids try and get to the hockey games when we can, and we try and support them, and vice versa. When they’re available, they try to come to our games. I think it’s really important in a school, and it brings kids together.

“My grandma gives me a pack of Skittles after every game, whether it was basketball or soccer. She’s continued that—every game that she comes to, she gives me a pack of Skittles.

“My relationship with my grandparents is really good. My grandpa plays golf and skis, and my brothers and dad do too. We often do at least one or two golf rounds throughout the summer where we play 18 holes, and we’re all often pretty busy doing our own thing, so it’s four hours with the guys catching up, which is a lot of fun. In the winter, it’s a full-day ski trip. We drive up to Okemo in Vermont, which is their favorite mountain, and it’s a really fun time.

“I don’t question my choice to come here and do a PG year. For me, it’s the people here. Yes, it’s a grind every day, but and you’re around most of the same people, which is sometimes tough if you don’t like those people, but to have teammates that I love playing with every day, love being around every day, teachers who are really supportive who care about you and coaches as well, and all the staff and even the hockey guys and ski people. So, I love the people here, and I think that’s really helped me coming here.”

As told to Cedric Lemaire ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“When I was nine, my parents took me to Ushuaia, Argentina, where I skied for the first time. I loved every second of it. The cold air, the rush of gliding down the mountain, and the feeling of freedom on the snow. Even though I had never skied, I felt connected to the sport. Unfortunately, since I grew up in Brazil, where it’s hot year-round, skiing wasn’t something I could look forward to regularly. As much as I wanted to keep going, there was no snow back home, and I didn’t have many opportunities to travel to places where I could ski again.

“For years, skiing became just a memory. Growing up in a country without snow meant it was hard to stay connected to that passion. Skiing wasn’t popular where I lived, and I didn’t know anyone else who shared that same love for the sport. But everything changed when I moved to Northwood. Being surrounded by snow and mountains brought that excitement rushing back. About three months after I arrived, I got back on the slopes, and it felt like I had never stopped. The thrill was just as intense as during my first experience in Ushuaia.

“Despite playing soccer and not getting to ski as often as I’d like, every time I do, it’s unforgettable. One of my favorite memories is teaching my great friend, Eduardo Aguiar, who used to attend Northwood, how to ski. He had never skied before, and it was a challenge to teach him, but those couple of hours were some of the best times I’ve had on the mountain. We laughed, struggled, but most importantly, celebrated each little step as he learned, and by the end of the day, he was already improving.

“Those moments on the mountain, whether skiing solo or with friends, always remind me why I love the sport. It’s more than just the speed and the rush; it’s about creating memories, challenging yourself, and sharing experiences with others. Those are the moments I’ll continue to build and hold on to.”

As told to Li Feng ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I will miss my Northwood family the most when I graduate this year. This year is my 4^th year at Northwood School, and I have been on the ski team for all my time here. My favorite part of the ski team is the family I’ve found through my teammates, and I plan to keep in touch with my best friends after I graduate this year.

“My time at Northwood has made me more confident in myself and my academic skills, and it has gifted me with my best friends for life. Northwood has given me a strong support system that I will lean on as I go through college and my life.

“My favorite class this year at Northwood is Advanced STEM Research. I am researching athletic differences between skiers, soccer players, and hockey players at Northwood School. I will be conducting this project with my great friend, Cara Dempsey ‘25.

“After I leave Northwood, I hope to attend either Boston University or the University of New Hampshire next year. I want to study fashion and business at either school I end up at. After college, I want to live in Boston, start my own brand, and keep in touch with everyone I’ve met at Northwood.”

As told to Sydney Kuder ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I ski race here at Northwood. In my free time, I like to go to hockey games, run around the lake, and go into town with my friends. I live in the suburbs of New York City, so going to school in a small town is nice because I have so many things that are close and accessible.

“I like being at a boarding school. It’s not a new experience for me because I did winter term three years in a row with NYSEF before coming here. While at home during breaks, I love to hang out with family and friends. I have a dog named Maggie, and I love her.

“I would like to go to college to study biomedical engineering. I also want to ski Division 3 in college.

“My favorite part of Northwood is hanging out with my friends here. It’s fun having all the boys in my room, having a good time, and hanging out.

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“My favorite part of my life so far is being here at Northwood and being a part of such a great community and culture. I worked hard to get here and because of that hard work I was able to put myself in a situation where I can get better every day and surround myself with like-minded people who also strive to get better and smarter every day. I have put myself in a place where I will have opportunities to get to the places I want to be.

“Next year, I want to play junior hockey. I don’t have a specific spot yet, but somewhere that will prepare me to play division one hockey, which is the ultimate end goal. I want to do this for myself, but I also do this for my brother, my family, my loved ones, and the people who care for me and give everything to me.

“I chose Northwood because of the environment, culture, and history that this program and school has built over the years. I’ve also seen great players come out of here and everyone always has awesome stories to tell. It seemed like a great fit for me

“Northwood has already had an unbelievable impact on me in the one year I’ve been here. I’ve made lots of friendships and done things I never thought I would be able to do. I have seen places I didn’t expect to see and experienced a lot of things that many people don’t get to experience.”

As told to Michael Peluso ’25. Photo provided.

“One of my favorite hobbies is road biking around town. Whenever I go out biking, I usually try to find some new roads that I haven’t been to before. This is important to me not only because I love having good navigational skills but also because I am a first responder. It’s important to be able to map places in your head within your department’s district. When I’m not biking, I simply enjoy exploring, getting to meet new people, and helping out tourists with directions.

“From a young age, I’ve always been a people person, and I have always wanted to help people. When I attended Saint Agnes school, the local fire department came for fire prevention week. During this week, fire departments visit schools all around the country and educate the public about fire safety and what to do in emergency situations. Typically, a representative from the fire department gears up in their protective equipment. After the presentation, I was instantly moved.

“I spent the next few years helping with the Lake Placid volunteer fire department. A couple years later I spoke a few times with the Chief at the time and told him I was interested in becoming a member and that’s when I learned of a junior firefighter program.  There I could become a member and begin training, attend meetings, events and much more. Once I turned sixteen, I submitted my application and after a long time of waiting I was voted in by the village board! Ever since, I have enjoyed being a junior member/RAM (restricted active member) of the department.

“I have met so many people and have learned so much and just love doing it! Now it’s going to be something I do in college and then finding my home department sometime after that is the goal!”

As told to Jess Schoch ’25. Photo provided.