Alysa Morse '09

Who was the best teacher/coach you had Berwick Academy? Why?
The faculty as a whole. Each member plays a role in the student's experience. From teaching and advising, to coaching. The faculty learns and knows each student as an individual, not just as a student in their class. The faculty are the integral part of shaping one's experience on the Hilltop.

What was the best class you took at Berwick Academy? Why?

World Literature, Fall 2008. This class was not just academically challenging, but it was also intellectually challenging. We would take a text from the 19th century, from a distant part of the world, and make the concepts and ideas apply and give insights to our own lives. The class caused us to think beyond our "normal capacity", the accepted norm, into a new dimension. Throughout my academic career, this was the only class where I grew academically, intellectually, while most importantly developing self awareness. It was in this class that we could discover education is not in the memorization of a book, but in using the book as a catalyst for discussion and discovery into the world around us.

How did Berwick Academy help you with the college process and with finding a college that was the right fit for you?
Berwick Academy's college counseling walks both students and parents through the college process step-by-step. Many students find the mock college interview to reduce fears about the college application process. Faculty and staff are more than accommodating with recommendations and college essay advice. If a student decides to transfer schools during his or her college career, the Berwick faculty is always there for advice, guidance, and offers any assistance the student may need.

How did Berwick Academy prepare you for college?
Your senior year at Berwick academically surpasses any challenge you will face in college.The study habits you are taught from the first day you step on campus are refined and perfected as you enter your senior year. Upon entering college, you feel that you are over-prepared.  Berwick Academy is a phenomenal foundation for one's college experience.

What is the best thing about Berwick Academy?
The family. The Berwick family is one that will never leave you for the rest of your life. The faculty, administration, and students create an unbreakable bond. The Hilltop is your home as a student. You are challenged and tested not only in the classroom but on the sports fields, art stages, and through student groups. Leadership and character are defined through your experiences on the Hilltop. Most importantly, the support and relationships you develop on the Hilltop are ones you will have for the rest of your life. It is your family.

On a side:
Berwick Academy was one of the greatest opportunities of my life. Some say the Hilltop is an isolated microcosm from the "real world". That may be true, but the lessons, the challenges, and the growth you experience as a member of the community, change your life forever, and allow you to face and excel in the "real world". My time at Berwick was unexpected and a gift I never imagined. I would not be who I am today without the core values, the tests of character, and the persistent challenges both academically and athletically.
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Berwick Academy

Berwick Academy, situated on an 80-acre campus just over one hour north of Boston, serves 550 students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Post-Graduates. Berwick students are from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several countries. Deeply committed to its mission of promoting virtue and useful knowledge, Berwick Academy empowers students to be creative and bold. Berwick strives to graduate alumni who shape their own learning, take risks, ask thoughtful questions, and come to understand and celebrate their authentic selves.