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Fountain Valley is not a competitive environment, but has the potential to raise champions. From the school, I know incredibly successful people that have been amicably exposed to an international array of people and places, casually and importantly challenged by differing opinions, honed all kinds of skills, and who spend their entire high school career on a prairie. This is an incredibly unique experience. No one I have ever met outside of Fountain Valley can hold a candle to the sheer amount I've seen and learned about specifically from my high school.

The friends I had at the end of my senior year, plus the trips I got to go on during Interims and breaks because of the people I got to know and the opportunities FVS offered changed my life. I think the week before my graduation remains the happiest, most joyful week of my life, and the

I do not dwell on that which has passed.

The diversity of academic paths available was perfect; I never felt pressured to take more or challenging classes, only drawn into those courses that most interested me. Often times, that meant a heavy course load, but I had incredible support from understanding faculty and advisors.

Buy into the parts of Fountain Valley that make it Fountain Valley - take walks on the prairie, watch the horses and say high to the cows, spend time with people in your dorm or members of your class just because. Spend hours in the dining hall, talk to your teachers and ask about their lives, and commit yourself to giving everything a fair shot.

I learned an incredible amount from the academic programs, especially from the middle years of history and math department. I felt there was room for creativity, mistakes, and collaboration, where in many other boarding schools I think academics are much less forgiving, and the emphasis FVS faculty make on learning is sometimes replaced with an emphasis on quick excellence.

The Athletic Center is incredible. I loved climbing (though competitions were never my thing) and getting to run on trails on and off campus every day of cross country is something most high school athletes are unable to experience.

I took choir multiple times and competed in poetry, singing, and performance. I also took all levels of ceramics and filmmaking, a photography class, and submitted multiple studio projects for my senior Advanced Portfolio. The standout programs are in ceramics and now in studio art. Everyone was welcome to both, and could be celebrated for ingenuity, craft, effort, and creativity all at once. I liked most how accessible art was to me, especially with the Art Barn. It was open whenever I wanted it to be (I got lucky usually) and getting to make art whenever you feel is a gift like no other.

I loved being on Honor Council because my impact was tangible. In my final year at the school, student leaders really felt like they were making decisions for the school, or at least making a significant contribution to the decision making committees.

As a day student, I didn't live in a dorm, but I always felt welcomed to spend time at the school on weekends, for study halls, and dinners.

I loved that the dining hall was unlocked and available for use all day, because snacks are great. I also thought the variety and quality of mealtime options was generally very high, and looking back at the food at FVS from college, I know that we were truly blessed.

Widefield is fine, and Colorado Springs is fine. Ultimately, it's the second biggest city in Colorado, and 39th biggest city in the country. Anything you'd want to do is within reach, though not necessarily at your fingertips. I lived in northern Springs and commuted 45 minutes every day, so I'd say driving is just part of getting out, but I think the best uniquely FVS part of the school is the prairie and on-campus offerings. Climbing, swimming, walking/running/hiking, biking, pottery, horseback riding, tennis, volleyball, and basketball were usually available (if you knew who to ask) just by staying on campus, with delivery orders coming in on the daily.

Everyone knows everyone. The only people that you could call "popular" are well known because of their kindness and intentionality in getting to know new people – or at least that's how the school was when I left. I liked how willing people were to just say hi, smile, open doors for one another, and jump in.