Mercersburg
Alicia


Portland, Oregon

DEFINITION
Alicia (verb): to produce good situations and outcomes for those around you.

QUESTIONS
Why did you want to go to boarding school?
I was going to a private K-12 school and thought I’d always stay there. But my dad had gone to Mercersburg, and when I was in the 7th grade, he asked me if I’d like to go. And of course I was like, “Yeah, right. Like I would never do that.” But the more I learned about Mercersburg—and boarding school in general—the more I got interested in it. The idea of living in dorms and how close you get to your friends and your teachers really started to intrigue me. But it was still a really difficult decision—stay home and “relax” or to go to Mercersburg and take a risk. And once I did decide, it was difficult to tell my friends I was leaving. But the experience has been totally worth it.

What were you most afraid of?
As far as academics go, I felt pretty confident. It was everything else. Would I be ready for the experience? Was I mature enough? Would I be able to do this?

What were you most looking forward to?
I was most excited to take a risk. I’d never done anything like this before—living away from home for the first time, meeting different people, trying different sports and classes and activities. Everything—everything—would be new.

What has been the biggest surprise?
One thing that really surprised me the minute I walked onto campus was how close everyone was to one another. Teachers and students would walk past each other on campus and just start talking. In a way it was what I was looking for, but it was a surprise to see it in reality. I expected to get to know my teachers. I didn’t expect to do my homework at their houses.

What's the biggest challenge you've had at Mercersburg?
The biggest challenge—as well as the biggest adventure—has been moving away from my previous life and how I did things in the past. I’m different now. I feel a little more mature and grown up. I’m trying things now I don’t think I would have. This is such a good window of opportunity to change myself for the better, to make myself a better athlete and a better person.

What's the most fun you've had a Mercersburg?
It was raining really hard one night, and after dinner a bunch of friends and I went up to the soccer field to go mud sliding. Fortunately, there are no pictures.

What are your 3 favorite places on campus?
The soccer fields because so many good memories have been made there; Lower Ford; and the common rooms in my dorm because we're always doing something fun there.

What's been your proudest moment at Mercersburg?
Beating Blair’s soccer team for the first time in Mercersburg history.

What's been your most embarrassing moment at Mercersburg?
Spilling milk all over myself one night.

If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would it be?
Don't be afraid to try something new because this is the place to do it.

LISTS
The last five songs to play on my iPod were:
“The Boys of Summer” by The Ataris
“Chocolate” by Snow Patrol
“Hurricane” by Something Corporate
“Baba O’Riley” by The Who
“Ocean Avenue” by Yellowcard

Activities: