Sometimes you have those moments when you realize that you’re part of something really special.  I had one of those moments this fall.  It was a Sunday night, 7 o clock and I was making brownies at Ms. Hooper’s house (my college counselor and lacrosse coach).  There I was, by myself in her kitchen, rocking out to Top 40 and whisking the brownie mix.  Then it just hit me.  I was making brownies in my teacher’s kitchen.  She had so openly offered her home for me to use at my own free will while she was away at a Faculty meeting.  This is what I love about Thacher: trust.  It’s what makes for such a close community and it never fails to amaze me.  The fact that I can leave my belongings (sweaters, computers, mugs, books, etc.) anywhere on campus and know that it’ll still be there if I come back 2 hours later or 2 days later is a testament to the amount of trust within the community at Thacher.  It’s not unusual for me to open a school-wide email about money that’s been found that can be reclaimed in the founder’s unlocked mailbox.  There are virtually no locks at Thacher either (at least during the active school year).  Classrooms are left unlocked and dorm rooms don’t have locks from the outside–The fact of the matter is, they aren’t needed!  There is an incredible amount of respect between teachers and students, and trust lies at the heart of each relationship.  The openness and trust I’ve experienced at Thacher is unlike anything else I’ve encountered; it truly makes the school as great as it is.

As Thanksgiving break approaches, I hate to think that this will be my last Fall at Thacher. It’s been challenging and busy, but I’ve had a great time so far with my class and the sophomore girls.  I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.