“I’ve tried a lot of sports throughout my life, like golfing and basketball, but my favorite has always been basketball. I also love Ultimate Frisbee, and I still do it a lot during break when I go home with my friends. I have six cats and a big family since my sister just had a baby.

“My name’s Jingxi, but people call me Willow here. I live in the southwest of China, and my city is called Kunming, Yunnan. People also call it Spring City because it’s very warm and pleasant, unlike here.

“Northwood spring has always been my favorite part of being at school, no matter which year, because spring is so alive. We get to climb again, everything comes back, and there are more activities to do. I still really enjoy winter, too, especially snowboarding, and the Wilmington route on Whiteface is my favorite.

“This is my third year at Northwood. I’m so excited to graduate. I came to Northwood because my brother-in-law graduated here about ten years ago.

“I’m extremely excited about this year because it’s my senior year, and I’m working on an independent Peak Pathway project. I’m building a darkroom at Northwood. At the end of the year, I’m really excited to show everyone what I’ve learned, like developing film and making film strips. I hope to bring a more artsy part to Northwood.”

A told to Jacob Slagel ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I am Noah Moodey, I am a senior at Northwood School, and I’m on the soccer team. I started playing soccer when I was about 4 years old at my local public school in Massachusetts and then continued to play at both the school and club levels until I ended up here at Northwood, where, obviously, those 2 levels combine. Northwood has been quite an amazing experience for me. I have met so many people from around the world, and I have become close to people from every culture, which has greatly improved me as a person. Every day and every weekend, traveling to various showcases and playing with teammates really builds a bond much closer than if we had just gone to school together or played on the same club team, like before I was at Northwood. And it left me with a band of brothers I will not forget.

“Next year, I am going to Holy Cross to play soccer, and Northwood really played into that decision. I recognize it as similar to Northwood in that, on the college scale of things, it’s pretty small. It is just around 3000 students, and I felt like the community was important there, just like it is here at Northwood. I felt like it wouldn’t be a big change for me.

“Off the field, I would say my main hobbies are swimming, driving around, and just traveling. I have traveled a lot since I was young, and that has also really shaped who I am. It is something I really like to do, whether with my friends, family, or by myself.

“What has helped me most in my development as a person and the soccer player here at Northwood are the people and the staff. Everyone is so dedicated to your individual case, and the environment helps you improve as a person. Everyone is always focused on you, and it is just the perfect environment for someone like me to go through their teen years, and it really helped develop me as a person.”

As told to Josh Baker ’28. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge

“My piece of advice is to enjoy life, and to truly be grateful for what you have. A lot of people don’t appreciate what they have until they lose it, so it’s important to be grateful and embrace what you have, because you never know when you will lose it.

“If I could add one part of Chile into American culture, it would be unity. In Chile – especially during national holidays – there is a unique sense of togetherness and care, and families are always very united. It is a feeling you can’t truly understand unless you are part of the culture, so it is something I would bring to the US.

“My hidden talent is that I’m a barber. I took a professional course in Chile in 2024, and I’ve been practicing for three years now. I’ve continued to cut hair at Northwood, and it’s been great.

“Pineapple does not belong on pizza. Pineapple is a sweet thing; pizza is a savory food, so, for me, it is not acceptable, and I will not eat that pizza.

“Something interesting about me is that I’ve moved around a ton – but all within Chile. I was born in the capital (Santiago). I then moved up north, before coming back to Santiago. My family is currently living in La Serena.

“My favorite experience at Northwood was when we went to Costa Rica as a soccer team. We got to play football against some of the academy teams, which was cool. But for me, the best part of the trip was experiencing a new country, being in the city, and also spending time at the beach with my teammates. I made stronger friendships because of this trip, and it was a unique way of seeing a new country.”

As told to Gavin Krugger ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Murphy (left) and Demers. Photos by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Ryan Demers ’27 and Colten Murphy ’26 have been working on a training influencer project for Peak Pathways on the Instagram account @Better.Lift. According to the school’s website, “the Peak Pathways Program at Northwood is a flagship academic offering that provides students with a transformative, year-long independent study experience. This customizable program empowers students to take ownership of their education by pursuing in-depth projects on topics they are passionate about, fostering personal growth, and preparing them for success in high school, college, and beyond.”

“Having a hockey training account on Instagram is a fantastic way to share your skills, workouts, and progress with others who love the game. It helps you stay motivated, connect with other players, and build your personal brand while showing your dedication and growth on the ice,” Colten Murphy ’26 said. “Starting this account has been a massive help for athletes, but also for us because showing that we are staying committed to the game and trying to reach the next level,” Colten added.

“I knew I wanted to do something like this to build an account where young hockey athletes can receive training and advice on reaching the next level,” Ryan Demers ’27 said. “Someone who helped me through this project is Sam Lyne ’24. He has been giving a step-by-step process on how to run this type of account and how to maintain it for people who will remain watching, like the video, and drop the follow button,” Ryan added.

“We created this hockey workout account to help young players understand what it really takes to improve and reach their goals. It shares simple drills, workouts, and training tips they can use on and off the ice to build strength, speed, and confidence,” Ryan Demers ’27 said.

“The account shows that progress does not happen overnight, but through hard work and consistency. By following along, young athletes can stay motivated, learn new skills, and develop strong habits that will help them grow both as players and as people,” Colten Murphy ’26 said.

This account is amazing if you don’t understand the workouts or don’t know what you are doing during a workout. It gives you all the advice you need in one place to reach the next level and chase your dreams.

“My advice: get your Common App done as fast as you can. Why?

“Well, I grew up in Quebec City, and it’s been like 10 years since I started ski racing. I started skiing at three and started racing at 8. I came to Northwood because of Leanne. We were really close, and she told me she was coming here and that I should come. So, I emailed the coach, and he said I should visit.

“I came here as a senior, and I really wanted to go to college in the U.S. However, no one told me when I got here how important the Common App is to get into college. Also, I wasn’t ready yet, so I decided to PG.

“Two years ago, I was doing all my schoolwork in French, and at Northwood I had to switch to English. My grades improved as I learned English, and during the second year, I got to know the teachers, which really helped me. I raised my grades, which helped me get into Babson next year.

“Switching from living in my house, being in another country, and speaking another language really made me grow.

“Seniors, just enjoy your last year here. Try to make as many friends as you can. I will miss my friends and the social life here. Here, you’re close to everyone and make good friends. Just being in the living room, talking to people, playing the piano, sitting by the fire, going to the games, and in the Spring, hanging out with everyone and going to the lake. I’m going to miss all of it.

MJ’s recent art project. Photo provided.

“I do not think pineapple belongs on pizza. I think I’ve never actually had one. So, I’m against it. My favorite meal in the dining hall is grilled cheese and tomato soup.

“During my free time or when I’m bored, I do art just to relax. I think it’s because of my mom. My mom is an architect, and since I was really young, I drew houses with her. I like drawing with her, and that’s maybe why I’m good at it.”

As told to Jack Kroll ’26 while working on her latest art project. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“This is my third year at Northwood. I am from Ottawa, Ontario, which is the capital of Canada. I am a goalkeeper for the U19 soccer team. I actually didn’t hear about Northwood from anybody, but I found it through my goalkeeper coach, who recommended that my parents and I look at prep schools in the US. He had sent some of his other keepers to the US in the past and said it would be a great opportunity that would open new possibilities. So, my family and I started looking at schools, and Northwood stood out as a great fit. We then emailed Mr. Riffle – who was head of admissions at the time – to see if there was an opportunity for me to come in for my sophomore year. We got a response in less than an hour; he explained that the U17s [soccer] team needed a keeper, and things moved pretty quickly.

“I like to play golf in Lake Placid during the off weekends in fall and spring at the Lake Placid Club. I picked up the sport recently and spent a lot of my free time playing to get better during the season. During my winter weekends off, I like to relax, do homework, and go into town with my friends.

“Something people would not know about me is that I am surprisingly good at solving Rubik’s cubes. I really got into it during COVID and lockdown, so it kind of became my thing, and I became really good at it.

“My dream job is to be a writer or reporter for Fox News, ESPN, or one of the major sports broadcasts. I love sports, specifically the NFL and the Premier League, and I consume content, look at stats, watch games, and all that. So, I see myself becoming a writer or analyst for some sports broadcasting or media outlets.

“The way I want to be remembered is as someone who worked really hard and didn’t take shortcuts. Effort and hard work are keys to giving your life meaning. Without effort and a work ethic, you lose a sense of direction, and time will end up passing you by.”

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

“My favorite place to eat in town would be Jimmy’s 21 Eatery. Their Italian food is amazing. I always get the chicken parmesan. I also love the atmosphere, especially when we get to sit at the end of the restaurant overlooking Mirror Lake.

“Growing up from K to 12, I only had three girls in my class, and all the boys were in hockey, so naturally, it was something I wanted to try. It was hard to convince my mom to switch from figure skating, but as soon as I put on hockey gear at a birthday party, she couldn’t take it off. And ever since then, I continued to fall in love with the sport.

“The quote that inspires me is very simple, but I heard it nonstop growing up. My dad would always tell me, ‘The worst they can say is no.’ I still live by that today, and I apply it to all areas of my life as it forces me to have several plans when I take action on something.

“I heard about Northwood through hockey. When looking to play prep hockey in the States, the first thing an advisor told me was to play for a great coach. As soon as I toured and met Gilly, I knew I could develop as a player under his coaching style. This made my choice on where to go easy.

“Northwood is special to me because of the one-of-a-kind opportunities you get to experience. It has been a privilege to work, learn, grow, live, and laugh alongside people who were strangers in September and quickly became family.

“Once I graduate, I will be attending Post University in southern Connecticut to play Division I hockey in the fall. I will be studying finance and look forward to travelling back and forth to NYC in my free time.”

As told to Anne Monette ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.