NMH Magazine : Spring 2008

Playing Favorites

Okay, it’s a little corny, but we did it anyway: We polled students on their favorite things at NMH. Some couldn’t resist pointing out the cornpone factor (“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens” came up more than once), but, all in all, students tackled our questions with creativity and goodwill. The resulting answers provide uniquely personal glimpses of NMH. We received more than 250 questionnaires, filled out by hand in everything from purple pen to barely discernible pencil marks, dotted by smiley faces and multiple exclamation points. From these lists of favorites, we pulled our favorites. Illuminated by photographs, here they are—charmingly honest and honestly charming.

 

Favorite spot on campus

Sitting on the front steps of the chapel and overlooking the hills in the distance.

—Orelia Jonathan ’11

The big elm tree on Beveridge Bowl—it’s so pretty and peaceful.

—Zoe Cunningham-Cook ’11

The walk from the chapel to Alumni Hall between the maple trees in the fall, on a misty Saturday morning.

—Emily Jacke ’08

Gym lounge: first kiss.

—Edward Heo ’10

 

Favorite Teacher

Martha Neubert because she’s so intense.

—Shannon Ketcham ’09

Bill Batty. He’s always allowed me to say whatever I felt.

—Thomas Halley ’08

Ted Kenyon because he cares for you like your dad.

—Ji Lee ’09

 

Favorite class

Algebra/Physics: We do crazy activities like walking on nails and playing with static electricity.

—Robby Moore ’11

Arabic. It’s not only a language class but a porthole into a fascinating culture.

—Peter Duplissie-Johnson ’08

All the classes are fun! It doesn’t matter what the subject is, it’s all about the students and their relationship with the teacher.

—Yijing Shen ’09

 

Favorite aspect of dorm life

The balance between freedom and order. —Youn Kim ’09

Being able to walk next door and be in the room of your best friend and someone you know you will still be friends with in 20 years. —Tyler Batory ’08

Nagging my roommate. —Edward Barthelemy ’11

No parents. —Nikita Voskoboynik ’10

 

Favorite faculty child

Nathan Abel. We go on a brother/sister basis. I call him “little brother” in Chinese and he calls me “big sister.”

—Jane Kaminski ’08

Ron Smith’s youngest kid. He looks just like him and is full of character—he’s always giggling, running around, or yelling.

—Jordan Kreyling ’11

 

 

Favorite character on campus

Science teacher Hughes Pack. He wears a nice necktie every day.

—Shota Hachisako ’10

The sheriff who pounds the floor with his stick and shouts “Hear ye! Hear ye!” at Opening Convocation.

—Luke Tooker ’09

The skunk that attacked Hayden Hall last year. It somehow got under our dorm and released the bomb. About four rooms had to be evacuated because of the odor, and the whole place was in crisis. Now we have a skunk as the symbol on our dorm’s flag.

—Chris Brown ’08

 

Favorite cocurricular

Select Women’s Ensemble because there’s such a bond in that group.

—Heather Livingston ’09

Being in the Big Brother Big Sister program and playing basketball in the gym with my “little.”

—Henry Cesari ’08

Helping out at Northfield Elementary School. The kids are so great, and being with them gets my mind off NMH.

—Kristan Dziurzynski ’10

Ultimate Frisbee: ridiculously fun.

—Ben Weyers ’08

 

Favorite NMH adult to talk to

James Greenwood. He listens to my girl problems, then gives me cookies and Chinese food to feel better.

—Spencer Russell ’08

Gretel Schatz because she makes me feel good about myself and what I’m doing. She knows that we’re teenagers and sometimes make mistakes, but she knows us as adults too.

—Britt Lilienthal ’08

Bob Cooley. We always have interesting conversations (he’s the man).

—Mike Slattery ’08

 

Favorite dining hall food

Stir fry on Tuesdays. We do anything to get to lunch as fast as possible to be first in line. —Laura Bartell ’09

Pizza: it’s always there when other choices fail.

—Gordon Burnett ’08

 

Other favorite things

Singing cross-country songs at practice that have been around for 40 years.

—Lilly Richardson ’08

How the farm makes me feel. I love working with my hands there.

—Sarah Anne Tanner ’08

MY BED! (We need
more sleep here.)

—Gus Potter ’10

 

Favorite place to study

The reference room in the library at the end of one of the stacks, sitting on the floor with my homework spread out.

—Meg Dolben ’08

My room. I get to control everything.

—Robbie Valair ’08