Oumou

I don’t know anyone here who feels like they don’t have their people here. There are so many different things you can do and ways to meet people.

Oumou

Oumou fell in love with Northfield Mount Hermon before she even became a student. While looking into boarding schools, she heard from a fellow lacrosse player that the school had a beautiful campus and a welcoming, diverse community.

“I looked up the school, interviewed, and just fell in love,” says Oumou. “The diversity of the school and the community just really drew me in a lot.”

Her expectations were exceeded when she became a student.

“Every day I meet someone new from somewhere different,” Oumou says, adding that the dining hall holds flags from all over the world. “There’s so many different languages, so many different cultures, so many different religions.”

Oumou is a postgraduate student from New York City. The postgraduate program gives high school graduates an additional year to grow academically, athletically, and creatively before attending college.

While they are considered part of the senior class, postgraduates – often referred to as PGs around campus – have a dedicated PG advisor and take one or two PG-only classes.

Oumou’s PG advisor and English teacher, Sandra Messer, played an important role in Oumou’s experience and sense of belonging at NMH.

“Sandy always made sure every person felt like they belong here; she really pushed people to be their best selves, and she made sure nobody ever felt alone,” says Oumou, adding that throughout the year Sandy held PG parties where students grilled burgers, played yard games, and played piano as they chatted and checked in with one another. 

That sense of community – in the postgraduate program and beyond in extracurriculars, athletics, and academics –  defined Oumou’s year at NMH.

“Here, I tried to be more open and more social,” she says. “A lot of people here think I’m social, and that’s very shocking to me because I’m actually very shy. … But people here are so open to being your friend and open to new people.” 

During her time at NMH, Oumou joined the varsity lacrosse team and JV soccer team, and even gave hockey a try before realizing that skating was not for her (“It was a humbling experience,” she says.)

Oumou has also found camaraderie and friendship in affinity groups including Circle of Sisters – a group supporting women of color – and the Black Student Union.

“I don’t know anyone here who feels like they don’t have their people here,” says Oumou. “There are so many different things you can do and ways to meet people.”

Students at NMH are also required to participate in a “workjob,” which is a three-hours-per-week responsibility cooking in the dining hall kitchen, doing chores on the NMH farm, or another job that contributes to the school community.

Oumou’s workjob takes place at the campus childcare center, where she cares for and plays with the kids during their outside time.

“It’s so much fun,” Oumou says. “I’ve definitely learned patience … and learned to be more communicative.”

Reflecting on her year at NMH, Oumou says, “I’m a better writer, a better student, a better athlete. … I feel way more prepared for college.”

Next year, Oumou plans to pursue a pre-medicine track, with the ultimate goal of becoming a doctor.

“I love the idea of helping people and saving lives,” she says. “I just have to put my mind to it and really keep working on my craft and I’ll get there eventually.”

Oumou says her time at NMH has taught her resilience, dedication, and hard work.

“There are so many ways to grow academically, athletically, and be prepared for anything that comes at you,” she says. “There’s really no limits here. The people are amazing and they support you all the way through it.

“Everyone needs a place like NMH.”

— By Maddie Fabian