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In today’s technology-driven world, it is easy to forget the importance and beauty of nature. However, at Deerfield, students and faculty consciously try to appreciate and connect with the natural world surrounding us. From the lush greenery on campus to diverse wildlife, the Academy’s surroundings provide an ideal environment for students and faculty to enjoy nature. Across the Deerfield community, students find ways to appreciate the natural world.  This past fall, Ocean Feng ’24 and Theo Lewis ’24 started Deerfield Academy Nature Races, where students race in various settings and sports activities. Inspired by their love for nature, they started the races for people to enjoy the natural environment Deerfield has to offer. In a video played at the school meeting on October 12, 2022, Feng interviewed students on why they love nature and featured Head of School John Austin jumping in the river to inspire more students to partake in the triathlon in the fall. Feng said that Deerfield’s natural beauty makes him “really appreciate [campus’ surroundings] and try to get other people to appreciate it as well.” His favorite spot on campus is the bench by the Deerfield River with the words “Come sit and watch the sunset with me” etched on it. Feng described the space as a “great spot to just watch the sunset and be away from school.”  Apart from the Deerfield triathlon, some students enjoy nature through sports activities. Isaac Bakare ’24 and Carson Bynum ’23 appreciate nature by running on campus throughout the school year. Bakare said, “Seeing the sunsets was always nice on my runs.” They also enjoy observing the unique hues of the changing seasons and taking the cross country exemption in the winter term allowed them to appreciate the light colors of the winter and transition to the vivid colors in the spring. Bynum said, “Being able to see multiple different seasons can be helpful instead of just going out when it’s super warm and convenient.” During the track season, Bynum and Bakare’s Boys Varsity Track and Field team heads down to the lower fields after practices to play sports and hang out in the warmth of the sun. Meghan Holland ’23 tries to go outdoors and spend every day in the spring and fall either in the river, going on bike rides with her friends, or going down to the lower fields. Her favorite spots to watch the sunsets are the stairs behind the Athletic Center that overlooks the Lower Fields, the roof of the Koch Center, and down Mill Village Road.  Deerfield’s faculty also find ways to appreciate nature outside of class. Science Teacher Toby Emerson enjoys nature at Deerfield by fishing in the river, walking around campus, watching sunsets over the western hills, and cycling with friends. His fondest part of nature at the Academy is the large Buttonball tree in front of the Main School Building. With a 25-foot trunk circumference and an age of 400 years, the tree is “an incredible statement on how old the tree and how enduring nature can be,” according to Mr. Emerson.  Environmental Science Teacher Rich Calhoun loves finding quiet natural places on campus where he can “find a sense of solitude that allows [him] to find grounding and reconnect with the importance of [his] work.” His teaching enables him to appreciate the interconnectedness of all the ecosystems on campus, whether it is the water that flows from Eagle Brook Ridge or the correlation between the weather in Massachusetts and the global climate. In his Environmental Science class, students learn about the effects of climate change at Deerfield, where “winters are growing shorter and warmer, with more severe summer heat waves.” Students visited a maple tree farm, where production is decreasing due to changing temperatures. Mr. Calhoun said, “We, as humans, sometimes think of ourselves as far apart from the natural world. But, in reality, we are part of the natural world.”  As spring rolls around, it is important for students and faculty to enjoy the sunshine outside. One common piece of advice was shared: Go outside! Even if you don’t try the activities described, there is plenty more to do outdoors at Deerfield. You can go on a bike ride, borrow a friend’s scooter, do homework in the hammocks, participate in Shriv at the Riv, join the fall triathlon, or even just go on a walk! As Holland said, “to realize that what we have here is not what a lot of people have. Realizing that and taking advantage of it while you can is really important.”

You might recognize The Other Doors as Deerfield’s in-house school meeting band, filling in the transitions between announcements with catchy tunes and entertaining vocals. But aside from their brief School Meeting appearances, who are the talented musicians and how did the band come to be? The band was newly formed this academic year at the request of Dean of Students Sam Bicknell. He had asked Director of Music Thomas Bergeron if there were any musicians who were interested in playing the song Security by Etta James for his portion at School Meeting, A Second for Security. Mr. Bergeron gladly accepted Mr. Bicknell’s request and started to envision a School Meeting band. He remarked, “I thought it would be fun for school meetings to have live music, so I brought the idea to Ms. Creagh and she was into it, so we decided to spice up the [Deerfield] Fight Song by playing along.” And thus The Other Doors was founded, with Mr. Bergeron as the bandleader. Since then, the band has expanded its repertoire to include fan-favorite pop songs, most of which were arranged by Mr. Bergeron himself. Under his leadership, the band meets twice per week, learning new pieces each week. Justin Seo ’23, who played with The Other Doors in the winter, praised Mr. Bergeron’s dedication to the band, saying, “He created the Doors [and];the concept; he’s the bandleader. He does a lot of work for it, and very ambitiously, and it works because we get a lot done.” Despite his leadership of the band, Mr. Bergeron stressed the importance of student input in the band, stating, “The Other Doors is a band by students for students, but with professional guidance and you get to perform for the entire school every week.” Mr. Bergeron often allows members to recommend songs to strengthen student involvement within the band and accelerate the learning process. He explained, “If one or two people in the band already know the song, they can embody it and the groove more easily as we’re playing it.” To further help with efficiency, Mr. Bergeron arranges songs selectively, choosing the most recognizable moments and then builds the rest of the song around them. This often includes improvised solos that give each member of the band a chance to shine. Kwasi Adu-Gyamfi ’26, a former saxophonist for The Other Doors, said, “It was fun improvising during the performances and sharing my passion with Deerfield.” Still, the biggest mystery lies in the band’s name; why is it called The Other Doors? Turns out the name was inspired by Will Sussbauer ’23’s Deerfield story, in which he described “the other Deerfield student.” Sussbauer’s story also incorporated a witty reference to the American rock band, The Doors. When Mr. Bergeron presented the name to the newly formed student band, he was met with enthusiastic approval, recalling, “Some of the students in the band expressed that they felt like they were the other kind of Deerfield student, the kind of Deerfield student that is into the arts and music. The members of the band represented the other Deerfield.” Although The Other Doors is a newcomer to Deerfield’s music scene, it has undeniably become a School Meeting staple with a bright future ahead. Mr. Bergeron has high hopes for the band, saying, “I like the idea of The Other Doors being Deerfield’s House Band, not necessarily just for school meetings. So if someone needs a band for a function we could ask The Other Doors to be that.”  For students interested in playing in the band, joining is as simple as joining and signing up for the music co-curricular. Although the co-curricular typically only takes students already involved with the music program, The Other Doors provides dedicated musicians with a bypass into the co-curricular and a way for them to further their musical journey at Deerfield. As such, it is a great opportunity for established and budding musicians to experience the cycle of preparing and practicing to perform in front of a live audience. The Other Doors at its core is an incredibly flexible band that welcomes all musicians and caters to a diverse range of instruments. In the words of Adu-Gyamfi, “As a freshman, you don’t know as many people, and I think it’s a good opportunity to find new people who also share your interest in music.”

In the second week of April, Deerfield Academy’s Theater and Music co-curricular groups organized a collaborative and interactive concert with the Deerfield daycare down the street from the Academy. The students at Deerfield Academy eagerly welcomed the chance to interact and engage with students outside of their school. Visual and Performing Arts Chair and Theater Director Catriona Hynds initiated the partnership between Deerfield’s performing arts students and the local daycare center. The movement-based initiative and the subsequent concert aimed to provide the daycare’s children with new opportunities to develop relationship-building skills. “It was a tremendous experience, and I can’t believe we haven’t done this before,” Will Sussbauer ’23 from the Acting and Directing for Stage class said, going on to add that it was deeply fulfilling. Three groups of Deerfield students visited the daycare center throughout the week leading up to the joint concert at the concert hall located within the daycare center. The co-curricular students planned the performances and interactive activities. Each group of Deerfield students focused on a different age group: toddlers who have not learned to speak, toddlers who can speak, and preschoolers. According to Sussbauer, the children at the daycare were initially nervous about interacting with the Deerfield students and engaging in unfamiliar activities, but they gradually became excited in interacting with the students performing.  The students at Deerfield Academy found the relationships they formed with the children at the daycare extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Lillian Regal ’24, part of the theater co-curricular, said, “Some of the children who are faculty kids remembered me, and that was really cool.” Theatre “requires vulnerability at utmost,” Sussbauer said. The goal of the joint concert was to not only allow the advanced co-curricular students to engage with their interests outside of normal co-curricular events but also allow the daycare students a chance to engage with the arts, “pushing themselves to try new things,” as Regal described.

Chelsea Davis ’23 has always enjoyed composing literature as well as English class, mainly because of the writing aspect. At Deerfield, Davis continued to pursue this passion of hers in both her sophomore and junior year where she began to focus on writing scripts. Passionate about creative writing, Davis will continue to study composition and literature at New York University (NYU). Although Davis has composed a multitude of scripts, varying in length and description, her main focal points revolve around two genres: comedy and drama, aiming to incorporate at least one of these into each script. Davis focuses on human interactions and general relationships as she enjoys being able to explore and elaborate on those aspects of life. Inspired by human connections, she wrote her two most recent plays, Not Even You and We’re Okay, and her recent screenplay, Sit Still.  In addition to drawing inspiration from relationships, Davis has a running list filled with ideas and pieces of information that she gathers daily. She said that most of the time, her script ideas come from this document, which enables her to save her ideas for a later time, when she can incorporate her thoughts and notions into the well-thought-out scripts that the Deerfield community has experienced.  Although Davis has produced all of her own scripts at Deerfield, other students from the Deerfield community have read aloud and presented her writings. These individuals include Zoe Matias ’23, Caleb Levesque ’23, Koko Akpan ’23, Peter Shea ’23, Gavin Mariani ’23, and Greta Steever ’24. Matias played a main role in Davis’ play, Not Even You, at Deerfield’s very own Black Box Theater. When speaking with Matias, she described working alongside Davis and performing the script to be focused on “immerses[ing] you in the script with her plot and language.” Many of Davis’ smaller pieces were written in her English class, and she began writing her latest big script during Winter Term for Deerfield Night Live (DNL). In the fall term, Davis constructed a ten-page script.  Davis’ writing talent has stemmed from her long-lasting love for writing. But, overall, she enjoys it because of its flow and because she finds peace and pleasure through expressing herself and appreciates how “most of the time they just write themselves.”   Davis loves reading her scripts and having them read aloud by others because it brings a new level of enthusiasm. In an interview with Davis, she revealed that when her scripts are read aloud, she “[wonders] what [will] happen next,” and it gives her the ability to feel like she is hearing the story for the first time, despite the fact that she wrote the script.  Beyond Deerfield, Davis will continue to pursue her passion for writing scripts as well as making movies and TV films in college and the near future. Peers, colleagues, and friends describe her as passionate and devoted to her scripts. Her dedication over the past few years to this hobby shows that she has what it takes to follow and accomplish her script-writing dreams.

The Deerfield boys team placed second overall, led by captains Totton Hefflefinger ’23, Jerry Huang ’23, and Alessandro Turchetta ’23. On March 4–5 2023, the New England Swimming and Diving Championships took place at Deerfield’s Koch Pool and the Christopher Lynn ’66 pool at Phillips Academy Andover. This was the first time in seven years that the Deerfield boys placed in the top two at New England’s.  The championships began with the diving portion, highlighted by three top-ten performances by Forrest Gao ’23, Toler Poole ’24, and Gabe Swisher-Rosa ’23. Swisher-Rosa and Poole came in tenth and eighth respectively, while Gao finished his senior season with a 2nd place podium finish. Gao reflected on his diving career saying, “I think me becoming a diver in the first place is truly a testament to the spirit of Deerfield: one that encourages adventure and trying new things.” He further added, “I sincerely hope to continue my journey with diving outside of Deerfield, not only for the thrill of competition that I so love but also for the friends and freedom I found and will continue to find.” At the conclusion of the diving portion, Deerfield was in first place before moving into the swimming events.  Regarding his initial impressions before the competition, Turchetta said that “Going into the meet, we knew we were easily a top 4 team. If I was another team looking at the seed times [initial rankings], I wouldn’t think Deerfield had what it took to challenge the top 3 teams.” However, Turchetta knew that “if all our guys swam their best, we would be strong contenders for second against Exeter and Brunswick.” Heffelfinger echoed Turchetta’s thoughts. “From the beginning of the season our goal was top three,” he explained. “As we approached New Englands, that looked more realistic and we started focusing on going for second, since we knew [beating] Andover was basically out of reach,” Heffelfinger  added. To make sure that Deerfield could score as many points as possible, Heffelfinger explained that the “lineup was shifted going into finals, and we knew that everything had to go our way for us to reach our goals.” The boys’ performance was highlighted by a second place finish and an All-American time in the 200 freestyle relay, raced by Heffelfinger, Daniel Wareham ’24, Vedran Gjivoje ’24, and Will Hill ’24. After a strong finish by the boys, Turchetta said, “Placing second felt amazing. After a tough season for the team, many of our guys working through injuries or sickness, it was great to see so many good swims and results across the board. It was great to see all the hard work the guys put in pay off.” Heffelfinger added, “The guys’ team puts in a lot of time and effort not only in practice but also outside to get extra workouts, eat well, and take care of our bodies.” Giulio Migliarina ’25 agreed with Heffelfinger, and said, “I knew everyone put in their work and did their jobs, so I was extremely happy and proud of everyone.” They both shared Turchetta’s sense of accomplishment and pride.  Looking ahead to the future of the team, Turchetta said, “I was extremely proud of all the guys. I’m gonna miss all of them but I know the program has a bright future.”

A long standing tradition at Deerfield are the Sunday Yoga sessions, run by Wellness Teacher Lindel Hart. This opportunity is open to the entirety of the Deerfield community, including students, faculty, and families alike. Featured on the 101 things to complete at Deerfield, this activity demonstrates the array of experiences offered at Deerfield. Starting 13 years ago, the Sunday Yoga Session was the first class ever taught by Mr. Hart. The purpose of this class was to teach the basics of yoga while also creating a space for students to recenter themselves and reflect on boarding school life. According to Mr. Hart, practicing yoga is a way for students and teachers to cope with their stresses and anxieties. “Yoga forces students to move with purpose and intelligence, and to let go of everything and focus on the present,” Mr. Hart said. Attending these weekly Sunday Yoga Sessions has helped students relax, and in turn rejuvenates them so they are able to fully experience their time at boarding school.  The Sunday Yoga classes are catered to individuals, as opposed to the group as a whole. This means that while more skilled students can participate in more advanced exercises, newer students will receive a routine specifically modified for their skill level. Athletes who want to improve flexibility in one area or want to learn a new position will also get some one-on-one time with Mr. Hart and will be taught all there is to know. The yoga classrooms at Deerfield are fully stocked with equipment that applies to certain poses and is available to anyone during class. Mr. Hart encourages members of the Deerfield community from all skill levels to try one of his classes at least once during their time at Deerfield. Students who have tried Mr. Hart’s classes do not regret stepping out of their comfort zones, as yoga has since become a quintessential part of their Deerfield experience. Hugh McCabe ’23, who has been attending Mr. Hart’s Sunday Yoga sessions, said, “Attending Sunday Yoga Sessions really helped me navigate my way through life at Deerfield, managing my stress levels and my mental health.” Ava Lennon ’24 also reported that she really benefited from deciding to try out Mr. Hart’s class. Mr. Hart said, “Both Hugh and Ava have regularly attended my classes for some time now, and it has been great seeing them progress in yoga, and as high school students.” Mr. Hart’s Sunday Yoga sessions have served as a means to help many students alleviate stress. Open to everyone regardless of age and experience, this class offers community members the opportunity to learn a new skill while at Deerfield.

When Theo Lewis ’24 signed up for the Special Olympics at the Club Fair at the beginning of his sophomore year, he wasn’t entirely sure what he would be getting himself into. Now, nearly two years later, he could not be more pleased with his decision to  give people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports. Special Olympics, an organization started to give children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to play sports, has since established programs in schools all over the country. Lewis said, “I kind of knew that the Special Olympics was about playing sports with people who have mental disabilities, but I wasn’t sure what the program was like at Deerfield.” He elaborated, saying, “I went the first day and really enjoyed it and I kept going back, and at the end of the year the two leaders who were both seniors needed replacements and I ended up getting chosen as a leader.”  Lewis has worked tirelessly to make the program a success at Deerfield, not only in regards to the overall outreach of the program, but also the success of the North Valley Bears, one of the Special Olympics’ teams, who were able to win their most recent floor-hockey tournament. Lewis, along with  Lauren Sobczak ’24, can often be seen making announcements at sit-down meals discussing the latest S.O. events or playing floor-hockey scrimmages in the Main Gym on Sunday mornings.  Most recently, Lewis, alongside other Special Olympics members, took part in a polar plunge, a Friday morning swim in the icy Deerfield River. According to Lauren Sobczak ’24, the plunge was “dedicated to bringing awesomeness to the Special Olympics,” she said.  When asked about his goals for the program, Lewis said, “I think what we want to do at Special Olympics is to foster a community where students can help out the greater Greenfield and Deerfield communities. I know Deerfield can often become a bubble, and I think this is just an opportunity to help out the community.”   Lewis understands the importance of getting involved with the community, not only for the good of the program but also for the benefit of Deerfield students. He explains that it is also important for Deerfield students to do community service to gain insight into different perspectives outside of a classroom environment.  Looking into the upcoming months, the program looks to expand into different sports other than the field hockey scrimmages they usually hold according to Lewis. Lewis said, “This year we are trying to continue this into the spring.” Since then, the team has been doing track on Sunday mornings. “I hope it’s something that we’ll be able to continue with in the future,” Lewis said.  As for the future of the program and Lewis’ legacy as the leader of the Special Olympics at Deerfield, Lewis said he is not focused on the outcome just yet. “I’m not entirely sure yet what my legacy will be with the Special Olympics,” he said with a chuckle.

For Felix Rockefeller ’23, the Deerfield Lacrosse program has always held a special place in his heart — he’s been attending Deerfield lacrosse games since 2016. Growing up in New York City, Rockefeller played several different sports, including basketball, football, lacrosse, and ice hockey. “I started playing lacrosse at 10 years old, around 2nd or 3rd grade, because of my two older brothers. But hockey was my main sport until 8th grade, which is when I realized I was a lot better at lacrosse.” While Rockefeller’s ice hockey career never reached further than the Junior Varsity level, he has found tremendous success on the lacrosse field, akin to his two older brothers, Teddy Rockefeller ’21 and Nolen Rockefeller ’18.  Rockefeller cites his oldest brother, Nolen, as his biggest inspiration in the sport, saying, “I’ve been going to [Deerfield Lacrosse] games ever since he made Varsity his sophomore year. He was team captain [during my high school application process], and it was one of the main reasons that I was like, ‘I want to go there.’” That’s the way I fell in love with the Deerfield Lacrosse program.”  Felix Rockefeller, a four-year senior, had his inaugural high school lacrosse season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his favorite memory as a team member occurred during this time. “The Burning of the Sticks,” a treasured lacrosse team tradition, usually occurs on Jim Smith Field, with the whole team and coaching staff present. With COVID-19 making an in-person gathering impossible, Head Coach Chip Davis and Assistant Coach Drew Philie ’09 conducted the tradition via Zoom. This is where Rockefeller began to understand “what the program really meant, and it’ll be one of those things that always [resonates with him].”  Despite an unpredictable beginning to his high school career, Rockefeller has made the most of his time in the green-and-white. He has been an integral part of the team’s offense for the last three seasons, playing as an attackman or midfielder, compiling an impressive career record of 29-7. For the 2022-23 season, Rockefeller alongside Owen Bunten ’23, are captains for the team, an accomplishment he holds in high regard. “There’s a lot of history and legacy to this program. Coach Davis has built a powerhouse, and being a captain under the coaching staff that we have [is definitely something to be proud of.] Being a four-year freshman and having had great captains that I’ll always and have looked up to [really means a lot].” Rockefeller’s impact in this leadership role has been acknowledged by teammates such as Billy Weller ’26. Weller said, “Felix always leads by example and helps the team however he can to become better.” Rockefeller said he has immensely appreciated captaining the team alongside Bunten, the other four-year senior on the squad. Rockefeller expanded on their close relationship by saying, “Freshman year, those that were here know, that’s been my boy.  Him and I, since we got here, it was right to work. Not only getting accustomed to school but also staying consistent throughout these four years, always having a goal going into the Spring, getting better every day. It helps out having someone to do that with that’s one of your best friends—it’s been a ride.” Bunten’s words encapsulate the two’s relationship: “Without him, there is no me.”  Bunten will be heading off to play lacrosse at West Point next year, while Rockefeller will play under Coach Mike Daly at Brown University. Rockefeller’s older brother, Nolen, captained the Brown lacrosse team during the 2021-22 season, while his other brother, Teddy, is currently a sophomore on the team. When asked why he chose to commit to Brown, Rockefeller stated, “[I love] the culture there. First thing was academics, always. Everything that I was looking for in a college academically, they had it. Honestly, to me, the culture, the program, and the coaches, kind of resembled what we have here [at Deerfield], which is something that played a big part in my decision.” Rockefeller’s goals at the next level are simple: “build and succeed.” He said highly of the importance of working hard as a team and appreciating the grind.  Rockefeller has also had to hold tight to these sentiments while navigating through the current season’s ups and downs. “Going into the season, I knew it’d be a different type of year than my past years that I’ve had, which meant a lot of new challenges,” he said, “We’re still building every day, in practice and games, but it’s been very fun to see the evolution of our team, coming together and finding that unified will to go out and compete.”  Rockefeller’s relationship with the Deerfield Lacrosse team has been reciprocal. The latter have given him mentors, friendships, thrilling experiences, and countless other tangible and intangible benefits.

On Wednesday, April 5th, Margaret Melnik ’24 parked her car in the same place she always does — right outside Mac, across the street from Headmaster’s Field. It is a convenient spot central on campus. What Margaret did not account for, however, was that Deerfield Boys’ Varsity Baseball was playing Loomis that afternoon. A foul ball rattled off a Loomis player’s bat, soaring through the air, and crashing down into the back window of Margaret’s car, shattering the glass. Margaret was able to sort things out and get her back window fixed. But what about the baseball itself? What did it feel? Here’s what it said: Everyone is worried about the car window and about Margaret. But what about me? It’s not like I chose to fly into her car. I took a hit too, and no one asked how I felt. Anyways, let me tell you my story. After sitting in the umpire’s back pouch for what felt like years, I was pulled out and tossed to the mound. Let me tell you, sitting in the glove is so scary. I’m a little claustrophobic, and in a glove, I can’t see or move. If you think being in a ball bag is bad, a glove is 100 times worse. At least there are other baseballs to talk to in a bag. In a glove, there’s nobody. As I was sitting in the glove, the pitcher’s other hand reached in and grabbed me, and I knew that I was about to go fast. I had only been pitched a few times before this one, and they all felt exhilarating but incredibly scary. The pitcher cocked back and released me, and I began to fly. I went so fast, and I saw everything: the other players, fans behind the backstop, Barton towering over the field. Then, suddenly, I collided with the catcher’s mitt, and everything went black.  The catcher threw me back out to the pitcher, and once again, I sat in the pitcher’s glove for far too long. The pitcher, after taking his sweet time, finally reached into the glove, loaded up, and launched me. The feeling was surreal. I rocket toward home plate, the air blowing past me, yet this time, something different happened. I expected to land in the soft embrace of the catcher’s glove. However, a split second before I anticipated, I felt the batter’s metal bat rattle me back into the air.  The metal hurt so badly as it propelled me into the sky. I flew higher than I’ve ever been, and through the pain, I enjoyed the view. I could see all of campus, from the Koch all the way down to Jim Smith. Then suddenly, I realized; I was flying in the wrong direction. I thought, at first, that I was a home run, but I wasn’t flying into the outfield. I was flying backward, behind home plate, behind the backstop. I was also no longer going up. I was falling down and falling down fast. As I plummeted, I looked down and saw a car, which I later learned belonged to Margaret. As a baseball, I don’t get to control where I go, and before I knew it, I went straight into that back window and broke all of the glass. I’m sorry, Margaret. It wasn’t personal. After I landed in that trunk, I thought I’d finally be retired. But no, someone reached into the trunk and grabbed me. They brought me all the way back to Headmaster’s, and right back into the umpire’s pouch. Hopefully no more windows again…

Breakfasts is a fundamental part of daily nutrition; it provides energy and allow you to start the day off strong. Seven days a week means seven different breakfasts for your enjoyment, with a diverse selection of delectable meals. But not all meals are created equal, so from here on, we shall present the unique quirks of each breakfast at Deerfield.  Top Tier: Wednesday and Friday breakfasts, coupled with Sunday brunch. Only the breakfasts universally loved by the student body are worthy of this category. Regardless of who you are, it is nearly impossible not to find something you like at these meals.  Sunday Brunch allows even the latest sleeper to enjoy a fulfilling breakfast. The omelet and waffle bars are extremely popular, with lines that border both bubbles. A rotating selection of entrees, including açai bowls, corned beef hash, and toast bar, ensure that the Deerfield community never gets bored. Wednesday and Friday breakfasts both feature protein-rich student favorites. For Wednesday, the dining hall prepares a savory scramble, DA bagels, and sweet apple sausage to give competing teams a hearty start to the day. On Friday, students end their week with a well-loved meal of omelets and avocados, which are well-loved by the public.  Mid Tier: Monday and Thursday breakfasts. On Mondays, the Dining Hall serves fried eggs and DA muffins as the main dishes. Deerfield’s fried eggs, while excellent with a splash of sriracha, are far below the quality of the classic DA bagel. On Thursdays, bacon, egg, and cheese wraps are a filling, savory option, while pancakes are their sweet counterpart. The problem with these meals is the lack of alternative options which can make them feel repetitive at times.  Bottom Tier: Tuesday and Saturday breakfast. On Saturdays, the choices are always the same: pancakes, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal, all bland without a severe helping of condiments. French toast and breakfast burritos are the main entrees on Tuesdays, which can become incredibly boring come Spring Term.   Though some breakfasts may seem more appealing than others, in the end, one’s preferences determine their favorite meals. After all, we all know someone that would be perfectly content eating oatmeal every morning for their four years at Deerfield.

It’s freshman year, and you’ve just moved into the Village. You and your new roommate(s) have only fifteen minutes to say goodbye to your families before you are sent off on a Green Machine for an overnight getaway to Camp Greylock. Excited and afraid, you learn the ropes of a daily Deerfield routine, beginning to adjust from being away from home and understand what it means to be independent. Suddenly, the first snow falls, and before you know it, you are experiencing your first New England winter. You learn how to properly bundle yourself to escape the cold and keep yourself strong when the days grow dark. When the ice begins to thaw, you grow obsessed with spending time by the river. You feel sluggish as the year comes to a close. Finally, as you watch the seniors walk towards the graduation tent, you imagine yourself sitting right where they are. What do you hope to accomplish? Who do you hope to be? You have all the time in the world to figure it all out. Before you know it, junior year arrives, and you are no longer an underclassman. With later check-ins and no study hall, you’ve never felt freer. However, this new found exhilaration will soon come to an abrupt end as standardized tests and college visits fill you with dread. Spending all your time in textbooks, you question your sanity a few times. As you throw on your white apparel, you soberly say goodbye to your senior friends, ready to lead Step Up. You prepare yourself for the year ahead as you ponder what impact you will make on this school. Finally, you are a senior! Privilege and priority make you feel powerful. You are now entitled to walk on senior grass and sit at senior tables. You are at the top of the food chain. You swear you’ve never been more stressed when college acceptances come out. When you decide where you’ll go, senioritis hits, and your only concern now will be enjoying your final days in the valley. You have a newfound appreciation for things you previously deemed mundane, and ebullient moments that used to fill you with joy have now turned bittersweet. Diploma in hand, you look around at all the faces you’ll miss as you walk across the stage and into the world, away from the place you once called home away from home. But what about your sophomore year? Why is this year never talked about? When reviewing your most prominent years at Deerfield, I guarantee you sophomore year is not the first that comes to mind. Sophomore year has often been called the “middle child” of all years at Deerfield, the Goldilocks, if you will.  You are not yet an upperclassman, although you have some authority over the freshman. You no longer have a roommate, though you still have study hall and an earlier check-in. You are not the spoiled baby of the family nor the beloved firstborn. Instead, you are stuck in the middle with both the disadvantages of being the younger and older child. You meet new friends and say goodbye to old ones that didn’t work out. You challenge yourself in school yet do not have much say in the choices of your classes. You get to live on your own but begin to miss the constant chaos of two or three lives compacted into one singular dorm room.  Everyone seems to be solidifying their friend groups, finding significant others, and discovering their place on campus. They’re applying for leadership positions of clubs and alliances and you do the same, wanting good results for them but ultimately, hoping for the best for yourself, feeling the pressure of college matriculation starting to creep up on the back of your head. You still have time to figure out who you are and what you want to do, yet the years are flying by, and before you know it, you are a rising junior. Then you are a senior, and soon you will be walking across the stage, looking out at the faces you’ll miss.

What is your favorite book to teach? Frankenstein. What inspired you to become a teacher? An elementary school in France. Where is your favorite spot to run on campus? The trails on the ridge. What do you listen to while running? Nothing… Nature. What is your favorite piece of advice you were ever given? My mom told me that you should always try something because you can always go back. You can always undo it. But you’ll regret not doing it. Are you currently reading any books for pleasure? Yes, I am reading a book called I Have Some Questions For You , it’s about a crime committed at a boarding school. It’s fiction! Do you have a favorite Deerfield tradition? I like the evensong. If you weren’t a teacher what do you think you would be doing? My dream would be to be a food or travel journalist, but really, I would probably just be working at an office.