A season of transition

At the end of the season, after the graduation ceremony, at which all of the seniors give a speech recollecting their MMWA experiences (and most of them shed some tears – along with Lori, but we’re used to that) and after the excitement of the Sugar Slalom and sugar on snow and pickles and cider, comes the time when all MMWA students must pack up their bags and return home to their families and their public schools. It is sad, but what fun it was during the winter.

The transition is a difficult one because the schedule of MMWA is so different from a public school schedule. OK, so we are spoiled at MMWA; we get to spend the whole morning outside in fresh air, getting exercise. When we go back to public school, all of a sudden we have to be inside, sitting at desks for six or seven hours. The classes at public school are longer and have a different atmosphere. At MMWA, one student and one teacher generally work together in each class, so the relationship between the student and teacher is generally a respectful one. At public school, with more kids in each class, the teacher is not paying full attention to any one student, so kids tend to goof off and not pay attention (I am not holding myself exempt), so it takes twice as long to do something in a class at public school than it would in a one-on-one environment. Working at your own pace seems so much more efficient and less stressful.

Besides the long school days, by the time students from ski academies return to public schools, the season for spring sports has already started. We are ahead in skiing, but behind in lacrosse, tennis and baseball. Some kids at MMWA who live fairly close by, go to some of their spring practices during the afternoons, but since I live far from Stowe, I have to jump right back into tennis when I return.

Although the school aspect of the transition is difficult, it is always exciting to return and see friends and classmates that you didn’t get to see very often during the winter. Living and spending so much time with people creates a strong bond, so it is really hard to go from seeing ski teammates every day to seeing them every few weeks or months. I still keep in touch with ski friends and teammates in the off season, and I know that sooner or later I will be back on snow.

Despite the sadness of the end of the ski season and the difficulties of transitions, time moves on and we adjust to life in the off-season. It’s not skiing, but it is still fun. Plus, I will head out to Mt. Hood to train with other MMSC racers. I am looking forward to this because summer ski trips are always fun, and I will get to see teammates. Also, I will be working a lot this summer to save up money for the trip to Mt. Hood and next winter. Soon enough fall will roll around, and I will spend time working out to get in shape for the upcoming season. Then snow will begin to fall, the new season will start, and we get to do it all over again. I can hardly wait. See you next year on the slopes! I’ll be the one with the big smile.