Category Archives: Personal Experiences

The Adventure of a Lifetime

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Mayci Grieve ’28

There are some moments in life that don’t feel real until you’re already in them, the kind of moments where you look around at your friends and think, I’m going to remember this forever. What makes our Florida trip even crazier is that it all started as a joke. One random night in November, during study hall, someone said, “What if we actually went to Florida?” We all laughed because it sounded impossible. There was no way our parents would say yes. But somehow, one by one, every single parent did. That wild idea turned into plane tickets, packed bags, and one of the most unforgettable trips of my life.

It all became real the moment Charley, Ryleigh, and I stepped onto the plane. We were filled with excitement, barely able to sit still as we flew down to meet Jess and Sylvie. When we finally landed and dropped our bags, the very first thing we did was jump on the golf cart. The warm air hit us, the music was blasting, and we were flying down the road with no real destination. That was the moment we all knew, this trip was going to be something special. It didn’t matter what we did. It mattered that we were doing it together.

We had two days to soak in the Florida sun before the night we’d been counting down to for months. Zach Bryan’s 2026 tour was coming to Tampa, and somehow, we were going to be front row. Even saying it out loud didn’t feel real. Before the concert, we spent our days by the pool, letting the warm air sink into our skin and laughing about everything and nothing. That’s the thing about Hebron. It doesn’t just give you classmates, it gives you people who make even a simple pool day feel like the start of summer. Hebron builds friendships that don’t end when the school day does. They follow you across states, into new experiences, and into moments that shape who you are.

Our favorite part of the trip, besides the concert, was definitely the golf cart rides. The freedom of being able to take it anywhere felt like a preview of summer, hands in the air, hair everywhere, music loud, and no responsibilities. It was simple, but it was perfect.

Then the day finally came. Concert day. For most of us, it was our first concert ever, and Zach Bryan was the perfect person to experience that with. We were anxious, excited, and honestly still in disbelief. We didn’t care that we had to wait in line for seven hours. Time flew because we were together. Getting ready was one of my favorite parts with the music blasting, the energy building, and the realization that in just a few hours, we’d be singing those same songs live.

When we left the house, we were practically vibrating with excitement. The sun was brutal, and we were sweating before we even got inside, but none of it mattered. As soon as the gates opened, we sprinted through the pit and somehow, miraculously got front row spots. We were over the moon. Every minute of waiting, every sunburn and sun poisoning was worth it.

Then it happened. Zach Bryan walked out, and the stadium exploded. Hearing “Overtime” live from the front row didn’t feel real. By the time he closed with “Revival,” not a single person in the entire stadium, all 65,000+ of them, was sitting down. Everyone was screaming, singing, jumping, and living in the moment. It was electric. It was unforgettable.

After the concert, we definitely had concert depression. Our feet were killing us, some of us were sunburnt or even sun‑poisoned, and the traffic was awful. Even then, it was 3 a.m. McDonald’s run made everything feel perfect again. Every second, good or bad, was worth it. Not just because of the concert, but because I got to experience it with my best friends.

Even after the concert, the trip kept going. Our beach day was the perfect ending, even when Jess and Charley kept pranking me in the ocean. I didn’t care. I wouldn’t trade a single moment of that trip for anything. It was the trip of a lifetime, one I’ll never take for granted.

Florida wasn’t just a vacation. It was a reminder of how lucky I am to have the friends I do, friends I met at Hebron, friends who make every experience bigger, brighter, and better. It was unforgettable not because of where we were, but because of who I was with.

Dear Basketball

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Charlie Marcotte’27

I have been new to many things this year. Firstly, I was a new student to Hebron Academy, and I was new to playing basketball. Although the 2025-2026 basketball season may not go down as Hebron’s best season, I believe it was a successful one. The JV team managed to rack up three wins on their way to their JV championship appearance, in which they played a strong game and only lost to Hyde by a few points. As for varsity, the team may have not seen the same success as the JV team had, but they saw success in a different way. Even with the changing roster, Varsity was able to make steady progress. Varsity’s improvement was obvious as each game they seemed to play better even against incredibly tough opponents including a six foot nine giant from Kents Hill.

Just as the teams improved, the players did as well. Everyone left the season a much better player than they started, learning the much needed skills to become a better basketball player. Improvement wasn’t only seen in their skills on the court, it was seen in our character, as players began to emerge as leaders. While our captains obviously showed great leadership other unlikely leaders emerged from the group showing the immense personal growth that everyone had over the course of the season. As we grew ourselves we simultaneously grew as a team. From the first practice to the final practice, strong bonds were created among teammates. Relationships that started off simply as basketball teammates led to friendships outside of basketball. Relationships that were created in the locker rooms or on the bus rides continue to manage to survive once the season met its end. While this season may have consisted of many ups and downs, it was a great season. From the disappointment caused by losing to the pure joy of the JV locker rooms before games, we did it as a team; no one was left out. I will never forget eating a whole big bag of Hint of Lime tortilla chips before one of our home games or our JV locker room nonsense. The 2025-2026 basketball season showed growth both on the court and off the court, and I am excited to see what next season holds.     

Three Songs That Changed My Summer

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Kellen Anthoine ’26

Music is something that influences our wellbeing much more than we realize. It has been scientifically proven that the tempo, timbre, lyrics, pitch, and key of the songs we listen to significantly influence our mood. Our mood influences our thoughts, and our thoughts influence our actions. Therefore, it is critical to be aware of the effect your choice of music has on you. Personally, my choice of music in the past has negatively impacted my life. I have listened to dark, depressing songs that cover pessimistic topics for far too long. This summer, though, I consciously made a change. Here are the top three songs I listened to on repeat that made my experience more positive and how each of them impacted me differently:

3. Club Bizarre—U96

The first time I heard “Club Bizarre” by U96 was when I stayed at Artem’s house in Žilina, Slovakia in June. The first time I heard it, I was intrigued by the uniquely hopeful and uplifting synth melody, its ambient, colorful background chords, and catchy beat. When I listen to it, I feel any previous anxieties slip away. 

The first half of the song is very positive and happy, however in the middle it suddenly shifts to include a sad woodwind melody. Through this new melody, though, the beat continues. 

The instrumentals of this song resonate with me deeply, helping me to remember the dualistic nature of life. The contrast between the first half and second half, yet the constantly returning beat, reminds me that life has ups and downs, success and failure, yet in its entirety is both enjoyable and meaningful. I’ve listened to “Club Bizarre” in both the good times and the bad, and it has helped me through. That’s how it impacted my summer.

2. Фраер—михаил круг

I cannot understand a single word of Фраер by михаил круг. Despite this, I know all the lyrics and pronunciations by heart because of the sheer amount of times I’ve listened to it and how much of an influence it has had on me.

I was originally introduced to this song by my close friend Nazar in 2023 when we were spending our Friday night together in Atwood listening to music and chatting with some of our other football teammates and friends. Right away, with the good memory, and its upbeatness and catchiness, it became one of my favorites.

The actual story of Фраер is about a police officer falling in love with a girl, only to later find out that she’s a criminal. This story means very little to me, however, and I don’t speak the language anyway. One would wonder, then, why I love it. The thing is: that’s why it’s so important to me. In a world full of responsibilities, pain, love, and deep thought, this song allowed me to briefly escape it into a world of positivity when I began listening to it once again this summer while Nazar stayed at my house. The instrumentals—face-paced drums, spontaneous, cheerful, diverse brass instruments, and the traditional Russian folk feel bring my mood up in a way no other song can do. That’s how Фраер made my summer just that much more positive. 

1. Free Bird—Lynyrd Skynyrd

As is obvious from the name, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd is a song about freedom. The message is about a man who leaves his woman in pursuit of independence and travel, but much like with Фраер, this means little to me. 

I first came across this song in July when putting my Apple Music playlist on infinite mode, letting the app find similar music that it thinks I would like. Once I reached the guitar solo, I instantly knew that I would listen to it more times than I can count. It motivated me and gave me energy in a truly unique way to the point where I made it a habit to listen to it every single day on the way to work.

The reason this song resonates with me personally is because of the reminder of freedom. When I listen to it, I remember something essential: I truly am free. If I so choose, I can act however I choose as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences. This freedom isn’t about acting out my selfish desires, however. Instead, it’s about remembering that my circumstances and output are almost entirely in my control. That realization, while intimidating, is essential to living a meaningful life, and that’s why “Free Bird” made my summer all that much better. 

Last Word

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By: Anonymous Class of 2025

Many of us have warm memories of leaving home to begin a new adventure. Maybe when you  were a young boy or girl, and you went off to summer camp in Maine for the first time. Or  maybe when your parents proudly dropped you off at Hebron Academy and you began your life as a boarding student. 

My memories of leaving Afghanistan in August 2021 to come to the United States are a little  different. We had to flee the Taliban with one day’s notice, struggle through screaming crowds  and loud gunfire to reach Kabul Airport, spend four days huddled inside the airport praying for  an evacuation flight, and inside a packed military-transport plane during the long flight to Qatar and safety. 

These memories still make me sad—and a little afraid. But then I have other memories— beautiful memories—like the day my host family here at Hebron, the Frumientos, took me to their home for the first time. “This house is for you,” their mother, Laurie, said, “this is your home. You should always feel comfortable here.” 

Then they showed me my room, and I shut the door and cried. I cried about  everything I had left behind, but also about everything I had gained. A wonderful new school. A  sense of safety and security. A loving host family whose kindness I can never repay. 

I am so grateful for all that Hebron has provided. So many teachers and advisors have worked  tirelessly for my success. I want to give special thanks to Mr. Hanby, Mrs. Dunbridge, and Mrs. Willer, who were always there for me. I will carry the lessons I have learned at Hebron for the  rest of my life. 

But to be honest, nothing I have learned here, or what I will learn in college, will be more  important than the lessons I learned from my father. He was and will always be my greatest teacher. 

My father loved to study, but as a young man he had to leave school and go to work to support  his family. I am the oldest, and my father wanted all of  his children to get great educations—especially his daughters. 

I think that’s why he was so  determined for me to go to school, even though I was born in a small village where most  families thought it was a scandal for girls to go to school. 

In fact, when I started school as a young child, many of the families in our village changed their  attitudes towards us. People stopped visiting our house. My parents’ friends turned their backs  on them. That’s when my parents decided we would move to a city, where it was more common for girls to go to school. 

But even there, people objected.  That’s when my father decided I should go to SOLA, my  all-girls boarding school in Kabul.

His life-changing decision for me to go to SOLA is what eventually led me to Hebron, and the life  I have today. 

When he dropped me off at SOLA for the first time, he said to me: 

“Be strong and  passionate in your life. 

Don’t listen when people say you can’t do something because you are a  girl. Become the person everyone is fighting to be.” 

That’s what I am trying to do. Thank you to Hebron for helping me become the person I am  fighting to be.

My Mom- Tiny Love Story

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By: Trace B. Johnson ’26

My Mama

I love my mama. Ever since my first memory to every morning when I call her and hear her voice, I feel wrapped in love. I love everything about my mama, her smile, her beautiful deep blue eyes, her love for sports and our family. I’ll always cherish the warmth of her hugs and the way she makes me feel at home. There is no other person on earth like my mama, there is not a single person I look up to, respect, or love more. She has taught me to be me and I will love her forever.

The Importance of Galentine’s ❤️

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By: Ceci Ross ’28

On Valentine’s Day, we take the time to celebrate with the ones we love. Most people call their Valentine their boyfriend or girlfriend. It is usually celebrated as a special, intimate day between two people’s growing relationship. A lot of people might find themselves being single or lonely on Valentine’s Day. But there is one thing I’ve discovered that can be just as special as having a date. It’s called Galentine’s! Galentine’s is a day to celebrate the girls around you, who lift you up, and to share a special celebration of your friendship.

I got to spend an awesome night with all my girlies + Oakley!  We had so much fun and thanks to our awesome hostess Clover Pross!  

As many say, guys come and go but friendship lasts a lifetime. So cherish the ones around you and ball your eyes out to the Notebook. Trust me, you won’t regret it 😉.

Special hugs to all my girlies!

Love, 

Ceci Ross.

Mia Hancock’s Winter Break

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By Mia Hancock ’28

Over winter break, I got to go to New York City, and it was so amazing! I have been before but it’s such a big city there is always something new to do. One of the best parts was seeing a Broadway show. I had never seen anything like it before—the lights, the music, and the actors were all incredible. 

I also got to spend time with some of my family who live there. It was nice catching up with them and hearing all their stories about living in such a big city. They took me to some great restaurants and showed me around a little which was exhilarating.

And, of course, I went to Times Square. It was SO bright and busy, even at night. It kind of felt like I was in a movie. I took a bunch of pictures, went into some entertaining stores, and bought some cute souvenirs. Overall, it was such a fun trip, and I’m already hoping I can go back again soon!

Duplicity 

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By Laura Zarko ’26

Chameleons are animals who change their color depending on different factors such  as light, temperature or emotions associated with anything that happens around them. They  are frightened easily and very often are a target of predators. Chameleons are very small and  harmless animals. However, these skills very often save their lives. It is weird to compare  yourself to a chameleon but if you think about it, we function pretty much the same way. It is  important to always stay yourself and don’t let other people affect the kind of person you  want to be. But sometimes I find myself in situations where it’s hard to be myself. Many  things go through my head. Should I fit in or should I be different? Should I be better or just  let them take the lead? Sometimes I don’t even think. I just pretend to be someone else without  even noticing it. How can I make them like me? That is the main question I used to ask  myself. The question that was causing my duplicity and sometimes still is.  

The last time I was asking myself this question, I was on a plane. It was August 27th  and I was flying to Boston. It was the start of my year at Hebron Academy. I was alone on a  plane flying to another continent where I didn’t know a soul. It was like that question was  stuck in my head and it wouldn’t leave until there was something or someone to just make it  disappear. Just like that word on the top of your tongue that you just can’t remember, that one  embarrassing moment that you can’t get outside of your head. As we were landing the  question started to get even more annoying. At this point it was getting crazy, jumping around  my head not letting me think. When I first started talking to everyone at the airport I was 

smiling, shaking hands and introducing myself. But as I started to get to know everyone, the  question was taking over. I agreed to everything anyone said and never said what I thought. “I  love rock music,” somebody said. “Me too!” I agreed even though I have never listened to a  single rock song and rock was my absolute worst genre. I started to question whether I was  doing the right thing by listening to the question because nobody really seemed to care that I loved rock music. They all just smiled. I thought maybe they would do the same if I told them  I actually like classical music and pop. Maybe they would even ask questions and be  interested in it. But what if they just thought I was weird for liking it. I didn’t want to take the  risk of them not liking me, so I just stuck with being a rock music lover. The rest of the night  at the airport I continued listening to the question and, in addition to being the rock music  lover, I also became a Formula 1 fan, a poetry lover and my favorite color became brown.  That one really hurt. 

Later that night we were in the bus driving to the school. It was late at night and the  drive was long. A lot of people were sleeping, but I was wide awake thinking about the  question. I was sitting in the front part of the bus by myself looking outside at the night sky.  My attention was caught by one of my favorite constellations, Cassiopeia. As I was looking at  it I remembered how good it felt to think about something I truly love, which for me is  astronomy. I got lost in my thoughts the second I looked up at the night sky and the thought  of all of those things I said I liked and people I pretended to be that day made the question  disappear just a little from my head. I realized I made some really good friends that day but if  that friendship is based on a lie, then it doesn’t really mean much. However, even that  realization didn’t make the question completely disappear from my head. 

The question was there until one thought that came to my head. I thought of a  chameleon. A chameleon changes its colors depending on its surroundings. That’s what I did  that day. I changed my colors. I changed who I am so people wouldn’t think badly of me just 

like a chameleon changes colors so it wouldn’t be eaten. The thought of that made me feel  bad, like all the friends I made that day weren’t really my friends. But then I realized that  even when a chameleon changes its color and you can’t see it, it is still there and it is still a  chameleon. So even though I sometimes change who I am, even though I act differently in  front of different people, I am still a human. A human that makes mistakes. And when I feel  safe enough around those people, I will change my color back to the original one. I don’t  think the question will ever completely disappear and that is okay. Humans are social creatures  and being a part of a group is in human nature, so sometimes we simply do what seems the  best in that moment even though we might regret it later. It is just important to remember that  sometimes it’s okay to be a chameleon but it is never okay to lose your real color.

Trip To Africa

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By Ronan Newell ’26

This summer, during the first two weeks of August, I spent my time volunteering at an animal sanctuary and reservation outside of Windhoek, Namibia. For background context: Namibia, a vast country that was once a part of South Africa, gained its independence in March, 1990. The country is situated to the northwest of South Africa, with a wide variety of landscapes and biomes that differ in both climate and animal life. In the west of the country, there is a large desert that meets directly with the ocean, which is known as the Skeleton Coast, named after the many famous shipwrecks that fill the coast with “ghost ships”. The rest of the country, roughly the size of Texas, is a flat, dry savannah biome teeming with wildlife. In the north, Namibia is home to one of Africa’s largest national parks, Etosha National Park. Over the last 12 months, Etosha is experiencing its worst drought in the past 100 years. Plants have stopped growing, watering holes have dried up, and animals are dying in droves. The purpose of my trip was to help rehabilitate animals that were not deemed able to live in the wild with the intention to release them from captivity eventually. 

To do this I spent a week sleeping in a tent in the Namibian savannah, on a project called Na’ankuse Wildlife Reservation and Animal Sanctuary. Once I was there, I did various activities alongside roughly 40 other volunteers. Some were there to complete PhDs, others to conduct research, and some were simply seeking to take a break from day-to-day life. The activities that I did include working alongside the anti-poaching unit, feeding and rehabilitating small animals as well as large carnivores, building a trap to catch an injured cheetah, observing elephants who have been injured, working and teaching at a non-profit school, and many other opportunities that presented themselves day-to-day. Overall, my biggest takeaway from my trip was just how different life truly is on other sides of the world. From the people to the animals, to the way of life and people’s values, truly nothing was the same as the life I grew up living, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced something so out of the ordinary. 

“Meeeeeh!”

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By Kellen Anthoine ’26

09:54, Sofitel, Rome, Italy. Our plane had just landed at the FCO Airport less than two hours ago and my parents and I had just finished unpacking. We were finally ready to walk around and explore the tourist – filled Rome before my dad had his first meeting. Seconds after walking out of the front door we heard a sound: “Meeeeeh!” It sounded like a balloon being slowly deflated, except a lot louder, and it caught me off guard. I looked towards the noise and saw a man with a dramatic frown on his face looking at me and my family. He was across the street standing directly in front of a stack of two milk crates with a cutting board on top. On the cutting board there was this jelly-like blob. I watched him pick up the blob, which I could now see had a face, form it into a ball, and throw it on the cutting board, making the sound “Meeeeeh!” We walked past him and he didn’t say a word.

Our first destination was the Spanish Steps, which were only a couple of minutes walk from the Sofitel. We arrived at the top, looking down over the beautiful Italian skyline. The air was filled with the smells of pasta and pizza, the playing of street musicians on accordions and violins, and also with the sound of “Meeeeeh!” Right there, at the bottom of the Spanish Steps was another man with the same milk crate setup in front of him, picking up and throwing another blob on it. Every time it hit the ground, the sound it made lit up the whole area.

Next we went to the Pantheon, where the sound followed us. Then the Colosseum. Everywhere we went, the sound of “Meeeeeh!” was present. All throughout the city these guys were there, watching us and anticipating a sale. 

This annoying sound made it a relief to get out of Rome. The moment we entered the train to Sorrento was the last time I ever heard that sound and I will probably never hear it again. The absence of the noise was a unique type of bliss, an ending of an aggravation. Outside of the big touristy city, there were no more salesmen trying to get us to buy their cheap products. Instead, we got to experience the true essence of Italy: quality food, good weather, and kind people.

All in all this whole story’s my way of saying how much better it is to stay out of the biggest tourist-oriented locations when traveling. Tourist traps, while beautiful, are full of people, noise, and scams that make it hard to appreciate their beauty. While Sorrento isn’t exactly unknown, it’s still less popular than Rome and because of that, is a lot more authentic.