Before Thacher, I went to a large public middle school in New York City and had never heard of the possibility of boarding schools. Through an alumni and a program (Breakthrough) that helps middle school students with the high school process I heard about boarding schools. As soon as I heard about Thacher it seemed unbelievable: a school in California surrounded by nature, and they happened to have horses! I was also immediately drawn to going to a school where all the students are passionate about learning and the teachers are highly knowledgeable and enjoy their subjects.  I was skeptical of how teachers and other faculty could form strong relationships with students, but I wanted to experience that and, now, I know it’s definitely true. Also, in NYC it was difficult to partake in sports and try new activities. At Thacher, there are plenty of opportunities to experiment with new hobbies.

One thing that I didn’t fully grasp about Thacher, until I saw the school during my overnight visit was the community. Thacher is full of friendly faces of all grades. Also, there is an overall atmosphere of congeniality and respect. This is one of the reasons I, personally, think the Honor Code works. The idea of the Honor Code appealed to me as well. It helps allow for a safe, free environment. Staying overnight at Thacher was when I realized that this was where I wanted to be.