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.

“I came to Northwood last year to get the best experience from a hockey and academic aspects. I have lived in Philadelphia and played for the Valley Forge Minutemen my whole life, but I wanted to go somewhere where I could take my game to the next level and get noticed by coaches at the next level.

“I don’t have a favorite part about Northwood because I enjoy all of it. I’ll never forget the relationships and friendships I have made. The camaraderie from the moment I stepped on campus has been fantastic. I love living in Lake Placid and enjoying something most people only dream of. I’m so lucky to have the opportunity to come to Northwood, and I have never taken a second of it for granted.

“Northwood hasn’t necessarily changed me but has made me grow. I was always a hard worker, even before I came to Northwood, but Northwood has given me the platform and tools to showcase the hard work that I put in.

“After Northwood, I will continue hockey with the Johnstown Tomahawks in the North American Hockey League to play division one college hockey.

“If I could change one thing about Northwood, it would be the times that open gym is open. I stay in the gym from 6-7:30 every night for the whole hour and thirty minutes, but it is pretty crowded. I wish that there were more opportunities to use the shooting room and weights throughout the day.”

As told to Pete Moore ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I love country music, especially HARDY, so if there’s a good song playing, you can bet I’m dancing. My hometown is Tupper Lake, a small town known for its lumberjack history and the otters at the Wild Center (they’re a big deal here). We spend much of our time making runs to Stewart’s gas stations or cruising around on our side-by-sides, which is the classic Tupper thing. The sunsets are incredible, especially by the lake after a long day. It’s a small enough place that you’re probably in the wrong town if you’re not waving at someone.

“I chose Northwood because it was the next step for me in academics and hockey. Growing up in a small Adirondack town, my honors classes were limited- either there weren’t enough teachers or enough students willing to suffer with me. Coming to Northwood meant more challenging courses, not just grinding through the New York State Regents curriculum and being taught to pass a test. Starting the day with hockey beats a half-awake homeroom any day.

“The people of Northwood must be my favorite part. I also appreciate the closeness of my teammates and how we get to know our teachers and coaches as actual people, not just for 40 minutes in class or an hour on the ice. They genuinely care and are always involved in our crazy sports schedules. It’s not just the hockey coaches who talk to us; it’s coaches from all sports, making the atmosphere even more supportive.

“I have two big things that I live by: ‘All good things take time’ and ‘Nobody cares, work harder.’ Sometimes, it feels like nothing is going right, but I always remind myself that eventually, I’ll get my ducks in a row- and yes, that’s a bit of a Jeep reference, but just like my Jeep, things get sorted out eventually. Everything always works out in the end. I tend to overthink, so I catch myself spiraling. I remind myself of the second motto: ‘Nobody cares; work harder.’ Whether it’s academics, hockey, or life, it’s my go-to reminder to focus and push through because results come from effort, not overthinking.

“Next year, I’ll return to where I grew up playing hockey, attending college at SUNY Canton. I’ll be majoring in Nursing, aiming to become an RN, with a possible future detour into Radiologic technology- though that decision is a little further down the road. I’m honestly just excited to get the chance to play college hockey on the Women’s hockey team. I’m looking forward to meeting new people along the way and being so close to home for the next four years. It’s also great to still have my two biggest supporters, my parents, close by to help with whatever I need- big or small.”

As told to Sophia DeAnzeris ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I see myself as maybe an ocean shade of green because I feel like that resonates with the go-with-the-flow side of my personality. At the same time, the color displays the tone of a colder temperature and different sides of my personality. It’s also just a pretty cool color.

“Northwood, in all manners, has entirely morphed me as a person. I think the soccer program is the most significant aspect of that. The cultural exposure combined with my general friend group has brought me to find more emotional maturity and figure out who I am in the process.

“A moment that changed my life, I think, was my decision to come to Northwood. The opportunity I was given at Northwood has helped shape me because these crucial years in my development have all been spent at Northwood. So, I feel like that decision is the root of everything.

“In ten years, I hopefully will have graduated from a good college and have had a promising soccer career at said school. I’ll either be traveling the world or have already traveled because this is my dream in life. On top of that, I’ll be much wiser, much taller, more handsome, and stronger. I’ll probably be equally as calm and humble as my current self.  Regarding family, I’ll have a charming wife and maybe a kid on the way, too, hopefully a boy. Also, I’ll be working a stable, steady, good job that will give me a lot of money.

“What I’ll remember the most from Northwood is the people, all the moments that I shared with them, and all the different personalities that I got to know really made it special to me and it’s something that I’m going to hold on to for the rest of my life and I hope my friendships will stay. Everyone I’ve been with here, from Nate and Noah, my two childhood best friends, to people from across the world like Leo, Hamish, Jace, Machai, and Greeny. You know, just the general soccer team as a whole. Except for Koah. Not him. Just kidding, just kidding.

“I’ll never forget the experiences and relationships that Northwood has brought me, and I will be forever thankful.

As told to Noah Moodey ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Maya Wissler ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Right now, my college plans were to hopefully go to a good college for nursing, become a nurse, and then become a pediatric nurse/practitioner. But recently, I’ve been thinking about possibly taking a gap year, traveling and visiting different parts of the world, and then going to college to become a nurse if that’s still something I want to do.

“My favorite thing about Northwood is probably the number of opportunities I have had while being here. I think that part of that is the LEAP program and being able to go to Japan and St. Lucia. I was also able to go to Puerto Rico, so I’ve had life-changing experiences all over. I also love the best friends I’ve met here, and I’ll be sad to leave next year.

“I think my friends would describe me as a person who’s not afraid to be themself, and someone who is always laughing and happy.

“My favorite memory growing up is probably going to my grandparents’ house on Upper Saranac Lake with my family. Going on the boat, tubing, playing games, watching the sunset, swimming, and doing anything there made me grow and become the person I am today. My family is close, and staying there helped us be closer and helped me learn a lot.

“My favorite hobby is probably dancing. I dance every day of the week at a studio. I also love baking, and since I’m vegan, it’s become something I’m very passionate about and can experiment and have fun with. I like to make the most of my meals. I’ve also rediscovered my love for skiing recently. I skied a lot when I was growing up but stopped for a good eight years, and then with the Japan LEAP, I fell in love with it, and I’m excited to learn how to get better and do it again.”

As told to Natalie Gaeckle ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I’m from Dryden, New York, a small town with not a lot of hockey, so I’ve been traveling away from home to play hockey since I was around 8 years old. I played for the Syracuse Nationals for a few years, then I played in Rochester before going to Long Island for two years and then ending up at Northwood for my post-grad year.

“I think a crucial point in my life that helped develop me was probably my first year in Long Island. I had to move away from home at 15, and it forced me to mature and develop at a younger age than most people do. I became more responsible and confident, which has been huge for me.

“I would say Steve Mallard has been my biggest mentor. Not only has he been an unbelievable coach on the ice, but he is also a great person to look up to off the ice. He is always holding us accountable, and I really appreciate all that he has done for me. I can tell he truly wants the best for me, and it is awesome to know you have someone in your corner who will support you through anything.

“One of my favorite parts about Northwood is all the relationships I have built. I have a brotherhood with all my teammates here, and I know we will be friends forever. On top of that, I have built some relationships with people I never would’ve expected to. I was able to become close with people from all over the world and from different cultures, and it has been super cool to get to know them and understand their backgrounds.”

“I plan to play junior hockey next year; I’m not sure where yet, though. I will probably play for a year or two before heading out to play division one hockey at Union College in Schenectady, where I recently committed. It has obviously been a goal of mine forever to play division one hockey, so I can’t wait to get on campus and fulfil that dream.

As told to Michael Peluso ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I am from Rome, Italy, and I traveled around Northern Italy to ski before coming to Northwood. I decided to go to Northwood to learn English and have the opportunity to train a lot in skiing. So far, my favorite parts of Northwood have been the ski team, the training, and the people I have met.

“The school has been great at helping the skiers since we miss a lot of school. I feel very supported by my teachers, and they want to see me succeed. So far, at Northwood, my English has improved a lot. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn English as it is a very useful language to know. I like going to the gym and playing chess. My rating is around 600 right now, which is pretty good. I also like resting and taking time for myself: reading books, watching series, etc.”

“A piece of advice I would give to an incoming Northwood student is enjoy your time here and don’t take any of it for granted.”

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

“I started ski jumping when I was nine years old. Before that, I had been an alpine skier with NYSEF and had heard about ski jumping but never thought much of it. Then, while on vacation in Lake Placid with my family, I saw a poster for a ‘Grasshopper Camp,’ an intro to ski jumping program. Something about it caught my attention, and I told my parents I wanted to try it. The next year, I attended the camp and took my first jumps. I loved it, and I never stopped.

“Ski jumping has taught me a lot about perseverance. It’s an incredible mental sport, and there are times when it feels impossible to push through a slump. But if you keep putting in the work, things eventually click. One day, you land a perfect jump, and while everyone else sees it as a sudden breakthrough, you know how much effort it took to get there. Ski jumping has reinforced something my mom always used to say: ‘Never quit on a bad day.’

“That mindset carries over into everything I do, whether chopping wood, ski jumping, or tackling challenges in life. There are times when I ask myself if I still love the sport, especially when I’m not jumping well. But I remind myself of how good it feels when everything comes together. One of my coaches once said that ski jumpers are like junkies; always chasing the high of that one perfect jump. That feeling of flying is unlike anything else, and I wouldn’t trade ski jumping for anything else.

“Beyond the jumps themselves, the people I’ve met and the places I’ve traveled to make it all worthwhile. My teammates and coaches create an environment that keeps practice fun, even on the tough days. No matter how many challenges come my way, I know I’ll keep jumping because there’s nothing else like it.”

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