What do you consider the greatest part about attending Fountain Valley School? Why?

The education at Fountain Valley is top-notch and the sports facilities are some of the best in the country. Plus, the scenery is breathtaking. But, on top of all of that, the greatest part was the relationships I walked away with. Hockey is and always has been one of the major aspects of my life. At the peak of the pandemic, hockey at Fountain Valley was no longer a possibility and I had a decision to make: 1) Stay at the School with my friends and teachers I love so much but give up a year of hockey, or 2) Leave all of the relationships I had fostered over my first year to continue pursuing my passion for the game I love. I chose the people and the School over hockey; to continue building those relationships, creating memories and continuing life as a Dane. That was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make, but I wholeheartedly view it as one of the best decisions I ever made. The connections you build on the Prairie at Fountain Valley are the greatest part of the School, and to build those lifelong relationships with the beautiful views, top-notch education, and state-of-the-art facilities is just a cherry on top. 

WHICH CLASS, ACTIVITY OR INTERIM EXPEDITION IMPACTED YOU THE MOST? EXPLAIN.

Some of my best memories in life came from my senior year Interim Expedition, however, the most impactful course I ever took at FVS was AP Environmental Science. That class helped me develop an unwavering passion for sustainability, a passion that has now become the focal point of my university studies. FVS faculty teach with passion; they guide their students with energy and make going to class fun. I looked forward to that class every other day. I can’t thank my AP Environmental Science teacher enough for instilling in me a fiery passion for a cleaner planet and for shaping the rest of my life.

which outstanding qualities drew you most to Colorado and Fountain Valley School?

When initially looking into boarding schools in the summer of 2018, I was across the map with my selections. I had my eyes on schools in the Northeast, the Midwest, California, and of course Fountain Valley. I originally was introduced to FVS at a hockey showcase, where the head coach told me about the School and invited me out for a visit. At that time, Fountain Valley School was just another option but in April of 2019, I made my first visit to campus. As soon as I stepped foot onto the School’s 1,100-acre campus, FVS immediately shot to the top of my list. My first observation was its beauty. Being able to see the mountains from any point of view was mesmerizing to me, a kid from Houston. The scenery was quickly topped by the quality of the students I met. I was just finishing up my freshman year of high school and was a bit intimidated by the thought of what boarding school would be like. I was met with open arms by students of all ages at FVS. When I shadowed a few classes on my second day of the trip, I fell in love with the small class sizes and the intimacy that they brought to learning. In the three 70-minute classes in which I had the opportunity to shadow, I had learned more than I had in the classes I’d taken for an entire semester back home. I walked away from my visit to FVS knowing that it would be the right place for me and low and behold, I am now a proud member of the Class of 2022.

How did FVS shape you from when you first enrolled to when you graduated?

When I walked onto the Prairie for the first time as a student, I was an outgoing kid with big curiosities. The day I walked across FVS’s graduation stage, I remained the same outgoing kid, however, was now equipped with the tools to explore my curiosities and had developed a new comfortability in creating relationships and facing adversity. My peers and faculty pushed me to grow as a person and as a leader. Of course, the notorious “COVID year” was tough on everybody, but the School encouraged students to be creative and make the most of things. While I understand some unwillingness to see the bright side of challenges faced in those years, the encouragement and support received from those around me allowed me to view things in a different light. While I am still the same person who walked into FVS, I was able to grow so much in my leadership, my friendships, and my study habits, all of which have contributed to my success today.

Why do you feel that attending a boarding school was the right decision for you?

Myself and my family were tired of the large class sizes, the lack of attention, and the overall experience that I was having at my massive public school in Houston. Attending boarding school at Fountain Valley solved all of these problems while simultaneously adding structure to my life and allowing me to develop a daily routine. Going to boarding school allowed me to grow my independence and my appreciation of education, and those two things alone are reason enough for why boarding school was the right decision for me.