2018-19
Ayanda '19

Parents, Performance, and Passing Time

This past weekend was Parents’ Weekend at Groton. Parents’ Weekend is an opportunity for parents and guardians to visit campus, speak to students’ teachers, and spend time with us. It helps parents to increase their understanding of the overall well-being of their child, whether academically, emotionally, socially or otherwise, and assess whether there is guidance or advice needed.
My mom flew over for the weekend, and I was really grateful to be able to see her. I have always been very close to my mom, and coming to Groton was a huge step in increasing my independence and adjusting to her playing a less direct role in my day to day life. During the weekend we have no class on Saturday morning, and families also have the opportunity to socialise with other families and watch kids’ games. Many kids spend the night with family or go out to eat with parents, and I spent the night with my mom at her hotel. Even though the fire alarm went off twice at 1 and 2 am in the morning, it was a much needed time to reconnect. She brought me a few personal items from home, and we had time to talk and catch up.

An additional part of Parents’ Weekend is the concert.This year, my FSA (Faculty Sponsored Activity) performed a step dance that we have been working on, and it was great to get positive reactions from the school community. One evening, Sixth Formers and our parents had a viewing of a great video made by our communications prefects. The video was a collection of recordings of every senior answering one of five questions about our Groton experience—talking about our favourite Groton memory, for example. It was kind of a sentimental moment, because events like these make a lot of us seniors realise that we don’t have all that much time left on the Circle. Whether you come in Fifth Form like I did last year, or start right at the beginning in Second Form, Groton becomes your home in some way. This year, all of the passing traditions and milestones are bittersweet, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Back