I first stepped foot on Academy ground on August 11th, the new students’ orientation day. At first, I was a little bit nervous, scared even, of the campus size and how everything felt so far apart. I remember thinking: how will I spend my whole year here; the campus is ginormous! Another thing I remember was how hot it was. After spending a grand total of 14 hours in Albuquerque I was not prepared for the summer heat. In Lithuania, during the winter, we often have long weeks without any sun, lots of wind, rain, and snow. In New Mexico, there isn’t a day that one doesn’t see a little bit of sunshine. So, naturally, at first everything seemed alien, different from what I was used to, and very foreign.
Different temperatures and altitude weren’t the only differences between my life in New Mexico and Lithuania. At my school in Lithuania, we don’t have an allergen free food selection. Got allergies or food intolerances? Too bad! There also isn’t a salad bar with which one can create whatever salad they desire. The food at Academy (no matter how much students complain) is incredibly inclusive. Having more than one food option a day has been a joy, and there weren’t many days when I felt hungry after lunch.
Another notable difference is that Lithuania doesn’t have school dances. Homecoming, Winter ball, and PROM were all events I had never been to. The only school dances I had ever seen before coming to NM were all in movies. “Sixteen Candles,” “She’s All That,” and “10 Things I Hate about You” all left a long-standing impression on me. I remember thinking: Wow. That looks like so much fun! And I am glad to say that school dances were indeed very fun! From the attention to detail in decorations for every dance, getting ready with friends, the dancing to hits from the 2010s, to having ice cream before or after the dances: everything about the school dances I went to lived up to my childhood expectations.
Another thing I loved was joining a sport. Joining a sport at Academy was like joining a new family. I had never been in a school’s sport’s team before, school sports aren’t “a thing” in Lithuania, so being a part of Academy’s Volleyball and Track and Field teams really opened up doors to new friendships and a new type of community. Although I probably will never understand “the epic highs and lows of high school football” as was masterfully said by Archie from Riverdale, while doing a high school sport I learned a lot about how beautiful teamwork can be. From my Volleyball team I first learned how to encourage my teammates during games (and how nice it felt to be supported) and in Track and Field, I learned how meaningful it is just to show up to see one of your friend’s events, even if you’re not in the same one as them. Another incredible aspect of Academy sports was how supportive the coaches were. Just showing interest, desire to learn, and improve would be enough for coaches to put time and effort into teaching me.
However, sports weren’t the only sources of my new friendships. Science Olympiad, the Advocate, EFFECTS, Speech and Debate, Science Bowl, and Book Club helped me create even more friendships. The communities of these clubs helped me, immensely.
The Advocate’s chill yet focused environment always kept me on my toes. It also helped me improve my writing skills, while being supportive of the articles I wanted to write and understanding that English is not my first language. EFFECTS opened my eyes to different parts of New Mexico that needed help, while introducing me to an incredible community of very passionate people. Speech and Debate pushed me outside my comfort zone, encouraging me to try new debate and speaking styles. The Speech and Debate community really helped me get out of my shell. Whenever I walked into a Science Bowl meeting, I remembered how intelligent my peers were, and being a part of that club encouraged me to do more research and be just more curious about parts of Science that I had not had too much exposure to before. Meanwhile, Book Club introduced me to people who enjoyed reading and loved discussing all sorts of pieces of literature. Lastly, Science Olympiad was a stress-free environment (up until we had to get ready for state) to make new friends, who were also willing to help me with whatever Science and life questions I had. Meetings for Science Olympiad on late Wednesday evenings were always fun, interesting, and enlightening. The accepting nature of all of these clubs, ultimately, helped me feel included and like I was a part of a greater community.
After a while, I knew more and more people on campus. It became comfortable and enjoyable walking up and down the path. I knew I would see at least one person I knew, to whom I could say hello.
Overall, my year at Academy was filled with adventures. From going to my first sport try-outs, participating in my first Track & Field meet, going to Science Olympiad state, to going to PROM, everything I have experienced at this school has been unforgettable. This journey, the skills I learned, the friends I made, will surely stay with me for the rest of my life. So, thank you Academy!
