PoA Reminisces About Benjamin's Impact On Her Family

I am writing to you all from my perch in Connecticut while watching the leaves swirl in the December winds. It seems so many of us have also scattered since our children graduated from high school and left for college and other pursuits. 

 

But there is a common bond we all share which was formed at Benjamin. Our children were "formed," at least in some measure, at Benjamin - and so were we. We became friends to other, coaches, supporters of the arts, fans, study guides, community volunteers, and more during our time at TBS. 

 

The culture at Benjamin encourages parent involvement, active participation, interaction with faculty and staff and with other parents. We all cheered for each other's children and hoped to contribute something of our own to our much loved Benjamin. Honestly, we miss our days at Benjamin, and being able to avail ourselves of all that is right and good found in those halls, on that stage, and on those sports fields! 

 

This past summer, while meeting up with friends whose children also graduated from Benjamin, I was struck by some of the comments that were shared about what Benjamin uniquely represented in the lives of their children and themselves. 

 

Connor Murphy  '19 is training to be an Officer at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. 

His mom, Ellen, who just started a new business in Stuart, FL, shared with me how grateful she is for the science and mathematics preparation Connor received at Benjamin. Connor went on to say that "the prevailing use of the Honor Code at Benjamin really helped prepare me to live and work in an environment where trust is critical to overall success."  

 

My own son, Jonathan Rosengarten, also Class of 2019, was equally well prepared by Benjamin to succeed at a liberal arts school, Rollins College, where he majors in business and also works composing and producing music on a global stage. 

 

Many high schools prepare students to get into college, have strong test scores, and high GPA's. What Benjamin gave Jonathan, beyond the transcript, was a culture of support from a caring faculty, an environment of intellectual richness and exploration where he could grow into his own skin, and a student body that cheered for each other instead of seeing others as competitors for this or that honor. 

 

As part of a recurring series in this newsletter and other school communications, I hope that you will share with me some of your insights into what Benjamin offered you and your child that was special and unique. I can be reached at ncwmvnh@aol.com. I hope to see you all at the upcoming launch party for the Parents of Alumni Association in January 2022 - we earned it!