Bryanna
Northfield, Massachusetts
At NMH, Bryanna has been a student leader, an athlete, a photographer, a social entrepreneur — and an expert panini chef.
What brought me to NMH:
Coming from rural western Massachusetts, NMH seemed like a place out of fairy tales for me every time I stepped on campus for Big Brothers/Big Sisters on my Friday evenings as a kid. I got to go to the dining hall, meet kids from all over the world, and hang out around campus.
When my older sisters applied and got in, I knew that NMH was where I wanted to be, too. I wanted to build lifelong friendships, study my passions, make change, and have the experiences and opportunities that I had seen were possible.
The most challenging part of my time at NMH:
The most challenging part of my time at NMH has definitely been the challenge of time management. Being at NMH, it’s so easy to constantly find yourself busy and adding more to your plate. One of the biggest challenges I had was learning when enough was enough and what to put my energy towards in order to manage my time better. In learning how to manage my time in a more efficient way, I have found that I can also be more purposeful in what I choose to do.
My activities at NMH:
I have been a Resident Leader for two years, participated in cross-country (varsity captain my junior and senior year), run and pole vaulted in track and field, been in the Operation Happy Birthday club, worked as a yearbook editor, been on the faculty interview committee, and joined more clubs than I care to admit during club fair.
Something new I tried for the first time at NMH:
My freshman year I took darkroom photography for the very first time. I had never thought about myself as a photographer, and it seemed really challenging and scary because I was also the only freshman in the class. It turned into one of my favorite classes by the end of the year and gave me a new hobby that I really love.
My favorite class:
The Rhodes Fellowship Course in Social Entrepreneurship that I took over the course of my junior and senior year. We learned about social issues within our society and how to use enterprises to solve them, culminating in a senior project where we got to create our own enterprise. This class was not only formative for me but provided me with a larger sense of service and community in a real-world setting.
My favorite spot on campus:
Definitely the farm at the beginning of the year, when the weather is still nice and the flowers are in bloom. Over the course of my time at NMH, the farm and its history has never ceased to amaze me. Farmers Nancy and Adam are great to talk to about anything, and there’s so much to look at, especially when the goats are out and about.
Being at NMH, it’s so easy to constantly find yourself busy and adding more to your plate. In learning how to manage my time in a more efficient way, I have found that I can also be more purposeful in what I choose to do.”
My favorite activity:
My favorite activity at NMH is what my friends and I like to call “marination dinners,” usually Wednesday or Sunday nights when we go to dinner from 5 until 7:30, when the dining hHall closes. These dinners are always fun, filled with laughter, and a great way to unwind from the week.
My favorite food in Alumni Hall:
My favorite food is more of a process: the panini maker. I really don’t know why, but I love to make paninis. I don’t think I could ever get tired of them. Picking and choosing the type of sandwich I make is always exciting (especially when I try new combinations). The panini maker has also been such a lifesaver during Wednesday lunches, when the entire school goes to Alumni Hall, and I can confidently say that a panini-ed peanut butter and jelly sandwich is life-changing.
My favorite NMH tradition:
Mountain Day Eve. There’s always something so special about hearing the news that Mountain Day is going to be the next day and so the night is free because there won’t be any classes. I really think that the campus comes alive and people are just walking around and hanging out with friends and having a good time being in community with one another.
Advice I would give myself if I could go back to my first day at NMH:
I would tell myself to try everything and put myself out there. Four years seems like a long time, but in reality it goes by really fast. Taking advantage of all of the opportunities NMH provides, talking to new people, and not being afraid to try new things is what I have found is the best way of making the most out of those four years.
What’s special to me about NMH:
The people. It’s really that simple. I think that what makes NMH so special and what has made NMH so special for me are the connections that I have made throughout my time here and the small and big interactions and relationships that I have been able to foster.
How NMH has changed me:
NMH has helped and changed me in more ways than I can count. Coming into NMH my freshman year, I was nowhere near as confident and sure of myself as I am now. I was constantly in my head. Throughout my time at NMH, I have been supported and challenged and had experiences that have allowed me to grow my confidence inside and outside of the classroom.
Plan for the fall:
I will attend Bowdoin College and plan on majoring in environmental science. I plan to pursue a future career in environmental conservation and field studies.