“If I didn’t play soccer, I would do track and field, like a 100-meter dash sprinter, or be a basketball player. Because, you know, my shooting abilities are incredible.

“I remember on my first day, I was so lost.  I didn’t know where to sit, I was panicking. I got out of the dining hall doors, and I looked up and saw Rapha ‘23  calling me over. From that point on, I knew that everything would be all right because even if I was not in my comfort zone, I was always going to have people around me, helping me get used to this school and helping me get better. I believe this is something that showed me what Northwood was about.

“When I want to escape from stress and just zone out. I usually talk to my parents or listen to music. I also like to go on the field and dribble the ball while listening to music. This feeling allows me to go back to when I was younger and didn’t have much to think about. Life was juggling and having fun with the ball. Because now, every time we play, it’s like getting serious, and we can’t have fun as much as before.

“If I had to give a shout to someone in my time at Northwood, it would be Cedric Lemaire ‘25, because I think he cares about this team and school. He is not going by and wasting his time here; he’s trying to make an impact and change things for the better.

“A piece of advice I’d give to a student here at Northwood: do not overthink, and don’t give unnecessary attention or value to things that don’t matter. If bad things happen once or twice, they won’t define you as a person. So don’t pay much attention to what goes wrong, focus on what you can control.”

As told to Cedric Lemaire ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“My mother always told me, ‘Bet on yourself’. For better or for worse, this has always been something I think about. What she says to me is a lesson I will carry with me and something I refer to in times of doubt. Often, in hockey, I say it to myself. A pick-me-up mantra, whatever you want to call it, reminds me to keep digging deeper for them. I am someone who has always been taught the rights and wrongs through the lessons of life and my family’s guidance. In coming to Northwood, I had to use these intuitions to set myself up where I wanted to be.

“I live in St. Johns, Newfoundland, and it is cold for those who do not know. Now, coming to Lake Placid and experiencing winter here, it is not any warmer. I have enjoyed many things about living here, but my favorite has to be the walks to town to get Starbucks and how much there is to experience with the people around you. We often take for granted the joy of living with our best friends. Being able to live down the hall from some of the people you care most about is something to cherish deeply.

“When I think about next year and playing hockey at RIT, the first feeling that comes to my body is excitement, instantly followed by fear. It is normal to be scared to move on, but with that comes a sweet sorrow for leaving Northwood. I spent most of this year taking everything in with more grace. Hearing the words “our last first” of this and that has been eye-opening. Our last first practice or our last first home game makes me truly thankful for the time I have already spent here.

“If there were one thing, I would tell anyone reading this article to take the time to appreciate the people around you, no matter what grade you are in. I mean this for your friends, peers, teachers, and coaches. It does not matter if you are a first-year student or a senior; this time will fly by in the blink of an eye. Enjoy every second of it.”

As told to Eliza Quackenbush. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Coming from Collinsville, Connecticut, I am a four-year senior who plays for the boys U19 soccer team. I have numerous leadership roles around the school; I am the president of the Multicultural Students Club and a part of the headmaster’s council. After three years at Northwood, I earned a scholarship to play Division 1 soccer and study at St. John’s University for the next 3-4 years.

“Since it’s my last year, I’m trying to make the most of my time left at Northwood. Hanging out with my friends, being a part of campus activities, and playing soccer are the main things that I enjoy. I am learning to appreciate all the little things on the campus as I realize this opportunity only happens once.

“I’ve gained much experience handling my workload as a student-athlete from my time at Northwood. I’ve had to work on getting ahead of my assignments, and the soccer schedule has forced me to work in and around competitions. Having this experience will help me a lot in college as the balance of being a student-athlete is just, as if not more, complicated.

“One of my favorite memories at Northwood is going into town with my friends and getting some food and ice cream. I enjoy these moments the most because this is where we become uncertified therapists for each other in our life problems, and we can get away from the reality of the student-athlete life a little bit by getting off campus.

“I look forward to having a strong finish to the year both academically and athletically and leaving my mark here at Northwood.”

As told to Jace Donowa ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“Family. That is the first word I think of when I think of Northwood. The community that this school has is unmatched anywhere else. The support in all aspects is something I never take for granted. Spending so much time with people outside hockey and classes is special. With downtown Lake Placid so close, I take advantage of it, and it is by far one of my favorite things to do. When we all hang out at school, we always have hockey, football, or a movie on the TV in the living room. That’s when it truly feels like home. I also love the campfires we have out at the pavilion. It’s when everyone from school comes into a small place and laughs, listens to music, talks, and hangs out with each other. The best part is that everyone is so happy and always has a great time. I also love smores!

“Being from Montgomery Village, Maryland, I decided to make the trip up north to Lake Placid to challenge myself on the ice and off. I thought that an environment like Northwood would allow me to thrive in all aspects and get the most out of myself. Living on a campus like this, surrounded by my teammates, is something I wanted to experience.

“Being at Northwood these past three years has taught me much about myself and others. Living independently is something that has benefited me. Being here and making my own decisions without my parents is one thing I will certainly be grateful for before college and beyond.

“I try always to have fun. That is something I live by. You only live once, and it’s important to enjoy every minute of it. I am forever grateful to have been a part of this family for the past three years and even more happy I get to call this place home for the rest of my life.”

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

“I came to Northwood because my friend Julianne [Brochu ‘25] was here. She explained how much she liked Northwood, so it inspired me to see what it offered.

“I’m a skier, so I like to go outside and move around, like going for a walk. I find it relaxing, especially when beautiful nature surrounds me.

“I enjoy drawing when I have free time. It helps me to forget about everything and wind down after stressful days. I can focus on my inspiration and nothing else when I draw.

“My favorite vacation is when my family and I go to Florida. I like this vacation because we are by the beach, and it’s the only time we are all together and don’t think about work, school, or any other problems.

“My plans for the future are to go to college and ski there if possible. Academically, though, I would like to study to be an architect or work in finance because I’m interested in those jobs. I’d also like to have my family around me more.”

As told to Natalie Gaeckle ‘25

“My first year at Northwood, I was in 10th grade and my roommate had a guitar. None of my family has ever been musical, so it was kind of a joke I would make; I would take this guitar, go around the halls, and be like, ‘Hey, tell me a song and how to play it’, and they’d give me a song and I would just play. I didn’t even know what chords were then; I would strum the guitar, and everyone would laugh at it. A few months later, the guitar was there when I went to lie down on my floor, and I ended up hitting my head on the guitar and splitting my eyebrow open pretty well. So, after that, I decided, ‘You know what? Let’s try and learn guitar.’ Ever since then, I’ve been learning guitar on my own, using YouTube and whoever can help teach me. That Christmas, I also got my own guitar and kept going with it.

“I’m from Massena, NY. My dad played hockey growing up and in college, so obviously, he wanted me and my brothers to keep playing. I have four brothers, and we all play hockey. My uncle Mike Hurlbut went here a while ago. The hockey team I was on before was falling apart, and the good coach was leaving, so my parents took it upon themselves and started my application. I didn’t know anything about it. My mom asked me in the Dunkin drive-through, ‘How would you feel about going to a prep school?’ It was a dream of mine growing up, but I never thought it would come true. It was the only school I applied to, so I’m thankful I got in because it’s been a dream come true.

“I’m committed to Castleton and excited because Castleton is in Vermont, and I’ve always loved Vermont growing up. The town reminds me of Lake Placid, and it’s the only hockey team in the area there. My dad went to one of their games a couple of weeks ago, and it was packed, just like a D1 game would be. So, I’m excited about getting to meet new people. When I was talking to the coach there, he was like, ‘I really like you,’ because many players don’t come from prep schools, making the transition so much easier. It’s basically being at college already when you’re in high school, and it just makes the transition a lot easier.

“Coming to Northwood, I learned a lot about responsibility. Things like homework: I can sleep whenever I want, but I still have to get my homework done and keep myself responsible—getting up in the morning, going to a lift or workout, and then staying up late at night doing homework. I’ve also learned a lot about respect and the little things about it, like pushing your chairs in when you’re done using them. I had never thought about that before, but now I’m looking around, like, ‘I got to push some chairs in. ‘ It’s just a different culture.

“One other thing I’d say is people might think, ‘ Oh, I can’t do this’. I never thought I’d be able to play an instrument, but now I’m playing guitar at the school concerts, so my advice is don’t put anything down until you try it.”

As told to Sasha Luhur ’27. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“When I’m not at school, I like to go for runs on the newly constructed rail trail by my house. The part of the trail that goes from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake is about 9 miles. I have only covered 4 miles round trip so far, but every day I push myself to reach a farther point down the trail.

“The other thing I like to do when I have free time is to produce my own beats. I make all different genres of beats, but my favorite types to make are either drill or trap beats. I have been making beats for three years now. I produce my beats on my computer using FL Studio, one of many commonly used software systems that producers in the music industry use. It takes me about an hour to make a simple beat, but rock and country beats take up to a couple of days. I have my own little home studio with speakers and a keyboard, and I hope to start recording full-length tracks over the summer.

“For my co-co at Northwood, I have been doing crew for the past three years; however, this year was the first year I’ve competed in a race. It was the Head of the Fish Regatta in Saratoga Springs, NY. I didn’t get the results I wanted, but I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to race and realize everyone needs to start somewhere. I hope to continue rowing in college next year.

“Out of my three years at Northwood, I have most enjoyed all my new opportunities. From the LEAP trips to the winter carnival, I have met so many nice people. My favorite class was math class with Ms. Rose, who was the girls’ hockey coach last year. Although it was a tiny class, she always made it fun, especially when she brought in her dog, Zury!

“I am super excited for college and hope to become a sports filmmaker or rapper. I have always loved bringing my energy to the table, although I feel like I’ve lost that side of me in high school. I hope to get it back during my older years. I would love to become a well-known rapper who can inspire the next generation.”

As told to JT Wint ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Louis Ihrt ‘27. Photo provided.

Louis Ihrt ‘27, a 16-year-old from Monaco, is a new student at Northwood School. He has played soccer since he was six and has an 11-year-old sister who plays hockey. His hobbies include swimming, reading, creating his music, and camping. Initially wanting to be a firefighter, he later expressed an aspiration to become a businessman, planning to start with internships to learn from experienced professionals. He speaks three languages fluently: French, German, and English. His favorite food is sushi, but he also enjoys lasagna. He listens mostly to house music, chill rap or his own music. He went to many soccer academies in Europe, but he decided to change schools and experience a new adventure in the United States. Last year, he decided to go to Admiral Farragut Academy in Florida, which he loved, but he wanted to focus more on academics, so he decided to join Northwood.

Ihrt is adjusting well to Northwood and Lake Placid. “I find the classes easy, but there is a significant amount of homework,” Ihrt said.  He enjoys the schedule and social life, despite not knowing many people yet. He thinks his room is small with a springy bed, but he improved it with a mattress topper. He appreciates the turf for soccer practice and finds the facilities excellent.  He thinks the food is great, compared to the last schools he attended in Europe and Florida. Louis also values the school’s close-knit community, likening it to a family.