Daniel '10

As you reflect on the past three years, how has your St. Andrew’s experience shaped or changed you?

I’m not embarrassed to admit that when I came to St. Andrew’s I was an arrogant little jerk. Well actually, I am sort of embarrassed and therefore all the more grateful for everything I’ve learned about being a considerate and thoughtful person during my time at St. Andrew’s. Any high school can teach you the Pythagorean theorem and the Bill of Rights, but the fact that both the faculty and my peers went out of their way to help me grow and mature continues to astonish me.

What inspired you to pursue a leadership position at the School? What do you and your co-president, Devin, hope to accomplish this year?

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” No, I don’t suppose I can really get away with saying that. Honestly, there was no lofty intention behind my decision to run (although I almost wish there was). I felt that I was qualified and several of my friends suggested it even though I personally thought that the odds of success as a nail-biting insomniac with the social grace of Richard Nixon were practically nonexistent. Still, I figured that in the off chance I was elected, it would be a fantastic way to give back and to bring an unconventional brand of leadership to St. Andrew’s. Since I have no preconceived notions of how our co-presidency will be unique, I hope Devin and I will accomplish the same things as every preceding pair of class presidents. Obviously, we hope to represent our class well and uphold the values that have always defined the School. And, in the spirit of competition, I hope we will make our own lasting impression on the community and culture, but, even if we do, we probably won’t know it for another 20 years.

You’re quite a film enthusiast, making videos for School Assembly and special campus events. How did that passion come about?

I’ve been a film buff since I was twelve, but during my sophomore year I discovered that several of my friends had a similar interest. What began as a couple of friends with the same general taste in movies quickly turned into a Robert Altman-like film mob. They’ve been integral to the development of my passion. Only as I begin my senior year do I realize that this type of collaboration, without any form of self-centeredness or pettiness, is an “ordinary” aspect of the St. Andrew’s culture.

As you enter the final phase of the college application process, what qualities are you seeking in an institution of higher learning? What differentiates the choices before you?

I wish I could say I was entering the final phase of the college application process. In reality, I’m in more of the “Wait, was that the starting gun?” phase. To the point, I’m looking for schools with serious film programs that also have a strong academic bent. While I expect something different from my high school experience, I often end up searching for elements in a school’s culture that resemble the culture of St. Andrew’s. I can usually tell I’m in the right place when I see students smiling despite 40 pounds of books dragging behind them. At St. Andrew’s, we tend to take it for granted that we’re a part of a community that loves us unconditionally and seeks to refine the way we think. Finding these traits in a college is difficult, but whenever they appear it quickly distinguishes the school.

What advice would you give to new students just starting their career at St. Andrew’s?

I actually wrote a letter to my little brothers with some advice I wished that I had received before I stepped onto campus. My letter contained some trivial advice as well as advice that could take an entire year to completely register (as it did for me). One of the smaller points applied to the first day of school. I warned them to fight the urge to bolt when a senior girl asks them to dance at the square dance; it’s tradition, so there’s no use fighting it. My first dance (which also happened to be with the headmaster’s daughter) scared the living daylights out of me, but I somehow ended up having a great time.

On a more serious note, I also advised them to abandon any preconceived notions of boarding school. Before I arrived, I thought the students did nothing but study for their classes and discuss Kierkegaard… or something. Meanwhile, some of my relatives thought it was my punishment for an unknown felony. The truth is that St. Andrew’s defies the stereotypes (whatever they may be) surrounding east-coast boarding schools. If the freshmen arrive with an open mind, they are guaranteed to enjoy everything St. Andrew’s has to offer, academically and otherwise.