This summer I had big plans: one month of 180 minutes of chemistry every single day. Groton’s GRACE program stands for ‘GRoton Accelerate Challenge Enrich’, it is intended as an opportunity for students to bridge the gap between their middle school education and Groton’s expectations. The program offers a diverse selection of classes, ranging from supplemental to full ‘year long’ courses, both separated by ‘A’s’, light classes, and ‘B's’, heavier.
While the plight of a B-course student consisted of early evenings and late nights spent in the schoolhouse struggling through chemistry homework, the almost daily rush of adrenaline when Mr. Maq announced a ‘quest’ or the TA’s left the room to photocopy a quiz, or the abject horror of the almost failing grade being the class average (and the subsequent discovery you scored below it!), I ultimately realize that my decision to undergo this challenge was fruitful. Upon arriving on the sweltering, mosquito-infested campus, my confidence in my academic ability was poor, which served as one of the biggest challenges during the previous year. My first quest had brought me to tears despite my more than satisfactory grade. As the weeks slowly progressed, my confidence increased and I became more receptive to Mr. Maq’s mantra of ‘GRACE, not grades’. Although the strengthened academic stamina of my entire class, procured by frequent testing and fast-paced teaching, was impressive, my proudest moment was receiving a below-average grade and, instead of feeling immense shame, I was only motivated to improve.
Despite the intense curriculum and demanding workload, my days at GRACE were still fun. The efforts of Mrs. Chica and Mr. Pomeroy were evident through the weekend trips to amusement parks, white water rafting adventures, Boston buses, and even quiet nights spent in the Hundred House reading room watching chick flicks with my friends. Some of the most memorable experiences, though, were spent at restaurants around the town of Groton with my friends. Streets slick, sluiced by fat droplets of rain, my friends and I jauntily, albeit carefully, ran to Osawa, the local sushi restaurant (a true Groton school favorite). That evening was spent chatting over rolls of cured fish, the warmth of companionship affirming our decision to attend GRACE.