On and Off Campus Blog: A Year of Begginings
By: Alice Wang ’27
Over spring break, I made the spontaneous decision to join the BB&N sailing team. To preface this, I had no experience operating a sailboat (or being in one in general), so you can imagine just how bad of a “sailor” I was. Cluelessly, at my first practice, I simply stood in place as I watched my far-more-experienced teammate rig the boat from the top to the bottom while he instructed me on how to do everything, from tying knots to raising the jib and the mainsail.
My first time on the water was definitely memorable; between my clumsy mistakes in every tack and my lack of awareness of the wind’s direction, I felt like I was weighing down my teammate by the complete mess I was on the boat. But now that I have had more experience, I would like to say I sort of know what I’m doing (though really I’m still just as lost). Recently, I even tried steering the boat during practice, but I think it’s safe to say that I’ll stay taking care of the jibs for a while.
Although I am no great “sailor,” it was worth it to take this risk and step outside of my comfort zone by trying something new. Additionally, I really enjoy the low-stress environment of the sport and the team, and it’s become something I look forward to after a long day at school.
Thinking back to last year as a freshman and being new to BB&N, I was more focused on trying to figure out who I was and where I belonged at school. So, when sophomore year came around, I approached it with a different perspective to take chances and create new beginnings. As Dr. Scrivner, the tenth-grade dean, always likes to point out during class meetings: sophomore year is a time where you should try any opportunities that interest you and take risks for yourself. And now, with only a month left of tenth grade, I totally agree.
Reflecting on the past year, I feel like I have accomplished just that. Particularly at school, I have been able to connect with people I’ve never met before, join clubs and publications such as the CHASM (Current Happenings Across Stem Magazine), and find new ways to express myself through my art and this blog. But even beyond this year, I hope I can continue growing and exploring new interests both in and out of school.
So to any underclassmen, I hope you can let sophomore year be the chance for you to take that leap for yourself whether that means that might be meeting new people, making new friends, or discovering a new hobby in or outside of school—take the time to say yes to something unexpected because you never know what it might lead to.
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