Head Tour Guide - ��Ƶ

Aleki Zdraveski

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:42:13 +0000

She/her
Day Student from Cambridge, Mass.
Previous School: Shady Hill School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
I have been dancing since my freshman year and doing Dance Project since my sophomore year. I participated in girls varsity lacrosse my first two years and am on the girls varsity track and field team this year. I am also a member of ��ƵSA (��Ƶ Students in Action) and a co-head of the Self-Defense Club.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
What initially drew me into ��Ƶ was the strong quality of academics and project-based learning, the opportunity to make close connections with teachers, and to explore my interests in the visual arts. But the incredible sense of community I felt on campus ultimately made me choose Concord. I remember on my Revisit Day being invited to play soccer during a 10-minute break by students in my English class. We had so much fun, and they told me about their experience at ��Ƶ. This small gesture gave me insight into the kind of people at this school. I knew in that moment this was the kind of uplifting community I wanted to be a part of.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
Before starting my junior year, I was intimidated by the thought of taking physics. The subject has a reputation for being difficult, and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep up. But as the semester continued, something unexpected happened—I found myself loving the class. Concepts that once seemed impossible began to click, and I started to see the beauty in how physics explains the world around us. By the end of the year, physics had become one of my favorite subjects, and I hope to take Advanced Physics: Waves and Optics next year.

Advice to prospective students?
��Ƶ offers an incredibly wide range of classes, clubs, athletics, and arts. My advice is to try as many new activities that interest you as you can! Don’t be afraid of something not working out, because you never know what will end up being a new passion.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ:
During my freshman year, I went on a school trip to France. At first, I was nervous because I didn’t know many of the other students. But from the moment we boarded the plane, everyone was welcoming and kind. Whether we were exploring new cities, sharing meals, or laughing over travel mishaps, I started to form strong friendships. By the end of the trip, I truly felt like I belonged at ��Ƶ. Some of my favorite high school memories were made on that journey.

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Lyle Waldeck

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:41:07 +0000

He/him
Day student from Maynard, Mass.
Previous School: The Fenn School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
I am a part of the varsity soccer, basketball, and baseball teams. I am the co-head of the Spikeball Club and Lawrence-Concord Action Partnership (L��ƵP) club. I am a student alum representative, entertainment rep, and orientation leader.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I chose ��Ƶ because of the opportunity. The opportunity to pursue my interests, and also the opportunity to be pushed outside of my comfort zone. The broad course selection was a large attractor for me, along with the opportunity to play all of my sports with great coaches.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite class at ��Ƶ is my Chemistry of Cooking class. We learned about the science that goes into different cooking techniques like baking, frying, fermenting, and boiling. It was interesting to learn about how much chemistry is involved in an everyday activity like cooking dinner. Our final project was a potluck where we wrote a lab on how chemistry affected a food of our choice. It was awesome to learn about other people’s foods, but even better to try them all.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ.
A moment I felt I belonged at ��Ƶ was at soccer tryouts my freshman year. Tryouts were on the first day of school so I didn’t know very many people, but the older players who were trying out went out of their way to ask me about myself, which made me feel a great sense of belonging.

Advice to prospective students?
Try to move outside your comfort zone.

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Alex Tarantino

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:40:23 +0000

He/him
Day Student from Needham, Mass.
Previous School: Charles River School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
Apart from being a head tour guide, I’m a member of the varsity track and field and soccer teams, and I serve on the student-alum committee and the athletic council. I am also a head orientation leader, and I’m involved in a few student-led clubs including the Volleyball Club, Spikeball Club, and the Current Events Club.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
Ever since I started applying to high schools, ��Ƶ caught my eye for one distinct feature that I didn’t see at any other school: a strong and passionate sense of community. ��Ƶ fosters a beautiful sense of community by encouraging collaboration and mutual respect among the students and faculty. Additionally, I was drawn to how the school values academic rigor and also creative expression, both inside the classroom and out. I knew that ��Ƶ would be a place where I could pursue my passions and discover new ones.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
I really enjoy participating in sports at ��Ƶ because they have played an incredibly meaningful role in my time here. Being an athlete has taught me so much about leadership, teamwork, and diligence, and I have created some of my strongest connections with my friends through ��Ƶ athletics, allowing me to grow as an individual and a member of my community.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite class that I’ve taken at ��Ƶ is called Thoreau and Kindreds, taught by the English teacher Nick Heibert. Henry David Thoreau is an incredible figure in Concord, and it was inspiring to learn about his lifestyle. This course allowed me to expand on what I knew about myself as we explored incredibly meaningful themes of life and the beauty of the world we live in.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ.
When I stepped onto ��Ƶ’s campus for my 9th-grade orientation, I immediately knew that I belonged in a community where I could challenge myself and grow as an individual. The reason I knew I belonged during the few-day orientation was because I remember how welcoming and positive everyone was, allowing me to connect to the rest of the ��Ƶ community.

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Lucy Targum

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:40:23 +0000

She/her
Day Student from Arlington, Mass.
Previous School: Belmont Day School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
I am the co-head of ��Ƶ’s Intersectional Feminist Organization, Period Coalition (our menstrual equity group), and Culinary Arts Club. I am also the opinions editor for The Centipede, ��Ƶ’s student-run newspaper. I’m passionate about visual arts, especially ceramics. This fall will be my first time running cross-country, which I’m really looking forward to, and I’ve also played volleyball and been a part of the theater tech crew in previous years.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I chose ��Ƶ because I knew I wouldn’t be limited to one subject, sport, or extracurricular here. Students have a large degree of choice, whether it’s over the clubs they’re active in or the classes they take. As a naturally curious person, that level of independence was exciting to me. Because of it, I’ve pursued interests that I had coming into high school, like my love of writing, but I’ve also found new passions, like ceramics and statistics. It’s because ��Ƶ encourages me to try new things that I’ve expanded what I’m interested in, and I think I’m a happier and more well-rounded person because of it.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
I love spending time in the ceramics studio, whether that’s during a class or in my free time. ��Ƶ studios are almost always open, so I’ll often come in during a free period or on the weekend to practice. I really enjoy chatting with other students who are also in the studio, sharing our music tastes, and seeing the amazing pieces they create!

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
Last fall, I took Chemistry of the Cold War, an interdisciplinary course that combined Cold War history with nuclear chemistry. This is one of several courses at ��Ƶ that doesn’t stick to just one department, and having both science and history in the same class made for a much more engaging and comprehensive class.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ.
In my sophomore English class with Sabrina, we all wrote tercets inspired by Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” On a beautiful fall day, we all left the classroom, and one by one, read our tercets from the top of the playground structure. It was early in the year, and though our class was still getting to know each other, everyone was able to be so thoughtful and vulnerable in just three lines. All of us left class that day feeling listened to and seen, and it set the tone for the rest of our class that year.

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May Stutz

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:40:04 +0000

She/her
Day Student from Concord, Mass.
Previous School: The Nashoba Brooks School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
Along with tour guiding at ��Ƶ, I’m a member of SEAS (Southeast Asian Affinity Space) and a co-head of the fishing club. I also play for the varsity volleyball and softball teams.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I chose ��Ƶ because the people made the learning environment feel so safe and I loved the idea of such a close-knit community. The extremely flexible and broad range of classes available also drew me to ��Ƶ. Getting to choose some of my classes even as a 9th grader was very appealing, and I knew it would open up even more the older I got.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite class I have taken at ��Ƶ was Chemistry of Cooking. It taught the science behind everyday cooking, deeply covering the way the molecules react to heat and other ingredients. Every Friday we got to cook in a boarding house kitchen to see the reactions we learned about in the classroom. I learned a lot more than I thought I would about how different ingredients affect food, and now I add a squeeze of lemon juice to all my dishes.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite activity at ��Ƶ is playing pickup volleyball in the gym. Every now and then, we put up the net and a bunch of people come to just hang out and play. I love the new people I get to meet and how willing everyone is to bond and connect with people they may not know. Cross-grade friendships are one of my favorite parts of ��Ƶ, and I’ve formed friendships with people I may not have had a reason to talk to before.

Advice to prospective students?
I always say to really take advantage of what ��Ƶ has to offer from the beginning. I know I was a bit intimidated and nervous to use all of the resources available as a first-year student, but it’s really beneficial and there to help you learn.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ.
After the first day of school, a sophomore I had met briefly at volleyball tryouts came up to me and we began throwing around a football. We started off close, but we slowly got farther and farther away. We eventually ended up chucking the ball across the whole quad, and that’s when I knew I belonged at ��Ƶ. I had met this girl less than 24 hours ago and she made the effort to hang out with me and chat and made me feel welcomed.

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Luke Schumacher

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:38:03 +0000

He/him
Day Student from Waltham, Mass.
Previous School: McDevitt Middle School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
At ��Ƶ I am involved in theater (winter mainstage), voice (IMI, ��Ƶ Singers, Chorus, Cabaret), dance (Choreographer’s Workshop, Dance Technique), and as a tour guide, writing associate, and peer buddy.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I wanted a school that celebrated academics and learning rather than one that saw it as “nerdy” or a waste of time. As much as we joke about the love of learning core value of ��Ƶ, there is a lot of truth in how it reflects on our school. A lot of schools don’t have that.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
Choreographer’s Workshop! It’s such a great opportunity to practice choreographing and see the work of others. Our final project this season was for the five of us to collectively make a piece. We each got one minute to choreograph the other four students, then choreographed the end together. It’s really rewarding and I’m glad I decided to take it, last year as a dancer and this year as a choreographer.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
Philosophy in Fiction was no doubt my favorite class. It’s one of the few classes that actually made me think about my own belief systems and core values (philosophy will do that). The teacher, Andrew Stevens, is so engaging and thoughtful about his subject and makes every class 10 times more interesting. There’s also a great blend of modern and ancient philosophy; we’ve covered more antique forms of philosophy, such as Plato and Aristotle, but also go over a lot of modern ideas, including technological and personal philosophy. My favorite assignment was a group research and presentation project, where we focused on why we do good things (we covered utilitarianism/consequentialism, existentialism, Kant, and more).

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ.
In class discussions, I feel most like I belong here. Being able to participate in the conversation and intellectually engage with others helps me feel a part of the community. Plus, being on stage and performing makes me feel like a part of the school, as it’s something individual to me while contributing to the wider community.

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Jacob Robbins

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:37:09 +0000

He/him
Day Student from Needham, Mass.
Previous School: The Rashi School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
At ��Ƶ, for 2025–26, I am the co-Head of JSO (Jewish Student Organization), a returning co-head of Pacrats (the technical theater club), and an avid member of the following clubs: Culinary Arts Club, The Scallion (satirical newspaper), and more. I have also been an orientation leader for the past two years and will be a head orientation leader next year. I am also deeply involved with the performing arts on campus, as I have held some role in each performance ��Ƶ has put on since my freshman year, ranging from stage management to scanning tickets at the door. This past year, I served as the student production manager, specializing in the move-over to the Centennial Arts Center, our newest building on campus.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I chose ��Ƶ because when I took my tour of ��Ƶ, something became abundantly clear to me—that ��Ƶ is not just a school. Yes, there are incredible classes, inspiring teachers, and more. However, as my tour guide explained to me, ��Ƶ is also a tight-knit community with an engaged student body fueled by a love of learning. The entire town of Concord is accessible to you. I chose ��Ƶ because of all of this; and I was pretty excited about the arts programming, too.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
It might be the head tour guide in me, but one of the things I really enjoy about ��Ƶ is giving tours. It’s a chance to share the parts of the school that don’t always get noticed and to tell stories that aren’t in any brochure. I like showing people the little hidden corners and quirks of ��Ƶ—the things that make it feel like more than just a building. Like the time I lost a cooking competition during club block with Culinary Arts Club because I didn’t realize that what I thought was sugar was actually salt. Those kinds of moments make the school feel real, and it’s cool to watch prospective students start to see themselves here, imagining what their own experience could be like.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite ��Ƶ class I have ever taken is 10th-Grade English with Sabrina (yes, we call our teachers by their first names!). In this class, which is one of the rare courses that is required for every 10th-grade student, we read poetry, the novels Citizen, The Great Gatsby, and more. Almost every day in class, we would arrive, say “hi,” and then spend the rest of the class period discussing what we had read. One of the reasons I loved this class so much is how much room there was for us to share our voices and ideas in class. The discussions we had were student-led, while simultaneously being guided by our teacher, Sabrina, pulling in examples and ideas for the conversation to revolve around. I was also able to implement the skills and knowledge into my life outside of school—from analyzing characters in shows I was performing in to better understanding myself through the pastiche project. All these reasons, and more, are why this was one of my favorite ��Ƶ classes I’ve ever taken.

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Tal Richmond

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:36:50 +0000

He/him
Day student from Concord, Mass.
Previous Schools: Concord Carlisle High School and Fenn School

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
Varsity soccer, varsity track and field, co-head of South East Asian Affinity group, co-head of Current Events Club, co-head of Barbershop (a cappella group), Chameleons (a cappella group).

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
When I visited ��Ƶ, it was clear that I could truly be myself here. The school celebrates each individual and allows the opportunity and acceptance to step out of your comfort zone.

What is your favorite activity at ��Ƶ and why?
I love soccer, and I am happiest on the Moriarty fields. There is something special about ��Ƶ’s sports culture that allows us to create strong bonds with one another. My teammates are all supportive of one another, and I have never laughed as much on a sports team. We worked hard, had fun, and were undefeated in our league.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
I have never liked reading or writing. Our first assignment in 10th-Grade English was to break down a poem using literary devices we had learned in class the day before. Something clicked, and I got it. The discussions helped me appreciate what words could express effectively and beautifully, which led me to double in English during my junior year.

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Jamal Pandey

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:35:23 +0000

Boarding Student from Queens, N.Y.
Previous School: Cambria School of Excellence

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
Some clubs and affinity spaces I am involved in are Umoja (��Ƶ’s Black Student Union), a co-head of MSA (Muslim Student Association), and Entrepreneurship Club. I am also a member of varsity wrestling.”

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
I chose ��Ƶ for its very welcoming community for me to transition into from such a small middle school, and not having to worry about grades in relation to peers (ex.valedictorian/salutatorian, top or bottom of class) in order to be able to focus on my own grades and goals. I also really appreciated how kind and open faculty were right off the bat, even though they didn’t even know who I was as a prospective student.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite class has to be Applied Algebra with Precalculus taught by George, because being taught by a teacher who enjoys what he does so much makes the class so much more enjoyable. I’ve grown to prioritize math and love it so much because this one teacher has made it so amazing to experience.

What is your favorite boarding memory or tradition?
My favorite boarding tradition is the house competitions that we have on Wednesdays, because thy bring a sort of competitive atmosphere to the boarding community. The rewards at the end of the year from the winning house make it so fun and something to look forward to while trying to be the top house for the year.

Advice to prospective students?
I feel like you hear it so much, but I truly mean it when I say be your true self. ��Ƶ is a school that values a person for what makes them, them. Don’t think about whether or not you come off as authentic, because that’s where you lose yourself, so just go with the flow and trust everything to fall into place.

Share a moment where you knew you belonged at ��Ƶ:
I remember all through 9th-grade fall, I would often contemplate whether or not I should do wrestling or basketball. I wasn’t good at either, but when I made the choice to wrestle, the upperclassmen and sophomores on my team made me enjoy this chance so much and proved the truth of what it means to be on a team at ��Ƶ.

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Boris Liu

Natalie Campbell — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:31:51 +0000

He/him
Boarding Student from Beijing, China
Previous School: Harrow International School Beijing

What are you involved in at ��Ƶ?
Besides being a head tour guide, I am also involved in several other clubs and teams in ��Ƶ. For sports, I am committed to skiing for the winter and cross-country in the fall. I am currently a member of EASA (East Asian Student Association) and Photography club, while also serving as a co-head for Biotech Club and founder of our physics bowl team.

Why did you choose ��Ƶ?
As an international student, one of my biggest concerns was whether I’d be able to fit into the community I’d be spending the next few years with. One of the main reasons I chose ��Ƶ was the warmth and authenticity I felt during my tour. The strong sense of support, inclusion, and comfort throughout the community immediately stood out to me and made me certain that this is the place where I wanted to spend my next four years.

Another reason I chose ��Ƶ was that I wanted a place where I could balance both academics and athletics. I’m a pretty competitive Alpine skier and have been racing for nearly six years. I didn’t want to give up the sport I love in high school. ��Ƶ stood out to me as the perfect choice as it genuinely encourages students to pursue their passions outside the classroom while maintaining strong academic rigor.

Favorite class you’ve taken at ��Ƶ and why?
My favorite class at ��Ƶ is definitely photography. It introduced me to something I never expected to love. The class offers a lot of freedom to express our artistic identities while still providing structure and guidance to help us steadily improve our skills. Capturing the details, light, and moments that I used to overlook is a creative and eye-opening experience that I truly love and value. Taking photography has completely changed the way I look at the world, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

What is your favorite boarding memory or tradition?
My favorite boarding tradition is definitely house food. Every Saturday at 11:00 p.m., one of our house faculty members cooks a late-night treat for everyone in the house. Even though it’s not the healthiest tradition, it’s definitely one of the most joyful and comforting. Everyone in the house gathers in the common room to enjoy the food together, filling the space with laughter. It’s one of those small but meaningful traditions that makes ��Ƶ feel like a true home to me.

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Head Tour Guide - ������Ƶ