Burchell High: More than I thought it was

To the editor:

When I first came to Burchell High School, I was under the impression this was the place where deadbeats go.

After my first week, however, everything changed. I started noticing things. The first thing I noticed was the relationship between the students and teachers. While teachers always maintained their roles as professionals, they played a larger and more important role. They were mentors, at times friends, and even family to people who needed some. The sheer fact that we could just sit and talk to them made a difference. Being able to call them by their first names and to tell them things we wouldn’t tell teachers at other schools created a stronger mutual respect for both parties. The students and teachers truly got to know each other; it was amazing to see so many connections in one place.

I also noticed the lack of cliques in the school. That was the biggest change for me. There were no sects of select people who would hate other kids for the way they looked and acted. That has been in every single school I have been to, except this one. At one point in my life, I was a person who had little concern for the feelings of others. I wish I could apologize to the people I may have hurt. Being at Burchell opened my eyes to the possibility that people of varied backgrounds and experiences can work together. Even if kids here aren’t all buddies, there’s a kind of understanding between us all. It’s subtle, but it’s here nonetheless.

The next thing I noticed was how close and engaged everybody was. This establishment has worked so hard to bring all the participating people together. From the principal himself, all the way down the chain to the toddlers who roam the halls and classes. Students here have more responsibility than at other schools. Along with engaging everybody, the staff here works with us to meet our schooling so long as we work with them as much as we can.

This school is not only comfortable, but also flexible. I don’t know if it’s the size of this school or some other factor that makes Burchell the way it is, but I wish more places of learning were this way. I can truly say this has been the best school I ever attended.

The last thing I noticed were the students themselves. They broke down all my assumptions of who I would share my senior year with. There is a surplus of talents here. I’ve met writers, mathematicians, musicians, science fanatics, artists, comedians, hard workers and even kids who are good at everything they do. Never have I seen a crowd of young adults so loaded with abilities. Even after attending Burchell with all of these people for a whole year, it still surprises me. Aside from being boring and lethargic, most other schools don’t bring out true qualities in their students, not like Burchell.

Part of the Law of Darwinism says that the strongest survive the best. The rest of it declares that democracy, sympathy and concern for another, and cooperation are the greatest forces in nature. That’s why we’re the best; Burchell High’s students and staff rock all of that like no other!

Alan Meister

Burchell High School

Class of 2012