The Andrus Family: Catching Up to Our Kids

As I finish my 10th year as an Athenian parent, I find myself feeling both nostalgic and appreciative as I ruminate about all Athenian has meant to my girls. Being that we are in a somewhat unique position with an eight year age gap between our girls, we find ourselves sitting at both ends of the spectrum—one daughter poised on the cusp of another fabulous adventure at grad school in London and the other beginning her high school career with all the promises and opportunities an Athenian high school education will provide. I wanted to share my thoughts about the amazing gift the School has provided both my children.
When I talk about Athenian, and I do so often, I most often begin with my belief that the School promotes kindness and acceptance from the very top all the way through the ranks so the students can’t possibly miss the lesson. From Eric [Niles] to each and every person on the campus, our kids are given daily reminders in being kind and generous to one another. As rough as middle school is, this basic premise of kindness, that is altogether lost in the world today, somehow softens three very hard years for children. It is not a myth: middle school is something to be survived. Izzy had a terrible time last year—so much so that she chose not to have a birthday party because the friend situation was so fluid and painful she didn’t know who to invite. As is often the case in middle school, it was a teacher who came to the rescue when I had exhausted all my resources. Leah Webb was so pivotal in turning things around for Iz and she still checks in with me on a regular basis—how can I possibly thank her? I have so many stories about teachers who saw her struggle last year and stepped up with small gestures of real kindness that helped turn some really unbearable days into endurable ones. I can remember similar acts of kindness when Emma was enrolled in the Middle School as well. These expressions of kindness have gone so much further than my simply encouraging my children to be kind—and both girls have embraced real kindness towards others as a result.
 
The second thing I share with people is that Athenian makes the world a very small and accessible space for its graduates. Emma thought nothing of New York City for college and most of her graduate school choices were in London. Izzy is pushing for University of Edinburgh at this point. It is not simply the option to travel abroad during Interim that creates this outlook, it is the teachers and course work that encourages it as well. As teachers speak of their travels and studies all over the world, the students begin to think nothing of doing the same. Both my girls have come home from school and shared the adventures their teachers have shared with them.

Finally, I share my favorite aspect of the Athenian culture— the aspect that has transformed both my children but has truly come alive in Emma—-the idea that they are capable of anything. If I had to describe Emma simply, I would say she has big dreams and the work ethic to make them a reality. She learned that at school. While she floundered freshman year, once she found her footing the next year she decided she was going to do her best to get into any college she wanted to. Let’s face it, students at Athenian work very hard to achieve A’s in every class. There are no easy classes, no way to soften the course load. The work ethic she learned at the School and the rewards that resulted have had a huge impact and have only grown in college. Entering NYU as a biology major and then switching to pre-law and finally coming to rest in neuroscience is indicative of the correlation between hard work and making anything a reality. Emma will be attending Kings College London in September pursuing an MS in Clinical Neuroscience. I credit Eric and the School for helping her understand how dreams can become a reality.

Izzy asked tonight what we would do if she ended up in Edinburgh and Emma was still in London. My first thought was “trying to keep up with you two girls.” What a gift Eric and Athenian have given my girls. Her dad and I are trying to play catch up—-does it get any better as a parent? 
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