The biggest senior class in Williston’s history is shaking up housing on campus.
With 145 students, Williston’s class of 2025 is the largest senior class the school has ever seen. Upperclassmen housing is overflowing with seniors, creating a trickle down effect on the rest of the dorms, impacting the class of 2026 most heavily.
With so many unknowns during the Covid-19 pandemic, people were hesitant to send their kids to boarding school. Since their freshman year began in the fall of 2020, the class of 2024 was the small “Covid class.”
Then, when public schools were moving online, in the Fall of 2020, many people explored the opportunity of attending boarding school for the following Fall in order to maintain an in-person education. This led to a large imbalance between the class of 2025 and subsequent grades.
Historically, the Deans’ office has worked to keep boarding students mostly together by grade, but things changed this year due to the large senior class.
In recent years, Ford Hall and Memorial Hall West have been for upperclassman boys, which remained in place for this school year for the most part. Some junior boys are living in John Wright, which is typically a sophomore boys dorm.
Aaron Entebi, a new junior boarding student from Mexico City living in John Wright, feels that he does not have opportunities to connect with his grade as frequently as his peers.
“In a way I feel like we’re excluded from the environment of juniors,” he said. “I don’t know that many people from my grade. I know a bit, but most of them are from afternoon activities and my classes.”
With only eight junior boys living in John Wright, four of whom are proctors and four of whom are new students, sophomores heavily outnumber the juniors in the dorm.
Although they may not see as many kids in their grade in the dorm, the layout of our community allows there to be many different ways to make connections such as classes, afternoon activities, and clubs.
Additionally, Emily McFadon Vincent House has been for all upperclassmen girls, with the exception of proctors in underclassmen dorms, since its opening in 2019.
The construction of the new residential quad over the past 10 years has encouraged a more connected residential community. However, this year, many junior girls are living across the new residential in Wold House, a dorm that traditionally houses freshmen girls.
Maya Mallett, a three-year junior boarding student from Alexandria, Va. who lives in EMV, feels that the housing situation on campus this year has not had a negative impact on her relationships with her grade, and has actually strengthened her relationship with other grades.
“Although I miss living with my closer friends, it makes me value the time with them more because I don’t see them as often,” she said. “I actually enjoy living with a different grade because it opens the opportunity for more friends and advice from people in older grades.”
Making time to spend with friends can be difficult due to different academic schedules, afternoon activities, and other commitments, but there are many commonalities that most students’ schedules align with. Meal times, the time between dinner and 7:45 p.m. study hall, as well as the weekends, are great times to connect with friends outside of your daily social circle.
Mia Townshend, a three-year junior boarding student from Wakefield, Mass., enjoys living in Wold House, but is disappointed she will not have the opportunity to live with some of her close friends because they graduate this year.
“I love the group of juniors and [underclassmen] that I’m with. I think they’re very easy to get along with, and they’re very friendly,” she said. “What I don’t like is how the group of seniors that I am very close with, I won’t ever get a chance to live with them. I really hope I’m in EMV next year.”
Although the junior class is split up, the boarding community at Williston remains connected and even stronger than ever. Mixing age groups allows for students to positively influence the younger population as well as build new friendships.
Allison Marsland, Dorm Head in Wold House, feels Williston’s community is especially receptive to change.
“I feel lucky that Williston values and has patience with that authentic growth,” Marsland said. “I’m excited to see how much we can grow as a mixed community this year; the older students have already helped.”
