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This blog post was submitted by Elysha Kennedy, a senior who has been part of the York School community since 8th grade. In it, she reflects on her experiences and shares her personal journey at York.

Hi! My name is Elysha Kennedy. I’m currently writing this blog as a senior who has been at York School since eighth grade (yes, I know, five years seems like a long time, but it goes by faster than you think). It’s hard to write this, in a way, because I love York dearly and I’ve had so many experiences I wish I could discuss. I mean, how can I begin to summarize five years full of classes, emotional rollercoasters, opportunities, moments, and friendships in a single blog? Well, I can’t make promises, but I can at least try to show a fraction of what my life and experience as a York Lifer has been like.

I first chose York for a simple reason. I chose the school for its name. “York” is short and memorable. More so than schools named Saint Peter’s Sacred Catholic Academy for Girls or something along those lines. So, yes, the name was the initial reason I looked into it. Then, I took a tour, researched the courses, shadowed, had an interview, and soon enough I was hooked and couldn’t imagine going anywhere else. I loved the aesthetic and views on campus, the independence and college-like schedules and courses, the performing arts opportunities, and the teachers and students I had met. I distinctly remember my interview (which was online unfortunately because we were on the last legs of quarantine) and I met Mr. Wilcox and a teacher who no longer works here named Ms. Sherry. I was scared out of my mind but they talked as if I was already enrolled; like they wanted to know who I was, not what my qualifications were. They made me feel welcome and, fortunately, that should’ve given me a big clue as to what my experience at York would be like. The York experience isn’t about accomplishments and caring about who is the best at academics and extracurriculars–it’s about cultivating each individual student and bringing out the best in them, and that’s what really helped me and my peers thrive each day on campus.

Through York, I was able to explore my interests and I found my passion: music and musical theatre. I had liked these things before coming to York, but it wasn’t until I came to York that my love for music and theatre really bloomed. Enrolling in my classes and extracurriculars at York, I was the only 8th grader to join choir and one of a few to join the musical, Frozen. I bonded so much with the cast and enjoyed the rehearsals so much I couldn’t think of a better and more enjoyable use of my time. The upperclassmen were more than kind and they mentored me, inspiring me and supporting me in doing what I loved. Since then, I continued to do theatre and music the rest of my time at York, joining as many opportunities, classes, and musicals I could to really delve into my passion. In my freshman year, I performed in The World According to Snoopy as Sally Brown and Alice by Heart in the ensemble. In my junior year, I performed in Almost, Maine as Hope and Les Miserables as Madame Thenardier. This year, I played Mrs. Peacock in Clue and will play Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray. All of these shows mean so much to me and hold a special place in my heart. I’ve made friends, memories, and experiences I’ll never forget. I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s something so special and intimate about being in that blackbox theatre. When you’re backstage with your friends in the dressing room, caking on stage makeup, listening to showtunes and talking about the show and your classes, all of your problems are suddenly forgotten. When you finish a show and run to the stage door alongside your friends, you hold so much excitement and joy in your heart. And when you come to school the next day, your teachers congratulate you because they came to see your show. I’m sure that York feels like a home to almost every student, but in the performing arts department, I feel like part of a family.

Speaking of family, the teachers at York are truly so kind and supportive, they were a really formative and influential part of my time at York. The teacher I’m closest to is definitely Mr. Williams. He basically runs the entire performing arts department on his own. As the Arts Department Chair, he teaches choir and chamber choir, teaches musical theatre classes, and he either directs or musically directs the musicals. Being in five years worth of classes with him, I’m so grateful to have known him. Mr. Williams gave me so much confidence (in myself as a person and in my talent as a performer) and so many opportunities that I know I wouldn’t be half the person I am today without him. He has supported me during some of my toughest times at York and celebrated with me during my highest. He really cares for each of his students and takes care of us so that we can have the highest chance of success. Mr. Williams has influenced my life a great deal and I'm going to miss him so much when I graduate. Not to mention, whenever I talk to my peers, it seems to me that every student has a teacher they’ve closely connected with over the years like I have with Mr. Williams. The teachers care so much for their students and truly want the best for them, and that’s something I rarely see at other schools and a trait of York I really wish was talked about more. I feel like at some schools, teachers just clock in and clock out. But at York, teachers go out of their way to celebrate their students and support them by going to their games, musicals, concerts, competitions, etc. They truly want us to succeed and help us in as many ways as possible.

Teachers also let students really take leadership in different areas like clubs and classes. I personally had the honor of creating a student council for Chamber Choir. Mr. Williams had the idea of a student council during my junior year but really passed the baton onto me this year. As the Chamber President, I defined the positions and objectives of the Chamber Choir Student Council and was able to create a form of student leadership in the performing arts department. I structured the student council so that students could advocate for things that they wanted. So far, we’ve been raising money so that we can get merch for Chamber Choir–something tangible to celebrate all the hard work we put into our concerts and performances. The Chamber Student Council has planned fundraisers, spirit days, announced concerts and shows at school assemblies, helped organize sheet music, etc. Creating this student council was, I felt, something awesome I created that will hopefully continue on and I’m grateful to have played a role in its formation. Even though it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, it still feels like a legacy I’m able to leave at the school and that means a lot to me. I’m so grateful to be able to do something for the performing arts department when it has played such a formative part of my life.

However, I think one of the things I’m going to miss most about York are the field trips. Every year the upperclassmen take a trip to NYC to perform at the Lincoln Center and every other year the choir takes a trip to perform at Disneyland. These trips are honestly highlights of both my high school experience and my life in general and I’ve made memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Last year, I was blessed to be able to perform in my all time favorite musical in New York, Anastasia, and even got to meet some of my favorite Broadway actors including Christy Altomare and John Bolton! I even got to give Christy Altomare, who originated the role of Anastasia on Broadway, a drawing and she posted it on her instagram which was absolutely unreal! Getting to perform alongside her at the Lincoln Center in New York was an opportunity of a lifetime and I’m still in a state of disbelief. I am so beyond grateful to have performed in New York multiple times and I’m just as grateful to have been on two of the Disneyland trips as well. I’ve been a soloist at Disneyland twice and I still remember being a freshman, one who had never really been a soloist for anything before, sitting in the beautiful York library. I remember opening my email and seeing an email at the top of my inbox from Mr. Williams titled “Soloists in for Disneyland - California Adventure Performance.” Seeing that email brought me so much happiness, I cannot even begin to describe it. I remember barely being able to contain my excitement and wanting to jump for joy but having to be quiet because I was still in the library (lol). I felt that same amount of joy this year reading an email titled “CONGRATULATIONS! HAIRSPRAY Cast List” and seeing my name at the top of the list. I’ve never been “the” lead in a musical before and being cast as Tracy in Hairspray is absolutely a dream come true. Through York, I’ve had some moments that have brought me so much joy and excitement, I can’t even begin to put them in words. I’ve grown and lived so much and I will truly miss York after I graduate. If I had the opportunity to do it all again, I 100% would.

Even though I’ve had so many amazing moments at York, I’ve also been pushed out of my comfort zone more times than I can count. If you haven’t figured it out yet from this blog (which should've been extremely obvious), I’m a very artistically oriented person. That being said, due to a scheduling conflict, I was kinda coerced into taking AP Statistics last year. To be frank, I really didn’t want to take that class, especially because I really don’t enjoy math, but I’m extremely grateful I did. The teacher, Mr. Johnson was one of the nicest STEM teachers I’ve ever had and he made the class really engaging and interesting. I learned so much from the class, about the topic and about myself as a learner, and I ended up getting a 4 on the AP exam, something I never thought I’d be able to do because, again, not so good with math. Even though it was difficult (and I probably will never do an advanced math class like that again–one was enough) I’m really glad I stepped up to the challenge and learned what I did.

All of this is to say that York really has shaped me and helped me become the person I am today. I wouldn’t trade my five years there for anything and I don’t have any regrets. However, if I could go back in time to tell my 8th grade self anything, I would give her three pieces of advice. Firstly, I would tell her to take as many opportunities as possible. Do anything and everything–join choir, join the plays, participate in clubs and activities even if you don’t think you’ll like them, try leadership opportunities, take all types of classes, always say yes. Even if you don’t like something, at the very least, you’ll probably find some new friends or at least some new knowledge you’ll find a use for. If you don’t like it you don’t have to do it again but you can at least say you tried. Secondly, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. High school is the time to put yourself out there. If you want to screw up, high school is the time to do it, especially when you have so many wonderful teachers and friends who are willing to pick you up when you fall flat on your face. You’re never going to be perfect, in fact trying to be perfect will do more harm than good, so you might as well get used to making mistakes and learning how to learn from them. And lastly, have fun. The memories you make in high school are ones you’ll cherish for your entire life so enjoy every single moment–the good, the joyous, and even the bad and the ugly. You’ll never be able to relive your high school years so you might as well love every second of it and make the most of it while you still can. You better have fun, because graduation is sooner than you think and you don’t want to have any regrets while walking to get your diploma.