Mr. Justin Felhaber ’14. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

A day in the life of Justin Fehlhaber ‘14 is hectic, being involved with many roles on campus, from hockey to college counseling to teaching English and being a team Dean. “On a typical Tuesday, our team will have a lift in the morning, which I’ll lead them through, and then we’ll head straight to the rink for our team practice. The lift can be as early as 6:45 am, so getting into practice could be anywhere from 8:15 to 10 o’clock.”

“After that, we’re going to rush back, shower up, grab lunch, and try to get as much protein as possible. We then have our first flex of the day, where I might meet with students about projects they have ongoing or any check-ins they would like to do to boost their grades. Throughout the day, I’ll typically teach my two American literature classes, guiding them through independent projects or leading class discussions. The rest of the academic day might be sprinkled with individual meetings with students outside of flex period or team Dean meetings with hockey players, managing their academics. I’ll also do lots of different grading assignments and a lot of lesson planning. Classes are busy, and I love to be prepared for those. I’ll also review students’ college essays and then meet with Mr. McCauley about different students throughout the academic day. That’ll be before our nighttime flex, in which there will be another opportunity to meet with students.”

“At 5 pm, work ends, and I eat a big dinner that I either make myself or get at the cafeteria. I then follow the day by getting a workout in or participating in a men’s league hockey.  I will also sometimes be on duty for study hall from 8 to 9:30 or on gym duty from 6 to 7:30. I finish the day by checking in the boys’ 2^nd hall, making sure the lights are off and everyone is going to bed. I try my best to be to bed by 11:30 to wake up with a contagious smile.”

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.