“I like living a simple life, Northwood has allowed me to do that while also working for my goals. I think it’s important to value politeness and respect, that’s the way I was raised. The world is very small, you never know who you’re going to meet down the road. Everyone knows someone, and you never know what they can offer. Make the most out of every situation.

“This is my first year at Northwood. From the experiences and things I’ve learned over my first few months here, I knew being here for only one year wasn’t enough for my development in all aspects. I decided that I am coming back next year to grow and create even more fantastic memories. This year has flown by and I’m so grateful to extend my time here for another year on and off the ice.

“I’ve always played hockey close to home. Being from Carlisle, Ontario, I was lucky to have so many hockey opportunities all relatively close to home. I knew coming here would take my game to the next level. The culture at Northwood is something unmatched by anything I’ve been a part of. Knowing that you’re always supported by your team, coaches, and faculty gives you a great sense of joy.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from being here is holding myself accountable. It can be overwhelming moving away for the first time; you always have your parents to keep on you; no, it’s all up to you. With our flexible schedule, it’s critical that I stay on track while balancing school and training.”

As told to Sophia DeAnzeris ’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.

“‘Kimmer.’ That’s my nickname. It stuck with me since seventh grade when I moved to Canada to continue pursuing my hockey career. The name originated in Inferno, Halifax, and ever since then, it has followed me. Some people also call me Kimmy, but most people at Northwood know me as Kimmer.

“Hockey has been my passion for as long as I can remember, but before I got into the sport, I experienced speed skating. I quickly realized that constantly spinning in circles didn’t bring me joy, so I turned to hockey instead. The transition wasn’t easy. I hated it for the first couple of months. But everything changed when I got hold of the hockey puck. That was when I found the excitement and drive to play hockey.

“In sixth grade, I was first called up to the national team. Sarah Murray was the head coach then, bringing me onto the team at a young age. That experience opened doors for me, including a summer showcase in Boston, where I started gaining interest from several schools. My agent, who has worked closely with me throughout my career, eventually connected me to the Inferno hockey team in Halifax.

“After my years in Halifax, I searched for a high school that would support my academic and athletic aspirations. As a result, I found Rothesay Netherwood School in New Brunswick, Canada. I spent three years there, from ninth through eleventh grade, before moving to Shattuck St. Mary’s in Minnesota for my senior year. That was when I unexpectedly reunited with Coach Murray, a full-circle moment in my hockey journey. My time at Shattuck was unforgettable. I made lifelong friendships and was exposed to a very competitive environment. After graduation, I continued my hockey journey as a post-grad here at Northwood.

“Outside of hockey, I have a few other passions. I started golfing last summer, and while I initially didn’t take it seriously, my family played a massive role in attracting me to the sport. My dad is extremely good at golf, and my brother is working toward playing professionally. There was a point when he was struggling, not seeing the results he wanted, and I decided to go out and play with him one day. I made jokes, lightened the mood, and helped him find the joy he was missing in the game again. That moment was a turning point for him; in a way, it was for me too. I realized how much I enjoyed being on the course, and now, I can proudly call golf one of my favorite hobbies.

“The one person who has been my constant support is my mom. She knows everything about me. Sometimes, even before I tell her. When I first moved to Canada, I struggled a lot with homesickness. I called home every day, complaining about anything and everything. But through it all, my mom supported me. She helped me shift my perspective, encouraging me to push through the tough times. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. She is my light in the dark.

“I plan to take up boxing this summer to improve my speed and agility, which will directly correlate to hockey. It’s part of my preparation for college and the next chapter of my athletic career. My journey has been full of challenges, but every step, whether on the ice, on the golf course, or in a new country, has shaped me into who I am today.”

As told to Li Feng ‘25. Photo by Mr. MIchael Aldridge.

Tendo Zikusoka ’28. Photo by Mr. John Spear.

Tendo Zikusoka ’28 is a student who recently joined Northwood School. He is a freshman here and on the soccer team. His brother, Ndhego, came for the second half of last year, and was a senior. Ndhego and Tendo’s father came to Northwood in 1991 and graduated in 1993, and at last year’s commencement, he awarded Ndhego his diploma.

Tendo felt that this year was his time to come to Northwood. With two members of his family attending Northwood, it was natural he would eventually join them. He’s been at Northwood for a few weeks now and said that he enjoys the soccer program at Northwood more than back home. “The program here is more detailed; the coaches focus more on the player’s development. The training amount is about the same, though,” Zikusoka said.

Tendo is from Busoga, Uganda, which is in Jinja, Uganda. He said the weather back home is very dry. There is some rain where he lives, but he is used to mostly hot, dry weather. He is still adjusting to the climate of Lake Placid, where the norm is freezing temperatures and lots of snow. Back home, Tendo likes to go to the national park for fun.

So far, at Northwood, Tendo has been settling in well. He likes his roommate, Jonathan Fischer ‘27, and is still acclimating to his new classes. He likes all his classes so far.

Tendo is a great addition to the Northwood community and to the soccer program at Northwood. He will fit into the culture at Northwood well.

“I came to Northwood in 2021 during the COVID-19 Pandemic when I was unsure of when I could return to in-person school. I had just done over a year and a half of fully remote learning from a house in the mountains, with minimal in-person contact with the outside world. At the time, boarding school seemed like the only way I could have normal interactions with peers and re-join society in a sense. I also had a relative here- David Garvey. He was a senior on the Head’s Council and my RA on Third East the year I came, and he helped me a lot with adjusting to life away from home.

“My experience here has been incredible- everything I could have asked for and then some. During the Pandemic, I left New York City and lost touch with almost everyone I knew when I lived there. The Northwood community has been like family to me throughout all four years. Over those four years, Northwood has also allowed me to find purpose. I started doing play-by-play broadcasting for the Prep team during my freshman year. Over the course of my four years here, I’ve watched as my work gradually became more of an expectation rather than a pleasant surprise- and found a productive role within this community. In addition, the school’s location in the Adirondacks has introduced me to things like rock climbing and backcountry skiing, both of which I would’ve never done if I was still in New York. Finally, Northwood has given me the opportunity to travel the world. Through the LEAP program, I’ve rock-climbed in Nevada, gone backcountry skiing in Utah, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and traveled to Vietnam, Iceland, and Japan. These have truly been the best 4 years of my life.

“My favorite memory of Northwood is probably the community we built on Second East last year. In my four years here, that’s probably the closest a dorm hall has ever been, and every night, I would get back from quiet hours looking forward to throwing a football or hockey game on or catching up with everyone in the lounge. In particular, I miss Ritter and Jack Kent getting into it with each other every night and drawing everyone else in.

“Honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out in terms of my future. The first order of business is figuring out where I’m going to college- I hear back from Middlebury soon for my ED2 application. If that doesn’t work, it’s a tossup between several other schools I hope to receive admission letters from. After that, I’m still undecided. I’ve thought about pursuing a career on Wall Street similar to my dad or leaning into my play-by-play gig and pursuing that. My guess is I’ll pursue a bit of both for as long as I can before I’m forced to pick a lane, but I’m keeping my options open.

“I’m not sure what I’d do without this place. I’ve called Northwood home for 4 years now, and there are so many unique and meaningful things I’ve done here that I lose count. I love the people and community here, the options available to me here, and the lasting memories I’ve gained from going here. At this point, I only care about enjoying these last few months and trying to do as much as possible before it’s all over. I’m gonna miss this place… This is home for me.”

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

“Be interested, not interesting. It’s what my father told me for the entirety of my life. Those were his words of wisdom before any situation, important or not. I think about this often. When going into a conversation or any opportunity I reflect on what I could take out of it rather than my input. My father has been extremely influential in structuring who I want to become. Along with my father, my elder brother has played an equally significant role. He has been someone I can look up to in the ups and downs of life.

“Coming to Northwood was an experience like many others when it comes to leaving home and starting at a new school. I left home at 12 to pursue hockey after playing on boys’ teams for most of my youth.  Before attending Northwood, I went to OHA and played in Kingston, Ontario growing up.

“Next year, I will play at Canton University to continue my hockey journey into college. This process has made me think about my family’s role in this journey and how much I appreciate them. My mom’s tenacity to take me to camps in the summer and her continual support when it comes to my in-season training have been tremendous. None of this would have been possible without the support and belief of my old coach, John Hoskins, who has given me the necessary tools and approaches to grow my game, and me as a person. He grew my love for hockey and gave me the confidence to try out for the AAA boy’s hockey team by making it as a girl sparked my motivation to move away from home and pursue the sport.

“As someone who has now spent 5 years away from home, I am accustomed to the normality of this way of life, and in that, Northwood has taught me some unbelievably valuable lessons. A lesson that I reflect on in every aspect of life is my coach saying, “The last five are our best five.” Take this and implement it into everyday life, no matter what you are doing, and do it with all your ability. To finish strong because you never want to leave a situation knowing you could have given more effort. Because regret is worse.”

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