Reflections from Mr. Frey
This spring term at Vermont Academy was swift and as I have witnessed so many springs before, the seniors excitedly anticipated their graduation. Each of them had an array of emotions associated with this event. Some could not wait for high school to be over and freedom from the classroom was theirs at last (at least for a few weeks).
Some were excited but nervous about the next step in their academic life. Some were anxious about leaving the community that they have come to understand and trust for they do not yet know what their new community has in store for them.
Life happens and changes keep coming sometimes faster than one can imagine. We all have been through this one way or another and in the end it was fine. However, at the time it was cause for some nervous excitement. Once again, I found myself in a similar situation for I have decided to finally graduate (retire) from Vermont Academy. After five decades of graduations, I walked for the final time and I, too, found myself in that “nervous excitement” place.
For me, the changes will not be based around a new community but rather it will be how differently I will spend my time. No longer will I have to solve more physics problems or grade quizzes. Instead I can…and that is the issue. That is my unknown and uncertain freedom. The real scary part is that it will last for much longer than the summer break to which I have become accustomed. I know that it will be a welcome change but it is presently an uncertainty as I finished my final school year. I am looking forward to the new lifestyle that retirement will bring, but I will also miss the familiar organized chaos that comes with life at a prep school. I have enjoyed that lifestyle and I am happy that teaching has been my way of life. I have never really had a “job” or gone to “work”…I have lived a good, very busy, and happy life so far. Einstein wondered what it would be like to travel at the speed of light. I do not want to know…I plan to keep enjoying life at a slightly slower pace. Reunion 2017 is right around the corner and hope to see many of you then.
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Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.
