Page 27 - Menlo Magazine: Winter 2018

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Dear freshman self,
The next four years will likely be the most pivotal of your life thus far. I don’t mean for that statement to pressure you in any way, rather, I hope to show you the importance of taking advantage of the unique opportunity that lies ahead. Menlo is a particularly special
school because you are encouraged to be your own person, carve your own path, and explore
what interests you. While you’ll hear this idea from Mr. Schafer ad nauseam, do yourself a favor and try to internalize it on a daily basis. I know that if I had, my already thought-provoking, growth-filled years during high school would have been even more worthwhile.
Along with the other freshmen, you’ll walk onto campus with a preconceived idea of what high school is
like, how to act in social situations, and what kind of people to associate with. The first thing to do is throw that notion out the window. While you may feel you need to act in a certain way and only involve yourself in activities that you feel comfortable doing, Menlo allows you to try, and even puts an emphasis on trying, things you may not have done before. When I started out at Menlo, I felt discouraged from exploring the arts because I had never been involved in the arts in middle school. I didn’t feel that it was my place to try out for the fall show or even join art class to simply enjoy creating visual artwork. I could not have been more wrong. After attending my first lunchtime chorus performance, I saw that the arts at Menlo were
not exclusive to one kind of student. Football players, ASR whizzes, and every kind of student in between joyfully sang alongside one another. Which activity or subject you excel in does not limit what you can be a part of at Menlo. Push yourself and step outside your comfort zone.
Menlo is not only a place that has few boundaries for academic and extracurricular exploration, it is a school which puts an emphasis on building a multitude of social connections. At any high school, it is easy to be drawn to one group of friends with whom you share common interests. Having a group of like-minded peers is important to one’s own growth in high school and to developing more meaningful friendships. However, Menlo brings together kids from across the Bay Area and from different backgrounds who are talented and interested in nearly every subject. In each class you take or in each club or sports team you’re involved in, try to develop a relationship with at least one other student you wouldn’t usually talk
to. Perhaps my highlight at Menlo was simply talking with other students and teachers on the Quad, engaging in political debate or casual conversation about what was happening around campus or
both. Not only will you gain in the short run from building these relationships but your connections to
your classmates will be valuable beyond your time at Menlo, as I’m already beginning to realize moving forward into college.
My final piece of advice would be to engage with your teachers as frequently as possible. Teachers are undoubtedly your number one resource for extra help in any of your classes. In fact, as long as you are putting in your best effort in class, I can virtually guarantee that your teacher will be eager and ready
to meet with you to help you succeed. Menlo teachers are valuable not only by virtue of what they teach in the classroom but because of the insight and incredible mentorship which they offer. Through my relationships with teachers at Menlo, I’ve been directed to follow many of my passions, learn how to ask provocative questions, and simply develop friendships with some of the smartest people I know. Each year, try to develop a relationship with at least one of your teachers; you may just gain a mentor and a friend.
Menlo has allowed me to develop vastly important relationships, explore provocative ideas, and learn how to question the world around me. You, too, should make the most of high school, utilize all the resources available to you, and, most of all, don’t be afraid to do what makes you uncomfortable.
Sincerely, Teshie Bronk