Brentwood: What to Expect

13 August 2013Tokoni A

What can you, a new student, expect to experience at Brentwood next year? Truthfully, I can’t tell you. No single answer exists for this question, for the experience is different for every student who enters these gates. From day one, your path is your own and will be shaped by your decisions. What I can tell you, however, is that it will be a year you will not soon forget, one much bigger than you could ever imagine. Between meeting your future best friends, getting to know your roommate, and learning the ropes of the Brentwood routine, your first couple of weeks will be an exhilarating and exhausting blur. It might be a challenge, sometimes, when you are five minutes late to class and you still have no idea how to read your schedule, but in the midst of your distress, someone will be there. I can promise you that right now – someone will always be there. A teacher, an older student, or a staff member will show up to offer you a reassuring smile, pat you on the shoulder…and turn your schedule right-side-up, without laughing…too much.

But while you are having fun with your peers and settling down comfortably in your new home, remember that you have still have some work to do. Sooner rather than later, there are a few things that you should learn if you hope to succeed:

How to Successfully Pass a Number 1 Inspection.
Yes, the infamous number ones. On Saturday mornings, your Houseparent and prefects will be expecting you to tidy, dust, vacuum and – gasp – fold all of your clothes. They will enter, clipboard in hand, vigilantly inspecting your room for any clutter, missed dust bunnies or unfolded T-shirts. My suggestion? Learn the tricks quickly. Once you set a routine, Number 1’s will be a piece of cake, and winning the prize for the best room will definitely earn you points with your Houseparent and the prefects.

How to Not Empty Your Bank Account in a Single Week
At Brentwood, you will be in convenient proximity to a grocery store, a number of fast-food restaurants and even the occasional Farmer’s Market. With a debit card loaded with your untouched allowance and no parents to restrict you, there will be temptation go “uptown” to stock up on snacks and begin the habit of going on weekly coffee dates with your friends. To avoid both an empty bank account and the dreaded “Freshmen Fifteen,” try to budget your money and ask yourself, “Should I really be buying three bags of chips in one week?” before you purchase that third bag of Lays.

How to Make Friends
I know what you’re thinking. You’re anxious. You look at pictures on the Brentwood website, see students laughing with their friends, and you’re hoping -no, praying – that that will be you next year. Well don’t worry, it will be. One of the best things about Brentwood is its diverse student body. Here you will find people from Asia, Australia, Africa, or just down the road. Just be yourself, and I promise that you will meet like-minded people whom you connect with.

Your path at Brentwood will be what you make it. As you prepare to start the journey in September, be excited. Be open-minded. Brentwood gives you such a special gift – the chance to grow in a multitude of areas. Try out new sports and arts, and let yourself enjoy it. Your house will be there for you along the way. Your housemates will never fail to provide support, community and love, and to catch you when you fall. I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you create the fondest, most beloved memories while you are here. I did. Brentwood can’t wait to meet you! Tokoni Aganaba, Hope, ‘13

Where Students Choose To Be