2018-2019 – The Gatton Academy News

From Senioritis to a Bittersweet End: My 4th Semester at Gatton

March 28, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Sasha Sairajeev | No Comments

Clicking the submit button on the last college on the Common Application grants a strong feeling of relief and satisfaction. Since as long as I can remember, every choice I have ever made academically has been for this moment. From every exam I’ve studied for to every competition I’ve been in, all of these efforts have been towards this one goal: to get into a “good” college. For me, a good college is one where I see myself happy and content with my choice. What is one’s definition of a good college may vary from another’s, but regardless, college applications mark the end of a high school’s student’s academic journey. Now that the fourth semester is upon us and this goal is no longer pressing, what is there to strive for anymore?

For the first time in my life, I am left asking myself the following questions: what do I genuinely enjoy doing? What genuinely makes me happy?

The Gatton Academy has presented many challenges over the last two years, all of which have shaped me into the person that I am today. As Gatton comes to an end, I find it important to have a fulfilling conclusion for this rollercoaster of a journey. A fulfilling conclusion, to me, involves making the most out of all of the opportunities presented. I want to experience life at the Gatton Academy to its fullest, whether it’s through signing up for field trips not pertinent to my academic interests or dabbling in activities foreign to me. Moreover. I hope to deepen the friendships I have made over the last few years and establish new relationships with people I’ve never gotten a chance to talk to.

Life at the Gatton Academy can feel oversaturated at times when school becomes overwhelming. At these times, I would usually focus all of my energy on school and disregard activities that genuinely make me happy. If I were to divert from schoolwork, a feeling of guilt would consume me. This semester, I have allowed myself to indulge in activities I enjoy and surprisingly, my overall quality of life has increased. I am one for tying up loose ends and the only way I can graduate from Gatton feeling satisfied with all of my choices is to have a fulfilling conclusion to these last two years. This mindset has helped me tackle senioritis, the lethargy associated with the spring semester on senior year, by motivating me to end on a high note.

Coming into Gatton, I had a very specific set of goals for myself. While those still live within me, I have developed goals that are encompass what I truly want out of life: happiness. This last semester has consisted of my pursuit of happiness as well reflection. The person who I am today is entirely different from who I stepped in the building as and that awareness has allowed me to understand the kind of person I aspire to be. As the bittersweet ending of Gatton grows near, I hope to acquire a richness of life experiences to prepare me for the next chapter that life has to offer.

By Gatton Academy

Fourth Semester

March 27, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Trivan Menezes | No Comments

For seniors, it’s our last semester of high school, and we’re on the verge of leaving for “real college.” Many of us are taking relaxed schedules this semester to give ourselves a break from the marathons that have been the previous three semesters. It seems that each of the past three semesters had something which made them…interesting. In the first semester, we were all just trying to acclimatize to our new setting and make new friends. In the second semester, we were occupied with schedules full of CPS and other work-intensive courses. In the third semester, some of us were busy pouring our soul into college applications. However, things feel different this time around. Having more relaxed schedules, many seniors are using their newfound time for other endeavors. Personally, I’m trying to maintain my mental and physical health, for I allowed both of these things to decline during my junior year (especially during my second semester). A friend of mine is using her spare time to do productive activities that she previously didn’t make time for, such as listening to podcasts and reading more often. Furthermore, it’s almost as if my classmates and I are waiting for a change of pace from our current setting, but we also can’t help but use this last semester to reminisce on our entire Gatton experience. It feels like move-in day wasn’t that long ago, yet it also feels like we have delved into a monotonous way of life that we need to break out of.

We are in a gray area right now. We completed our college applications last semester, and we’re currently in a waiting period to find out where we will end up next year. This is a time full of uncertainty for the future and reflection on the past, but we must be sure to enjoy the present as well.

By Gatton Academy

Study Abroad: Costa Rica

March 26, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Sydney Wheeler | No Comments

Everyone who’s just returned from a study abroad trip with Gatton will likely tell you the same things. They’ll say, “It was amazing!” or “I want to go back!” and “I had so much fun.” I hate being a cliché, but I must fall in with the masses when it comes to the study abroad programs that Gatton provides. My winter term study abroad trip to Costa Rica was amazing; I had so much fun, and I want to go back! Our cohort consisted of 16 students, Pokey, Cheryl, Dr. Keith Philips, and his wife Linda. We arrived in sunny, warm Liberia and began the first leg of our trip at Goldring Gund Marine Field Station, helping patrol local beaches for nesting sea turtles. After four days at Playa Grande, we traveled south to Poor Man’s Paradise, located on the Osa Peninsula. There we spent time enjoying the beach, snorkeling, and visiting Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse habitats on Earth. Our last week was spent at Cloudbridge Nature Reserve, split into four research teams with four students each. My group studied carbon sequestration in trees; the other groups studied Bromeliads, Birds, and Dung beetles. We enjoyed our exhausting hikes through the dense primary forest each day and the chance to learn more about our selected topics throughout our week in the cloud forest.

The educational experience the trip provided was a great one, but I might say that the opportunity to connect with staff members t I didn’t know very well, grow even closer with those I did, forage new relationships with classmates, cultivate old ones, and see a new part of the work was the part that truly made a lasting impression. Being with such a small group made me branch out and make new friends with people who I’d never spoken to before, which was one of the highlights of my trip. In ten years I may not remember every detail about the plants and animals we studied while in Costa Rica, but I will certainly remember the experiences my peers and I shared!

By Gatton Academy

Spring at Gatton

March 14, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Elizabeth Roebker | No Comments

The first week of March marks spring break 2019; a well-deserved break for the students of the Gatton Academy. For the juniors, spring means Advanced Computational Problem Solving. Spring break is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some sleep and prepare for the second half of the second semester of the year. For the seniors, this marks the last eighth of our time at The Gatton Academy. It has gone by incredibly fast, and I cannot believe that this time two months from now we’ll no longer be high school students. Senioritis is setting in for some of us as March equates to the beginning of college decision crunch time. The last batch of college decisions will be coming out throughout the next month, and by May 1 the Gatton Academy Class of 2019 will have all decided where we are going to be spending the next 2-4 years of our lives. It’s a bittersweet time of the year for the seniors at Gatton as we teeter on the brink of the last stretch of high school.

On a more cheerful note, spring at Gatton also means it’s almost time for prom. Junior prom at Gatton was by far my favorite dance of the year, and for myself and a lot of other juniors it was
the first prom I had ever attended. Gatton Academy students have been looking forward to and preparing for prom all semester. Students recently voted on the theme for this years dance: head in the clouds. Prom committee has been working hard on decorations and arrangements for this semester highlight, and it’s something to look forward to as everyone works hard to finish out this last semester strong.

By Gatton Academy

When the Work Gets Tough

March 13, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Georgia Hoffman | No Comments

Not to burst anyone’s bubble or anything, but Gatton course work is not easy. Students come to Gatton to be challenged, to grow and learn how to handle difficulties. My classmates and I have rigorous schedules, and not only do the Gatton staff offer help, they encourage us to ask for it. Each semester there seems to be one particular class that requires more effort and time than the others. For me, these courses were Computer Science first semester, then Computational Problem Solving the next, Calculus 2, and finally Physics. There have been several occasions over the past year and a half where I have hit a wall, and I have learned how to ask for help.

One great thing about Gatton is that when you are struggling with a class, so are 99 of your closest friends. From 3 AM impromptu CPS peer-tutoring to Calc 2 group reviews, I have benefitted from close-knit communal learning. My classmates and I are always ready and willing to help explain a topic that someone just cannot seem to understand on their own, or look at the code that they have have been struggling with for the past 3 hours.

Gatton also provides tutors in the Great Hall on week nights. There are in-house tutors for Math/Physics, Computer Science, and Biology/Chemistry, but the staff are happy to get students tutors in whatever subject they need. I have personally made sure that the Math and Computer Science tutors earn their pay; last semester I spent approximately six hours each week with the Math tutor thanks to Calculus 2.

Although the courseload is rigorous, Gatton provides a supportive learning community and tutors for all of your academic needs. After three semesters, I have learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or admittance of defeat, but a humbling and mature decision based solely on the desire to succeed. Even Kentucky’s Brightest need a little boost every once in a while.

By Gatton Academy

A Relaxing Last Semester

March 12, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Drew Aubry | No Comments

The class of 2019 is finally on the last lap. We are so close to graduating and starting on our next journey, whether that be straight to university or taking a gap year. College apps are finally done and it’s all a waiting game. Admissions decisions, financial aid packages, and summer plans are the only things we have to worry about for the next few months.

For me, I have almost all of my admissions decisions and financial aid package notifications. I’m down to deciding between two colleges. It’s a hard choice but I have a few months left to make it, since May 1^st is the deadline. My last semester is infinitely easier than any of my other semesters, since I’m finally taking classes I really want to take outside of the Gatton requirements. These include Communication Sciences and Disorders and German. I have a lot more time to dedicate to things I enjoy doing and learning about like Lacrosse, German, and going to the gym. I’m nervous for graduation, but it feels good to know everything I have been doing for the last two years has been worth it. I’ve made it through to the other side and I’m glad for every experience that I’ve had both inside and outside of the classroom.

I don’t speak for every senior this semester, but many of my peers share experiences like mine this semester. Many of us are down to our final few choices for college and taking classes we really have been able to slow down and enjoy. We have the time to explore things about ourselves, really enjoy our time together, and even help the juniors with their classes if they want it. All in all, our final semester is one of reflection and a little bit of relaxation we haven’t gotten to have in a while.

By Gatton Academy

Mentors

March 11, 2019 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Wyatt Ringo | No Comments

As one progresses through education, teachers do more than merely recite PowerPoints or read from lab manuals; they begin to lead. Especially in upper division classes, teachers can often inspire and motivate their students in ways outside of the classroom. Through direct involvement in undergraduate research or serving as a source of experience and wisdom, teachers can soon become more: they can become mentors.

Mentors play a critical role in the academic and social growth of students, and having a competent and well-rounded mentor can cause a world of difference. Select instructors strive to inspire curiosity and a fascination for learning, just like my freshman year biology teacher, Mr. Budniak. In his class, two pivotal projects were to go out into the world to document and identify insects and plants, which forces one to slow down and earnestly examine the nature around them. After that project, I have a newfound joy and wonder for the life I find around me, which would have never happened without the guiding influence of a great teacher, thinly veiled behind a curtain of homework.

So, too, can professors foster a love of learning through direct interaction, such as taking on a student to work in their research lab. My current research mentor, Dr. Gupta, has gone beyond her role to guide me through our projects, instead encouraging me to strive for excellence at every chance I could. While pursuing novel research into nontrivial fields, Dr. Gupta has given me countless opportunities to grow, to learn, and to experience things I never thought possible for a student of my age. My time working in her lab has given me more than just experience in a myriad of machines or presentation of data. It has shown me what it means to be dedicated to science and to live your life in pursuit of learning more about the universe around you—big or small.

By Gatton Academy

Move In Day

November 19, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Rithik Reddy | No Comments

Ah, move-in day. In college, move-in day is a crazy, packed day where all the new freshmen start to acclimate to their new life, and the upperclassmen are in the middle of all the craziness, help move things in and catch up with old friends. In Gatton, it is no different, though at a smaller scale.

Just like our seniors last year, we were tasked with moving in all 102 of the new juniors to the buildings. The day began relatively chill, as at 8:30 AM, we were served an amazing breakfast of donuts and orange juice. But next, the real work began. At 9:00, around 40 of us walked to the front of Gatton, eagerly waiting for the first batch of juniors to arrive.

The first car finally got here and it was immediately swarmed by a pack of 20 very eager Gatton students. The parents opened up their trunk and told the seniors their kid’s room number, and wa-la, all of the luggage went to the room. The rest of the day went similarly to this. Greeting parents, introducing ourselves to the new juniors, and moving fridges to rooms was the norm until about 2:30.

But for me, this brought back very nostalgic memories. When I moved into Gatton for the first time. I remember being very anxious the first day, not knowing what to expect at all. All of my things were brought safely to my room (Thanks seniors!), but even after I moved in, I had other things on my mind. How would my classes be, would it be ok to make friends here, and do people here just study all the time? Thankfully the answers to those questions were to my liking, but at the time they were very important questions I did not know the answer to.

So, my parting words of advice would be to take things slowly and one thing at a time. You won’t feel overwhelmed with everything you have to face if you just think about each thing one at a time and face it head-on. Gatton’s a place that you’ll grow into and get adjusted to as time passes. Try to fall into a good routine and definitely leave time for relaxation.

Rithik

By Gatton Academy

Helping the Juniors Transition into Gatton / What It’s Felt like Living with New People

November 19, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Drew Aubry | No Comments

I think I speak for almost every student at Gatton when I say that I was a weird mix of nervous and excited when the juniors started moving in. I was concerned they wouldn’t adapt to or positively add to the community my peers and I had created over the last year with our seniors. I was anxious that I wouldn’t be able to fill the shoes that my seniors left me. Most of all, I was anxious to get to know them all.

I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel weird to walk out into the common area on my floor and not see some of my closest friends out there studying, playing Guitar Hero, and creating some random business plan with a seed catalog, a business and marketing textbook, and a drone. I would also be lying if I said that it didn’t feel great to walk out there and see the common area filled with most of my floor gathered around the TV playing video games, watching some cop show, playing mafia, or playing our nightly game of Ninja tripping over the couches and chairs.

On my floor, we have started new traditions and inside jokes with our juniors. We’ve all gone to eat together and spent time in our common area. Outside of my floor, I see people hanging out and watching movies in the computer lab on 3rd or doing homework in the den on 4th. Every time I see a junior out and about on campus, we smile and wave at each other. It feels good to have that connection with them. When I walk around the building, I see seniors helping answer the junior’s questions about classes and life at Gatton. Overall, we are all doing our part to create the positive community that so many of us love to be a part of.

We make our own home here at the Academy, and I can say, without a doubt, these new “baby juniors” really have made our home one that is, although different, just as happy as I remember it last year. I truly look forward to the rest of my senior year with them.

Drew

By Gatton Academy

Third Floor. Best Floor.

November 19, 2018 | 2018-2019, Avatars, Trivan Menezes | No Comments

If there’s one thing you need to know about Gatton, it’s that third floor is the best floor…at least in my eyes. You’ll probably hear the same message being stated by any Gatton student but in regard to their own floor.

Jokes aside, I can confidently say that the Third Floor Boys wing of Gatton is the tightest-knit community which I have pertained to. At Gatton, students have an on-floor curfew of 10:30pm on weeknights, and midnight on weekends. Don’t tell anyone, but many students tend to stay up for however long they please, for varying reasons. After curfew, there’s nobody around besides the guys/girls on your given floor, so it’s not a surprise that students tend to become closest to those on their floor. It’s like living in a bubble. Each floor’s community is separated from the rest of Gatton for 6-7 hours each night. The staff terms such a community “wing/floor culture.” Whenever you need help understanding something in class, need advice about a trivial choice to make, or if you need to just talk something out, the people on your floor will always be there for you. Life at Gatton would be drastically different if it lacked such a close community. Students would roam from class to class with nothing to do, and nobody to spend time with. That said, the bonds I have made with those who reside around me is something that I can look back on with a smile, and something that has made my Gatton experience even more worthwhile.

One particular bond I formed during my Junior year is that with my roommate, Pranay. At orientation, he came up to me and asked if I wanted to room with him. We agreed, and the year turned out great. There are a few Gatton students who, while living together in harmony, aren’t the best of friends with their roommates, so I’m proud to have had such a good friendship develop last year with my awesome roommate.

This year, the third floor community has a lot to live up to. The bonds that were created last year were unlike anything I had ever felt before. The community here at Gatton is truly something special. That said, from the first night this year, I know the new people on my floor will help us build something even better than last year.

Trivan

By Gatton Academy

Recent News

Category: 2018-2019