Film inspired photo taken at prom. Using modern day technology to create a photo that embodies a film photograph.
‘ euphoric geranium’
‘light as a subject’
‘the neon glow is tempting, should we get out there and dance?’
A reflection of spring in bloom at Hebron Academy
The use of negative space
at prom with the other Hebron Blog editors!
Flash photography editing
Ive grown so much as a photographer this year! I’d like to thank my photography teacher, Mr.Raffanello for his incredible guidance! And my grandpa for gifting me my first camera!
“Pressure is a privilege” (Virgil Van Dijk). Student athletes are often expected to be strong, both physically and mentally. While time management, working well under pressure, and teamwork are all great qualities student-athletes build over time, what is not talked about is the overwhelming struggle to balance their school, sports, and home life. The stigma surrounding mental health in athletes is caused by the idea that all athletes have this type of “mental toughness”, where they are “weak” and “powerless” if they seek help for their problems. While this is not true at all, people still perceive that this is the case when it comes to mental health surrounding your sport. The unique challenges that athletes face can lead to poor mental health when not taken care of right away, whether it’s burnout, injuries, or needing to be the best, every game and every practice.
Injuries can have a major impact on an athlete not only physically, but also mentally. Many athletes define themselves through their sports, so getting that taken away from you can lead to feeling frustration, anxiety, and eventually lead to depression. Depending on the injury, the recovery process can be uncertain and take a very long time, leading athletes to have to quit the thing that has brought them the most joy since they were kids. Without support, injuries can make athletes feel isolated and disconnected from the world around them, and in Morgan Rodgers case, it can lead to death by suicide.
Morgan played lacrosse at Duke University. During her freshman year, she suffered a knee injury that required surgery and a long recovery. While she worked to return to her sport, she began dealing with intense emotional struggles, including feeling of being isolated from her team and losing part of her identity as an athlete. Even though she appeared strong on the outside, Morgan was battling internally. In 2019, she died by suicide, which deeply impacted her family, teammates, and the lacrosse community.
After her death, her family started Morgan’s Message to raise awareness about mental health in student athletes and to break the stigma that prevents many from asking for help. Morgan’s Message is a charitable organization that strives to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community and equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics. In the Morgan’s Message community, we aim to expand the dialogue on mental health by normalizing conversations, empowering those who suffer in silence, and supporting those who feel alone.
Going into the 2025/2026 school year, I was dedicated to bringing Morgan’s Message to the Hebron Academy campus. I had been in Morgan’s Message clubs in my previous schools, and, since our school is made up of student athletes, I thought it would be a great opportunity. In Morgan’s Message, we learn how to recognize signs of mental health struggles in ourselves and others, and how to respond in a supportive, respectful way. It also focuses a lot on open conversation, so club members can gain confidence in talking about topics that people usually avoid. This helps show the importance of support systems and how teammates, friends, and coaches can make a big difference on one’s mental health. Lastly, we develop leadership and advocacy skills by organizing events (hopefully dedication games to come!), spreading awareness, and creating a more positive Lumberjack culture. Overall, it teaches athletes that they are more than just athletes.
For years, I outgrew pair after pair of skates. Their leather became thin and broken-in, and the laces embedded into the boots. They were never new or shiny, but each pair was mine and had been through a lot with me.
I didn’t just learn to skate in them; I was raised in them. My schedule, my friendships, even my family dynamic revolved around hockey. Weeknights were for practice. Weekends were for games. Holidays were for traveling. Our car always smelled faintly of damp gear, and our family arguments often started or ended in a rink parking lot. It was a rhythm I knew by heart.
And then it ended.
Abruptly, I woke up with my coach over me. “Addie, are you okay?”
I didn’t know what was going on, but I did know those lights were giving me a headache. As I got off the ice, the athletic trainer looked at me with disappointment. I knew this was my last time on the ice. I knew I was about to go into weeks of dizziness, nausea, and an aversion to light. What I also knew was that this was going to be my fourth and final concussion.
I had to untie those laces and rip off the skates as quickly as they went on. I would never wear those skates—or any skates—again. I would never feel the crease under my blades, never shuffle or t-push across the ice.
Without my skates on, I couldn’t help but feel like I was wearing my shoes untied. No direction. No identity. Just… lost.
And that loss didn’t stay on the ice. It followed me everywhere. The routine that had once structured my life was gone, and without it, everything felt unsteady. I struggled to find motivation, to feel like myself, to understand who I was without the one thing that had always defined me. What I had lost wasn’t just a sport, it was my outlet, my stability, and a huge part of my identity.
There were moments when it felt like I was stuck there, in that in-between, no longer the person I had been, but not yet someone new.
I hit a low point. I kept trying to fill the space hockey had left by overloading my schedule, hoping staying busy would make things feel normal again. But instead, I would burn out, lose motivation, and feel even more stuck. I didn’t fully understand what I was feeling or how to handle it. It wasn’t until I went home to recover from the concussion and had a real, honest conversation with my dad that I realized I wasn’t “ok” and something needed to change. That moment made it clear that I couldn’t keep going the way I had been, not just for myself, but for the people who cared about me: my parents, my siblings, Mrs Nadeau and everyone that was silently supporting me.
So slowly, things began to shift.
I began to realize that those worn-out skates didn’t define me, and neither did the sport. I started helping the school’s social media. Designing posts, telling stories, and finding ways to make people feel connected gave me the same kind of spark hockey once had. I found new laces. I realized I wasn’t losing a team, I was just becoming part of a different one. I joined a club, Girl Up, that I now lead. I found my love for leading in my community as being elected Vice President. I had never seen myself becoming involved in leadership roles, but now they are my passion. I learned to retie those laces.
I also began noticing relationships I had once overlooked. My advisor became more than just someone who asked me how my day was; she became a mentor I went to about everything in my life. She helped me through the moments when things still felt heavy, when I wasn’t sure I was fully okay yet. She helped me tighten my new laces. My boss, who held me accountable but also reminded me to enjoy the workspace, showed me that leadership doesn’t always mean being the loudest voice, but often the most dependable one. She helped me start to loop those laces. Those relationships helped me realize I wasn’t as alone as I thought—I just had to look up from the ice to see them.
And while hockey wasn’t a part of my daily routine anymore, the lessons it taught me stayed. The dedication I brought to every practice carried over into new passions, and the teamwork I learned helped me support people in new ways. I made my first knot in those laces.
There was so much more to my life—things I had been missing—because I was hyperfocused on lacing up those skates. I finally was able to tie the new laces I had found.
Letting go of hockey wasn’t easy. It was messy, and at times, it felt like I was losing more than I could handle. But in doing so, I made space for something even more important: growth. I didn’t lose myself; I fought to find myself again. I uncovered parts of me that had been waiting all along.
In Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf says, fashion is “the most powerful art there is. It’s movement, design, and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we’d like to be.” Fashion defines who you want to be and how you want to be perceived by people. In 2026, the flow and trend of fashion changed rapidly with the development of social media, allowing people to share and connect.
As the 2016 era is going viral, messy, splendid, and the use of anything that goes with bold is becoming a part of the new 2026 trend. Oversized and big-framed sunglasses such as Chloè’s square frame sunglasses and Gucci’s special fit square sunglasses, big, long, and multiple-layered jewelry, and bold colors – hot pink, sky blue, and green – clothes especially tracksuits from IAMGIA and Juicy Couture are examples of this trend. Regarding the ‘messy’ trend, wearing silky slip dresses with long and very sparkly accessories, skinny scarves, splendid purses, and bold makeup, which is called lingerie fashion, is also a part of the trend. Women’s Fall/Winter 2026 Runway Show from ‘7 for all mankind’ showed this trend amazingly, evoking early 2000s nostalgia.
One trend that blew up the millennial generation has come back in 2026, which is military-style jackets. Military-style jackets are often referred to as Napoleon jackets, a military coat style worn by Napoleon during the early 1800s. Its genderless style and traits make people more fascinated and want to wear it. Double-breasted, high collar, and gold buttons are conspicuous. People often match denim, skinny jeans, and sunglasses with it to add more chic and classy vibes. Cropped style, long style, and fur style, so many types of Napoleon jackets are coming out, and lots of brands are recreating it with their own styles. Alexander McQueen’s S/S 2026, Balmain F/W 2025, Ann Demeulemeester’s S/S 2026, and Dior S/S 2025 are examples.
The footwear trend highlights the balance between comfort and style. Slim sneakers are leading this trend with a wide range of styles within low profile, flat or minimal sole, lightweight, and simple design. This trend significantly emphasizes the change in footwear characteristics because it shifts from big, bulky designs to cleaner, refined, and understated designs. Also, slim sneakers give off quiet luxury and are stylish, but not flashy, which shows that the minimalism trend is back. Moreover, Sneakerina shoes are the evolution of this trend combining ballet flats and 1970s sport shoes to evoke a more classy and elegant style. Speedcat ballet venus from Puma, Tokyo MJ from Adidas, and LV Sneakerina from Louis Vuitton show several different styles within Sneakerina styles.
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.
Perrin: Hey everyone, my name is Perrin and I’m a member of the class of 2028. You should all be ready because I’m your new blog editor! This blog is going to be buzzing with your thoughts, stories, and craziness! Whether you are ready to write or ready to dive in and read something that interests you, this is your call! Let’s make this blog something we all want to read and write in, and honestly, it’s going to be a ride!
Ceci: Hey! My name is Ceci and I am a member of the class of 2028, and this is my second year being an editor for the Hebron Academy Blog. I am super excited to help share pieces and spotlight both students and faculty through content and photos. I am hoping that the blog will be a place for everyone to go to and feel connected to the community beyond surface level. The blog is a place for everyone. Whether you are involved in sports or the arts, we’d love to see what you’re up to! It’s always a pleasure connecting with other students and faculty and the editors and I are looking forward to helping share your stories, insights and experiences!
Tilly: Hi everyone! My name is Mathilde, aka Tilly, and I am a member of the class of 2027. I am incredibly excited and thrilled to be part of the Hebron Blog Editors for the first time. My goal is to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to this blog, as well as a chance for people to write about whatever they are passionate about, but also to read diverse and amazing pieces of writing from people on our campus. From sports, to arts, to trips, to your entourage, to whatever makes you smile, we would be honored to read about them and get to share it with everybody!
Message from the editors: We are your new blog editors and we are ready to turn this space into something we all want to read and write in. We are here to keep it lively and honest and full of what we are passionate about. We will put our best effort into making this blog a place that creates meaningful discussions, shows interesting perspectives, but also simple, fun stories from our people. Whether you want to share your thoughts or find something that actually clicks with you, this is your spot! Let’s make this blog a reflection of all of us because it’s not just ours, it’s yours too!
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.
Stepping on the wood, jumping to the hoop, and tying the colorful shoes, the season might be over, but the memories and experiences will never be forgotten… This year, the girls varsity basketball team has started strong with its first win in seven years. The energy on the court was powerful, and the cheers for the teammates were deafening.
This was the first year trying this amazing sport for many people, but thanks to the veterans’ help and our coach, Chris Moylan, every person has left the court with a different experience and more love for the ball than they could have ever imagined. The first game of the season was devastating; however, that loss only brought laughs and more enthusiasm. From fighting for the wins in the following games, to Addy’s goldfish talks, Nasiba’s and Yarie’s cheers from the bench, the teammates’ celebration after every single basket or even pass, Jenny’s energy to learn, Charley’s blocks, Alice’s participation even when almost nobody was in practice, Zarmina’s fights for the ball, Makayla’s strength, Natalie’s leadership, Eila’s encouraging comments, Julia’s support from the injured side, Laurali’s effort to get better, Ellen’s threes, or Nai’s giggles and sweetness, our team is the best one in the league. Maybe not in point statistics, but I can assure everyone that the Hebron Academy girls basketball team would break any stats with laughs and companionship.
The 2026 Hebron Alpine season exceeded all our expectations. Every race saw each skier pushing their limits, utilizing every run—whether training or not—to improve, resulting in moments of joy that left them smiling from ear to ear. The final race of the year was the NEPSAC Championship, the biggest race of the year. Eight members of the team left Hebron the day before to compete in the championship in New Hampshire. The race started with a few mishaps, such as getting the trailer stuck in a snowbank to begin the morning, but later being saved by Mr. Mulley. Once the team arrived at the lodge and finished getting ready, we hopped on the chairlift for Giant Slalom inspection, and before we knew it was time to race. One by one, the Hebron Alpine team descended down the course, every turn fueled by grit and passion. Eventually, the Giant Slalom race ended, and three team members stood in the top twenty in their own fields. Jack Bartash ‘28 walked away with an impressive tenth-place finish in boys, earning him an All-NEPSAC title, hot on Jack’s trail was Cael Mulley ‘27 with an eleventh-place finish to be awarded with All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention. Both boys battled hard in a field of over sixty. For girls, I stood nineteenth out of seventy-one other girls, earning my own All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention.
Once the giant slalom was over, it was time for the slalom race. Slalom had two courses set, one on the right for girls, one on the left for boys, and we would switch after our first run. The girls’ first run went smoothly, but once the boys started to run the course, an issue emerged. The boys’ course was taking lives; boy after boy would ski out or not finish the course. I was standing at the top of the course, fraternizing with my other teammates and coaches about how bad the course is and it hit me. I have to ski this course next, and I will become just another one of its victims. As time ticked down towards my run, I kept watching the boys ski out, but making sure to cheer for my teammates as they descended the hardcore course. Eventually, the girls started running the course again, and it was the same story; none of the girls were finishing the course either. At last, the final girl descended down the course, which capped off the Nepsac championship race. Although the race may have had some lows, the highs outweigh these lows. Some highs are the high placings in Giant Slalom, Casidhe Madsen ‘26 racing just a week after injuring her shoulder, first-year racer Paula Menning ‘28 landing herself in an impressive thirty-fourth for giant slalom, Beccy Wollenweber ‘27 lending her slalom skis to another racer in need, or the team spirit shown while we screamed and cheered for our teammates. Nepsac’s turned out to be a resounding success and a great way to close out the 2026 season.
