Gillian M.

How has your time at Waterford shaped you?

 During my time at Waterford I have come to love learning more than I ever have in my life. I’ve been able to appreciate my education more being in an environment where engaging with the material is encouraged so heavily. I don’t think at any other school is such a close knit community rooting for each other like there is at Waterford.

Which faculty member(s) have had the most impact on your education and why? 

For me, my freshman year I took Biology with Karla Stucker and she taught me so much about how to learn and not just the curriculum of the class. I learned how to take notes and how to ask questions that would help me understand on a deeper level. The other aspect of her teaching that helped me was her passion for teaching and own interest in the material she was teaching. It is so refreshing to show up for a class and the teacher’s enthusiasm is contagious. The other faculty member that I feel like was pivotal in my education was Nancy Woller, she is so attentive to all of her students. My junior year I took AP AB Calculus and struggled a lot my fall term. In getting to know her and spending time with her she noticed that my struggles were not just surface level. After realizing I needed extra time for my testing she not only helped me and accommodated for that but gave me mental tools to help me through the stress and anxiety of math and testing. Her kindness and care for all her students shows in the close knit friendships and community that flourish around her.

How has Waterford inspired you to pursue a life of meaning and purpose? 

The themes of each school year help pose a question, and somehow each year that question has fit perfectly in my life. Waterford is so unique in that there are so many different types of classes you can take and so many teachers will participate in your interests and support you. In having a community that has supported me and allowed me to make mistakes and grow from them, I’ve felt the purpose of caring for that gift. I may not have my future perfectly etched out in front of me, but I do know that I will try to recreate the community I have here wherever I go.

What advice do you have for younger students at Waterford?

Engage with the education you are given. While the homework can be a lot and it can be stressful, Waterford has so much to offer if you take it seriously. There’s no shame in taking your education seriously, I didn’t really figure that out until my junior year and I wish there was someone that could have told me “it’s not cool to disengage and be passive with your classes, it’s cool to learn and be curious”. I would also say that the teachers are some of the best people you will ever meet and nurturing a relationship with them will carry you further than you know.

What will you miss most after graduation? 

I think I will miss the sense of community the most, it is so rare to walk onto a campus and know every face that passes by. Though at times it can be intimidating, it is so comforting to know that the people around you support you and have your back. I will also miss the sweet treats in the students commons every Friday.

---

Charlie Z.

How has your time at Waterford shaped you? 

Waterford has helped me manage my time and prepared me for the future. With balancing hockey with school, I learned that time management skills are crucial, especially since I want to go into the military. 

Which faculty member(s) have had the most impact on your education and why? 

There are three—Ms. Nebeker, Mr. Sayes, and Dr. O. I was new to Waterford last school year, and during my junior year, I was living away from home with a host family. Ms. Nebeker was like a mother figure to me as she checked in with me frequently to make sure that I was doing okay. Mr. Sayes is a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran. During my application process and my time at Waterford, he has been someone whom I could trust. And finally, Dr. O. Dr. O is my favorite teacher that I’ve ever had. I took his AP Chemistry class last year which was a difficult class, yet he made every day enjoyable and he made me excited to learn.

How has Waterford inspired you to pursue a life of meaning and purpose?

Waterford has made me eager to learn and pursue meaning and purpose through serving my country. Before coming to Waterford I knew that I wanted to attend a service academy, yet Waterford amplified my belief in service through helping others and doing something bigger than yourself.

What advice do you have for younger students at Waterford? 

My advice is trust the process and do the little things. It may seem very difficult where you are right now but as long as you do the little things from day to day and believe in yourself and your process, you will thrive.

What will you miss most after graduation? 

I’ll miss the people. I genuinely enjoyed time with every person I met at Waterford and even though there were things that students or teachers did that I disagreed with or didn’t like, those people are still awesome people.

---

Mia C.

How has your time at Waterford shaped you? 

Coming into Waterford for the first time, I had been terrified at the thought of not fitting in. However, the community at Waterford has been so vibrant and welcoming, shaping me into becoming more open-minded and extroverted. I no longer felt scared at the thought of reaching out to an upperclassman or going into office hours to ask for help. Waterford has given me a space in which I feel comfortable talking about my passions and getting out of my comfort zone to try new things, shaping me into someone who loves learning and ultimately helping others in the way others have helped me.

Which faculty member(s) have had the most impact on your education and why? 

Dr. Adams, my 10th and 11th grade English teacher, has had a great impact on my education. Entering high school, I had always thought of myself as STEM-focused, and that some of my weaker subjects were those in the humanities. Throughout my two years with Dr. Adams, I have not only grown as a writer, but also as a person. He has put so much time and effort into ensuring every one of his students succeeds– something I see from all teachers at the school which has ultimately inspired me to love learning. 

How has Waterford inspired you to pursue a life of meaning and purpose?

Waterford has become an environment where I have learned to love more than just learning. It has pushed me to become the best version of myself, contributing in classroom discussions, collaborating with peers, and fostering connection across grades. Waterford has led me to become more engaged and focused in my everyday life, as its commitment to not only through learning but also community building has led me to strive toward bettering my own community.

What advice do you have for younger students at Waterford? 

I would tell younger students to get out of their comfort zone and try as many things as they can. Middle and High school is the time to figure out what you love to do, so make sure to make use of the time and awesome opportunities! Waterford gives you lots of freedom to take classes you want, and there are also so many fun clubs to join that I would definitely recommend. Ultimately, you will have the most fun and make the greatest connections with people through these fun explorations, so take advantage of it!

What will you miss most after graduation? 

After I graduate, what I’ll miss most isn’t one big moment; I will miss the culmination of all the little ones. What made my everyday commute from Park City to Sandy worth it wasn’t wins over Rowland Hall, getting an A on a Final Exam, or fighting tooth and nail to beat Bear River. It was the connection I made with people, as Waterford has given me the people I love and memories I will never forget. Carpooling with the Park City crew after practice, shared struggle over a Physics test, or forced team bonding in Mesquite is what makes Waterford so special. Ultimately, it was these small, shared experiences that I will miss the most.   

---

Jesse W.

How has your time at Waterford shaped you? 

It helped me grow into a more open-minded person who is knowledgeable about the world. 9th grade Human Geo taught me about the social constructs that plague society today, and AP US History taught me about how historical events lead to modern life. English and Theater taught me that characters often have hidden motives that complexity can hide really well, and that sometimes, people can’t change, but sometimes, people can.

Which faculty member(s) have had the most impact on your education and why? 

Mr. Tanner pretty planted the values of teamwork and making good choices permanently into my brain. In theater, I worked with a lot of people who are different from me and that got me focusing on what’s the same about us instead of what’s different. He also told me that you can’t get exactly what you want without killing people, which allowed me to be grateful that I got some things I wanted.

How has Waterford inspired you to pursue a life of meaning and purpose? 

I wake up every day with a class to study for, giving me a purpose as someone who will do anything to pursue their dreams. I am mostly motivated by English and Theater as those are required for careers as an actor or writer, which I want to pursue.

What advice do you have for younger students at Waterford? 

When given the choice to choose classes, choose the ones you’ll cherish the memories of the most when you go for a job in the future. For example, if you want to be an actor, take all the theater classes, and if you want to be a writer, take Creative Writing.

What will you miss most after graduation? 

I will miss the Black Box, pretty much my second home for all of high school. My best memories and friends from high school were made there and my favorite thing was performing plays with all my friends.

---

Myles W.

How has your time at Waterford shaped you? 

My time at Waterford has been difficult, but in the best way possible. Some of the characteristics that I would say I am most proud of are a direct result of being a Waterford school. Waterford prides itself on pushing the academic potential of its students, so in staying up to date with all my classes, I also learn valuable tools for success, like good time management and work ethic. Due to Waterford’s liberal arts-based curriculum, I have the opportunity to dive into classes like AP 3D-Design, sculpture, and troubadours that encouraged me to strengthen my creativity and problem-solving skills. Students who come out of Waterford are often the most capable because being a Waterford student means being a violinist who plays two sports, does oil painting, is on science olympiad, and yet still has the energy to be driven towards excellence in everything they do.

Which faculty member(s) have had the most impact on your education and why? 

The two faculty members who have had the most impact on my education are Mrs. Nebeker and Ms. Brunken. 

Mrs. Nebeker has always been there for me. Throughout every year I attended Waterford, she was a constant companion and someone I could look up to as the perfect example of kindness. With Mrs. Nebeker, it was always students first, and she would constantly go out of her way to check in on me or stay up to date on my life in and out of school. She made the campus feel safer and saw a potential in me that not only motivated me to be the best student possible but also the best human being possible. Her advice and example have taught me lessons that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life.

Ms. Brunken is quite frankly the definition of why it’s important to form relationships with teachers. English was never my strong suit, and Ms. Brunken might have been the hardest English teacher I have ever had. After meeting with her over countless essay rewrites and vocab quizzes, it became apparent that she wanted me to succeed just as much as I did. After just one year with her, not only did I leave her class saying that was the best writing I have ever done, I had also formed such a strong relationship with her that she became a person that I could go to if I needed someone to talk to or advice on college applications, and even life decisions. I will forever be grateful for her commitment to my success and for her friendship. There is nothing that makes a student feel more supported than when they know their teacher cares deeply about them, and Ms. Brunken makes that obvious.

How has Waterford inspired you to pursue a life of meaning and purpose?

With the abundance of opportunities and classes, Waterford helps students make connections between what they are good at and what they are passionate about. Waterford has inspired me to pursue a life of meaning and purpose because, in challenging myself and being open to variety, I’ve realized my genuine excitement for the world of medicine. That level of passion, paired with a Waterford education, makes me eager to take on life past high school.

What advice do you have for younger students at Waterford? 

The advice that I would give to younger students is not to take themselves too seriously. One of the best parts about being a student at Waterford is that the school provides so many opportunities to try new things, whether that’s through extracurricular activities or an interest you and your teacher share. The teachers want you to do well and will never leave you out to dry. Don’t be afraid to take a challenging class if that means getting a bad grade, because I promise you that the life skills you will gain from stepping out of your comfort zone are far more important than a grade.

What will you miss most after graduation? 

I’m going to miss the Waterford lifestyle the most out of everything. I would say most people wouldn’t be eager to take on a seven-hour day of school followed by a two-hour sports practice only to get home and do homework for another couple of hours, but weirdly enough, Waterford has made me fall in love with it. Being surrounded by a community of people who are all tackling academic challenges alongside you creates a level of community and camaraderie that is hard to come by. While I would say I’m going to miss all of my friends after graduation, I would also argue that Waterford’s environment encouraged me to form friendships that will last past just high school.