I first heard about Northwood from my advisor based on their strong hockey program, small family-like community, and how friendly the students and teachers were.

As a kid from Quebec who has grown up speaking French, moving to the United States and learning English has opened a lot of doors for me, helped me meet new people, and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Learning English was a challenge, and it is something I would not have accomplished in life if I hadn’t come to Northwood.

I couldn’t pick one memory that stands out above the rest, but the time with my teammates on the road, whether it was on the bus, in hotels, or at games, especially at Cushing, where the stands were packed, will always stick with me. Also, regardless of whether it was freezing cold or warm outside, walking into town with my friend group to get Wyatts and Emma’s was a routine in my daily life at Northwood.

I want to be a good friend by setting a good example for those who will be here next year, whether that’s being a great teammate and friend or advocating for myself in the classroom by meeting with teachers when I’m struggling in a class. That is my goal before graduating.

My advice to anyone at Northwood? When I applied, my advisor told me that in two years, I will graduate from Northwood, and it may sound crazy that I am telling you this now, but I just want to tell you that it will go by much faster than you think. So, my advice is to enjoy the ride; some days will be bad, especially if school, sports, or a club you’re in, or even your social life, aren’t going well. Just remember that one day doesn’t define your entire experience; time moves quickly here, so try to enjoy every moment because it goes by faster than you think.

There have been many people who made a difference in my Northwood experience, but two faculty members have had the greatest impact on my time here.

Mr. Miller has been there for me every step of the way, especially during my first year, when I was just getting used to living away from home, playing hockey, and learning a new language. Coach Miller has restored my confidence and gotten me back on track, and I am grateful he believed in me, especially when I was at my lowest.

Ms. Walker will always be my favorite teacher from my time in high school. I thought AP Bio would be a difficult class at the start of the year, but she is the type of teacher who makes learning fun; it is so easy to talk to her and ask questions because she never judges. The environment she has created in the classroom makes learning enjoyable, and I am not afraid to ask a crazy question or to be confused and embarrassed.

I want to thank my family for making the sacrifices necessary to send me to a school in another country. I am grateful for the opportunity that they have provided me because my experiences at Northwood would not have been possible without them.

As told to Halle Mules ’24. Photo by Mr. MIchael Aldridge.

I am a first year from Schenectady, New York. I had first heard about Northwood through a former student, and quickly started the recruitment process. Eventually everything worked out, and I was excited to start a new chapter of my life.

I was 5 years old when I got into hockey but started playing as a goalie at 7. Back when I was playing youth hockey there was a rule that you could only play goalie for a week a year all the way until squirts. Growing up and living just five minutes away from Union College, I went to a lot of their games. This was at a time when they were an exciting team to watch, and it definitely got me into the sport.

Hockey is a big part of the culture here, and the team bonding I experienced as a new student made the transition easy.” On my first day on campus, I met Ritter Coombs and Owen Flynn and thought they were nutjobs. But seeing them every day and becoming buddies with them was a great way to start my Northwood experience.

A moment that will stick with me is hiking up Cobble as a team and having that bonding experience early on while also experiencing a view of the Adirondacks is not something everyone gets to do.

Everyone has their own thing. When you get to know me, you’ll see I enjoy doing puzzles: your New York Times, Wordles, Crosswords puzzles or even jigsaw puzzles. Journaling has also become a routine in my everyday life. I find myself coming across a quote and writing it down and it’s a way for me to continue to grow as a person.

I’m grateful for my goalie coach Brian McDonald. He’s been with me since an early age, and he made hockey fun and a place where I can get away from the world. Working with him every day in the summer we both got to know one another. On and off the ice having a mentor and a father figure is something special.

As told to Halle Mules ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

I am a third year from Danbury England. I first heard of Northwood from two former students, and I was quickly interested in what Northwood had to offer compared to other schools.

I started playing hockey when I was 5 years old. I used to go to public skate with my dad. One day I signed up for an intro to hockey tryout and went from there. I instantly grew a passion for the sport and knew it was something I wanted to continue. Northwood has given me the opportunities to grow as a person and a student-athlete. A moment that will stick with me is being able to play in my first game with the Prep team. Starting on the high school team my first year, then varsity my second, I always wanted to play on the prep team.

I am extremely grateful for Coach Felhaber and Coach Miller who have had the most impact on my experience here. They have been with me every step of the way and put a smile on my face every day; I owe it to them for assisting me with my development over the past three years.

Fitness is a big part of my life and I enjoy helping others through this. I have successfully opened a fitness account on Instagram and started the summer at 5,000 followers and am now at 25k. I have accomplished a lot of self-set goals for myself and am looking forward to continuing this.

After graduation, I intend to play junior hockey and continue to develop my online fitness programs to eventually open my own gym. I will miss the memories and friendships I have made, particularly as an international student. It will be different not seeing those people every day, but hopefully we will stay in touch.

As told to Halle Mules. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.