Henry: January Retrospective

It is mid-January.

On the other side of the nation there seems to be a bit of snow and a bit of freezing. What is going on at Thacher then? Well, we started taking our sweaters and jackets off and threw on our t-shirts and shorts as Ojai began warming up again recently. Today the temperature dwelled around 80 degrees which is beyond perfect. Who could even imagine walking around with just a t-shirt and a pair of shorts? This is the beauty of Ojai, California. I often laugh at myself trying to get over the weather-lag as well as the jetlag after Christmas break. In these moments, I am grateful that I am not smothered in snow and I don’t have to shovel my way to the classrooms.

It's amazing how the weather is already warming up and we are half way through the school year. It seems like every year goes by faster. It feels as if it has been only a couple of days since I came to Thacher as a new sophomore, yet here I am as a senior with only half a year to go until graduation. As I was hassling with my senior page for the yearbook, I was astonished by how quickly my years at Thacher have gone by. When I look at the prospective students and their parents visiting and trying to make a good impression, I feel excited for them as I look over them from the top of the amphitheater during assembly. I remember myself three years ago anxiously sitting in the exact same spot in the amphitheater with my corduroy jacket on in the 95 degree heat.

Overall, I think that the Thacher experience comes together during senior year. Now that I look back I can see how it is not always about finishing that essay, getting an A on that math exam or cleaning and feeding your horse on time. To be honest, I still haven’t found out what it “really” means to be at Thacher, but I guess I will find out soon, once I'm looking back on it.