The Red & White

Almost everyone at a boarding school knows the difference between being a day student and being a boarding student. But what about faculty kids? A faculty kid is exactly what it sounds like: a child of someone who works at the school. Oftentimes, these kids have lived on campus for several years before ever taking a class. In addition, they get to experience aspects of both the day and boarding student experience. I myself am a faculty kid and am lucky enough to have lived on campus for the majority of my life. I recently spoke with fellow third-form faculty kids to discuss our experiences living on campus. Growing up on campus means making many St. George’s memories over the years. Some favorites included going to the ice rink during school breaks with friends, getting to experience the thrill of Friday Night Lights, and the excitement of eating dinner in King Hall. One student even recalled her top three spots on campus from growing up. In no order, she said, “The Field House, Big Tree, and the playground.” For those unfamiliar with the Big Tree, it’s a faculty kid staple, located near the rink, and is home to two rope swings. Over my years growing up here, other faculty kids and I have been known to spend hours playing and climbing in the trees, and of course, sometimes getting stuck way up high. Thankfully, our parents are right on campus to help with any rescues. With all these memories around the school, the freshman year transition is a unique experience for us. Some recalled the strange familiarity of having classes in rooms that they remembered from distant childhood memories. Others shared that they were surprised by their lack of knowledge of the inside of academic buildings, as those were places they hadn’t previously explored. Though there were many things left to learn, these students acknowledged the luxury of having prior knowledge of the school. One shared that “Knowing King Hall is nice, and it’s nice to be able to point people in the right direction.” Another mentioned possible downsides of being so familiar with the campus. One faculty kid pointed out that since they knew about the experience, starting high school was not as “shiny and new,” in comparison to other new students. This student further explained, and said that starting high school as a faculty kid felt like “Looking at someone else’s gently used map.” With this said, many mentioned feelings of excitement. While growing up at St. George’s, some recalled feeling like they were never a true member of the community. These students expressed their eagerness to finally call themselves official dragons. Many were excited to not just be observers but to be a part of the action. Specifically, they were ready to finally be a student for events like Middlesex weekends and all the dances. Lastly, some shared their advice for future third-form faculty students. “Make sure you know the last names of your teachers, not just the first name!!!” “Call buildings by names that people know. Not just the big glass building, it’s the Academic Building.” Ultimately, the experience of growing up on St. George’s campus leaves a profound impact on every faculty kid. Growing up here gives us lifelong friends, unique memories, and a deeper appreciation for the school. Reflecting on my own experience, being a faculty kid has had such a positive impact on my life. Between rolling skating in the hallways of West and having endless waffles at the dining hall, living on campus allowed me to just be a kid. I could knock on any neighbor’s door and spend hours wandering around campus, without a care in the world. Just like my fellow faculty kids, I am so excited to finally experience the Hilltop as a student and cannot wait to make so many more memories at St. George’s.