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Moving to Boarding School Senior Year

STAY AWAY FROM THE MEAT LOAVES.

Maïmouna Kanté

Feb 13, 2017

Drew University

290

Maimouna Kante

It’s been eight months since I left boarding school. Had you asked me two years ago if I would go to boarding school I would have told you no. NO—me? Boarding school, never. Even months before boarding school I was skeptical, trying to avoid the application. I didn’t see myself in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Perhaps what bothered me the most was dress code. How could I go from bright patterned African fabric all year long to Lily Pulitzer during the first weeks of Fall Term and all of Spring Term. From handmade Maasai beaded sandals to Tory Burch sandals. The list only goes on Sperry’s, Vineyards Vine, Patagonia. Portsmouth Abbey School was the epitome of preppy.

I adapted, I finally accepted, I graduated. And now in college here I am looking back, comparing. Being in boarding school senior year was an adjustment and a major culture shock. Imagine my confusion when I showed up at dances and the music wasn’t “Coller la Petite” or “Azonto”. Now I know that, that culture shock prepared me for college.

It prepared me for dorm life. The small things like waking up slightly early to get your favorite shower. The one with the water pressure that feels the most like home. It prepared me for food made for 300 people or more (STAY AWAY FROM THE MEAT LOAVES). It introduced me to some really amazing people from the students to faculty. Strong independent men and women.

Looking back eight months later. I miss it. I miss the traditions that came with this boarding school lifestyle. I miss walking back from dinner and stepping really close to the holy lawn, this huge patch of grass that was right in front of the church. No one stepped on the holy lawn until Commencement. Imagine the thrill of stepping on the holy lawn and not being caught. I miss Thursdays. In between AP Calculus and Drama the church talks. I miss standing up when my English teacher would show up to class. We would recite the “Our father” in Latin after he said “oremus” or “let us pray”.

At the end of the day, it was such a blessing to be part of Portsmouth Abbey’s Class of 2016.

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Moving to Boarding School Senior Year

STAY AWAY FROM THE MEAT LOAVES.

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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