By Tucker Kenney ’24

Over the course of my fifteen year lifetime, I have had the privilege of experiencing some of the most exciting, fun, and fascinating times of my life through community service. Community service is something that often goes overlooked, and doesn’t get the recognition that it should. However, the impacts that community service itself has on others can be tremendous and incredible. To me, community service means providing some source of help, entertainment, or just simply helping out the community in any way possible. I have done this in several ways during my time, and I hope it is something that I will continue to do, because as I mentioned above, its impacts can be tremendous. I enjoy helping others because it makes me feel accomplished, and that I have helped someone in need. Community service goes beyond just food drives, car washes, and penny drives. Community service can be anything as simple as holding the door for someone at the grocery store. Now, it may seem cliche, but it’s true. Sometimes all someone needs is something like that to make their day just a bit better

One of the ways that I personally have been able to grow my community service skills and perform them is through Woodside One Wheelers. Woodside One Wheelers is a performing circus arts group based out of Topsham, Maine at my elementary school, Woodside Elementary School. I have been a member of Woodside One Wheelers, also known as W.O.W., for about nine years. I started performing with W.O.W. in grade one, and am still a member to this day. As a group we not only perform, but help the local community. W.O.W. often runs food drives, fundraisers, and benefit performances for local charities or organizations. W.O.W. has taken me to many places that I would not have been able to go otherwise, including the West Virginia Strawberry Festival Parade and Street Performance, The Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Parade, The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Philadelphia 76er’s Halftime Show, and many more. These trips have allowed us to provide entertainment and help communities. I remember one specific event that made a lasting impression on me. This was during our Philadelphia trip in 2018 when we were performing and teaching at a downtown YMCA in Philadelphia. This performance was especially important to me because it made me happy to see all the children’s faces light up after seeing a unicycle for the first time. This experience may not seem like a typical community service event, but to me it is one of the best examples of giving back to the community. We not only taught these kids how to juggle and to perform with a group, but we taught them how to set a goal and work for it. That is special, and something that many children don’t have exposure to growing up. Once again, making these kids’ days just a little bit better left me with a smile on my face and gave me the feeling that I had helped and given back to the community. 

Another opportunity that has allowed me to provide community service and help local communities is the Hebron Round Square. Round Square has taken me on many adventures already, and I hope to continue these adventures for my entire high school career. Through Round Square, I have participated in many events such as trash cleanup along Station Road, camping trips, and volunteer trips. Similar to W.O.W., I have one experience that stands out from others, and I wanted to talk a little more about it. MidCoast Hunger Prevention Program is a hunger prevention program based out of Brunswick, Maine, not far from my childhood home. The goal of MidCoast Hunger, otherwise known as M.C.H.P.P., is to put food in the kitchens of local families in need who are struggling to find food and meals. Through Hebron Round Square, I was able to take on my own individual project and plan a volunteer opportunity at M.C.H.P.P.. About five of us went to Brunswick and volunteered for about four hours helping make soup, cut vegetables, and plan meals. This experience was special to me because I was able to give back to a local organization that is close to my heart. It felt heartwarming to go home knowing that we had provided food for families who did not have three meals a day in a warm home. 

Creating bonds with friends and getting together to help out the communities around us is something that I will always remember and value for the rest of my life, and I hope to continue doing it. As was mentioned in my brief explanation of my W.O.W. performance in Philadelphia, my community service has not only been special to me because I have helped others around me, but that I have also been able to learn valuable lessons within myself. The community service I have provided has allowed me to pass on lessons about not giving up and setting goals to achieve eventually. To me, community service is about giving back to others around you in order to make a difference and a better world. 

By Adi Blum ’20

8:05 It’s time to go to breakfast!

My favorite thing about studying at Hebron Academy is the view I get to see once I wake up and leave my dorm.

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal of the day.

Since I haven’t seen most of my friends before study hall, breakfast is the perfect time to catch up and start the day with a smile (and waffles)!

10:10  School meeting time!

We sit with our advisory, get updated every day about what activities are happening and which clubs are meeting that day!

Also, all seniors are presenting their “Last Word” during the school meeting. It is an amazing opportunity to learn more about our classmates.

1:30 After school activities!

Every student has an after school activity they choose (soccer, field hockey, mountain biking, music, art, etc.) My activity is After-School Art.

7:30 Study hall time!

Every boarding student needs to be in their room at 7:30 ready to study!
My plans were to read my book and write my next assignments for the week in my planner 🙂

By Bayleigh Patenaude ’20

Birds chirping, sun shining, and a cool, crisp breeze gently blowing through my room. No hustle and bustle of cars to be heard. No rumble of a train running through town. 

This is my life, every day, morning and night, growing up in rural Maine.

For my entire 17 years of life, I have lived in a small town called Casco.

 Nearby are the towns of Naples, Bridgton, and Sebago, and much alike to Casco, they are small but full of life. Living here, everyone knows everyone and everything about everyone. There are no secrets to be kept. The kids here come from families who have been in this area for at least 4 generations, and the families have some of the most amazing stories to tell.

Living here is quite different than living in a city. First off, the biggest city that is actually close to me is Portland, which is still about an hour away. In comparison to New York or Boston, it’s decently smaller. Uber, Lyft, and even subway systems aren’t really a thing here. If you want to go somewhere you either call your friends or drive yourself. 

Second, we really don’t have major sports teams in our area. Don’t get me wrong though, there are some of the most passionate Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics fans up through here, but we don’t quite have the easy access of being able to walk to The Garden or Fenway whenever there’s a game.

Despite the differences, there are so many wonderful experiences that I wouldn’t trade the world for, that I’ve had because of the area I live in. I live in one of the most beautiful places in Maine, with lakes surrounding the area all over. There are large, popular lakes, like Sebago and Long Lake that have some of the most beautiful views you could ever see. There are also quiet gems like Pleasant Pond, right in the middle of my town, that are perfect for taking the kayak or canoe out for a relaxing paddle.

Not only do we have the gorgeous lakes surrounding us, but we also have small, but still mighty mountains in the area to hike. 

There is a particular mountain called Rattlesnake Mountain near me, which is a challenging hike, but extremely fun. There’s also There is no better feeling than hiking a mountain, and enjoying the view from the peak. 

Though it is cool to hear about “big city life” and hear about the developments and furthering of technology and everything in cities, I still much rather prefer my quiet, small Maine town life. I wouldn’t trade the world for experiences I’ve had and memories I’ve made in the town I live in, and I very much agree with the statement “Maine: the way life should be!” I love this beautiful state, and everything it comes with. As the sign says as you’re entering Maine on the highway, “Welcome Home”, and welcome to my home.

By Lillybeth Randall ’22

“Why would you want to do that and waste your summer?” is probably what goes through every kid’s mind when they find out that one of their friends tells them that they have a summer job or their parents suggest that they should look for a summer job. At least that’s what went through mine, but now I’m an employee of two years at Taber’s Restaurant and Mini-Golf and couldn’t be happier with my decision.

But really, why would I waste my summer, working? Personally, I love to shop, – who doesn’t? – but I can’t really shop without money so that’s where having a job comes in handy because it supplies me with the money that I would need to purchase unnecessary things. All jokes aside, having a little extra money in my back pocket is pretty great. Not only does the shopping feel great, but getting the check, and knowing that you worked hard for the money instills work ethic into our young minds. Pretty soon we’ll be graduating and we’ll be thrown out into the real world and we need things to prepare us for that. We need to know that nothing is just given to us, it’s earned through hard work.

by Alaina Bonis ’21

Photos by Leah Bonis ’19

by Alaina Bonis ’21