Endings & Beginnings

22 January 2025Pearl N, Hope ‘25

With the return of students, the campus is once again buzzing with energy as we reflect on our breaks. Inside the dorms click the sound of keystrokes, and the soft glow of desk lamps cast long shadows as the Grade 12s work. The University Counselling office is bustling with noise and activity, as students walk in clutching their computers, writing and finalizing essays. Anticipation envelops our graduating class through this application cycle as they wait to hear back from universities: we are unsure of the future.

For Brentwood’s applicants to American universities, essay writing began during the summer and carried on through autumn and into winter, stretching over months of late nights, edits, and feedback. Personal statements were arguably the most time-consuming as they were meticulously written and rewritten, in an attempt to capture and convey a perfect balance of individuality, ambition, and vulnerability. As we entered the autumn, and deadlines loomed, we began to juggle applications with our already demanding schedules, pouring every spare second outside of class into supplementary essays, and the CommonApp. “The process was relentless, and I am relieved to say it is finally over. However, the reason I made it through was the assistance of Mr. Rodrigues and the rest of the university counselling office” stated our Academic Prefect, Stella P, Alexandra ‘25.

After countless hours of what seemed to be never-ending work, applications have finally been submitted, leaving students in a kind of limbo as they continually check portals with a mix of excitement and terror, waiting to see if their hard work has paid off. Students who applied to Canadian universities experienced a less intensive process, as only UBC and a select few other programs required essays and supplemental questions. Every single essay and application was meticulously inspected and edited by our wonderful university counselling team: Mr Rodrigues, Ms Hall, and Ms Beausoleil. Without them, our student body would be lost in the university application process – and we wouldn’t have nearly as much success.

Some of our students have already committed to their dream universities: Northeastern, Claremont Mckenna College, Boston University, Georgetown, and the University of Michigan. These colleges are among the most prestigious in the United States, with some having acceptance rates as low as 7%. The graduating class of 2025’s success reaches far beyond North America, with students being accepted to colleges in both Europe and Australia. “Our Grade 12 group’s success is astounding … it is a direct reflection of our hard work and dedication” stated Ellis House Co-Captain, Daniel W, ‘25.

As we wait in anticipation, tracking decision dates and refreshing emails, a realization has begun to settle in: our time at Brentwood is drawing to a close. These dorms, classrooms, hallways, and waterfront views have been the backdrop to our most formative years – a place where we arrived as wide-eyed kids, discovered our independence, and are finally emerging as young adults, ready to embrace the unknown.

The bonds that have been formed exceed friendship; they have become a second family, one that will stay with us for a lifetime. Ms Carroll, Assistant Houseparent of Hope advises the graduating class, “Before you know it, it will be June, and you will be walking across that stage, being handed your diploma, and that will be it. Your high school experience will be finished. So don’t let your final months slip by without truly appreciating them, and cherishing every moment, no matter how big or small.”

Let’s finish off this chapter of our lives on a great note, without regret. We will leave Brentwood with gratitude; we will enter the future with courage.

Pearl N, Hope ‘25

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