“Growing up, I always went to summer camp that my mom and her friends started in New Jersey. Currently, I am a camp counselor, but I used to be a camper. There, I rock-climbed and swam. I only missed the summers during the pandemic or for luge. It always falls on my birthday, so I have a lot of good memories there.

“When I was ten, I saw an advertisement on Facebook for luge. I thought the sport was interesting, so I went to a track at Mt. Van Hoevenberg and tried it out. And I stuck with it since then.

“I don’t have a particular pre-game ritual. Since training is always on the same day as racing, I do everything as usual. I try not to get in my head with racing. Just trying to be calm and keeping it cool.

“Out of all the places I have traveled to for luge, Austria was the best. It was unbelievably beautiful there.

“I’ve also been dancing since I was five at the Dance Sanctuary in Saranac Lake. My favorite style is contemporary.

“I really love the art room on campus. It is a place where I can stay calm and hang out. I took an art class in 9^th grade, and I hadn’t taken one until this year, so I found myself falling in love with the art room again. When I graduate, I will miss it a lot, and the lunch conversations I have with my friends.

“After graduation, I am going to take a gap year to focus on luge. Then, I will do online college classes because it is hard to go to college in person while having to train.

“After spending four years at Northwood, I think I have grown a lot. While I am still a closed-off person, I think I have been putting myself out there more. Last week, I ran the school meeting, and I thought I would never do that in my entire life.”

As told to Jenny Tran ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Ashley from a Northwood School trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Photo: Eric Adsit.

Ashley Guevara ’24, a recent Northwood alum and four-year survivor, is attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. At Northwood, she was a member of the crew team and NOC. When asked about her first-semester experience, Ashley said she had grown a lot since graduating. It was a trial and error for Ashley, as she figured out new routines and relationships. Despite her boarding school experience, going to college is still a transformative experience.

“It is a transition from adolescence to adulthood. At college, the only person who looks out for you is you,” Ashley said.

Ashley’s favorite part about college is the sense of independence and freedom. She likes making her own schedule and doing whatever she wants. “I don’t have anyone to tell me to go eat or to check in for dinner,” Ashley joked.

She is studying architecture – a very time-consuming major. A typical day for Ashley at Tulane University starts with her 9 to 12 class. As the weather is getting warmer, she and her friends like to tan after class. Then, she hits the gym and eats. After dinner, she hangs out with friends at the park on campus or goes to one of the study spaces to do homework. Oftentimes, she also goes to town and runs into a celebrity.

This year was special for Tulane University as there was the Super Bowl. With so many attractions in New Orleans, Ashley got the chance to go to free concerts. Mardi Gras was also bigger than ever. Tulane’s school culture and Greek life had added a lot of festivity to Mardi Gras, and Ashley had a lot of fun celebrating the carnival.

Though Ashley loves Tulane so far, she misses the outdoors that she had in the Adirondacks. Reflecting on her Northwood days, Ashley misses the close-knit community that forced her to make friends and find a solid friend group. She also credits Northwood for preparing her well. “Mr. Emery’s calculus class will prepare you for Calculus 1 because I’m passing it, and Mr. Reed’s class with writing as well,” Ashley said.

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Myoko. During February break, eighteen Northwood students traveled to Japan with the LEAP program, led by student Gus Garvey ‘25. They started their journey from Lake Placid on the 7th of February and returned on the 18th. After spending two weeks exploring the country, they brought back stories I got to hear. Here are the most memorable places for Willow Zhao ‘27, Sophia Sherman ‘25, Aston Ferrillo ‘26, and Gus Garvey ‘25.

“One day, we woke up around five and went to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto. When walking to the temple and passing a local neighborhood, I saw how the locals live as they go to work in the early morning. When traveling, I most appreciate learning about day-to-day life in a country. So, observing the lifestyle in Kyoto was the most memorable for me. Then we just explored around the temple. Everything was amazing: the view and the temple itself,” says Willow Zhao ‘27.

“My favorite place was Kyoto. It was quaint, but you would still feel like you are in a city. One of the reasons why I love Kyoto is because of the temples. It was a shame that we could only spend a day in Kyoto – I wish we could have had more time to explore. I also enjoy being in Tokyo. We stayed in Ebisu, Tokyo, for the last two nights. It was close to Shibuya, so there was a lot of good shopping and delicious food,” says Sophia Sherman ‘25.

“I think my favorite place was the temple in Kyoto. We went on a perfect morning to visit the temple. It was very quiet, surrounded by a forest. It was beautiful. You could also walk on paths over to different parts of the temple, which I thought was pretty cool,” says Aston Ferrillo ‘26.

“Last year, when I went to Kyoto with my family, my dad and I randomly found a small corner grill place for dinner. We went in. I talked to the owner about his restaurant. He thought my Japanese was really good for a “foreigner” since I was with my dad. The place was run by amazing, kind people, like a mom-and-pop place. It was my favorite meal from the last trip. So, when planning for Japan LEAP, I made a reservation for the restaurant even before the hotel rooms – that is how much I prioritized it. We went there as Japan LEAP. Everyone remembered us. They loved the group’s energy and gave us a private room to eat. It was a great experience with positive vibes. When returning to Kyoto, I will ensure to go back to Go-En,” says Gus Garvey ‘25.

All photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Three words my friends would use to describe me are intelligent, determined, and creative.

“I’m from Saratoga, NY. My favorite memory growing up was my family’s trip to Scotland for the British Open. I had the chance to see super old castles. I also visited amazing museums, and that’s when I started to love history.

“Songs l often play are ‘Sugar for the Ill’ by Slowdive and ‘Comin’ Back to Me’ by Jefferson Airplane. I love to listen to them when I drive. They just calm me down and allow me to think better.

“My advice is to not judge anyone too harshly, including yourself, because you never know what someone might be going through.

“What I like the most about Northwood is my friends. I feel like they are there for me, and I wouldn’t have met them if it wasn’t for this place.

“After graduation, I plan to work at the McGregor golf course in Saratoga, then go to college in the fall. I am still unsure where to go, but I’m thinking about Queens University in Canada and Ohio State.”

As told to Jenny Tran ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I grew up in Virginia and D.C. on and off because my mom is in the Navy. She is currently in Saudi Arabia. I have visited her twice now, and I’m going back this summer.

“I used to hate waking up early in the morning to ski, but it has grown on me. I really like skiing in the morning – it’s the highlight of my day. The waffle cabin is one of my favorite spots at Whiteface.

“My one life advice: behavior is a form of communication. How you act represents how you are – think before you act.

“My parents and I are huge foodies. Since my family is so busy with work, we eat out more than we cook at home. We always try new places, which is very exciting. But we do love to cook also. My dad went to culinary school, so I learned how to cook from him. My mom loves baking and has taught me to bake too.

“If I had a death row meal, I would want a big platter of sushi – it’s my favorite food since I grew up eating them. I would also want China City’s crab rangoon and Soulshine Bagel’s lox bagel to be on there.

“I enjoy going to coffee shops and studying there a lot. If talking about Lake Placid, I always visit Origin to get a coffee and their Banh Mi or Turkey Panini.

“I’m not sure about where and what I want to study after graduation. I’m thinking of doing something in the outdoor and adventure sports world if the school I choose has those majors. If not, I want to study art history.

“For the last months of senior year, I plan to make the most of it, which can sound cheesy, but Northwood is like my home now. So, I’m a little sad about having to graduate and leave this place. My mindset currently is just to enjoy being here with everyone and doing the things I like.”

As told to Jenny Tran ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.