By Aaron Rubenstein
As the school year came along to end summer break, a new grade of IA students were skittishly preparing for the high school of their dreams. And dreamlike it was—with the limits once set by middle school now detached, the experience of being new to it all was surreal. Learning not to rely on the middle stairways for commute, familiarizing the grid of hallways, and calibrating to the awe-inspiring symmetry of the building, the class of ’26 adjusted to their new environment in due time.
In the first weeks, our eyes were opened to how IA was truly like no other school. Naturally, as with any opportunity so great as this, freshmen especially receive a heavy load of responsibility. The relationships between teachers and their students become more mutual, bound by common interests, and yet the student is given more to account for consequently. World languages are virtually taught with no late penalties for assignments, granting many liberties whilst leaving us to be responsible for our own success.
I don’t think I have to give an in-depth plot synopsis of The Amazing Spiderman for you to understand that with great power comes great responsibility, so, for the sake of brevity, I’ll close that point there. The idea is, if not obvious from the start of this article, that Innovation isn’t your ordinary school in the slightest, and we freshies* indulge and bask in its mighty opportunity.
And now for quotes from some of our very finest freshmen and freshwomen:
“I think IA offers an opportunity to excel at classes, but at the risk of too much freedom. It also offers curriculum that would not be found at any other school.”
- Wylie Gibson
“Innovation Academy is a different learning experience, which comes with its own benefits and drawbacks… In all honesty, [the uniqueness] has made for a great trial to be learning in such an environment that has been given to us. It may be different, and it may take time to get used to, but it is an amazing time here. You may find it turbulent and/or too difficult which, for that, there’s no shame because we are all different, our learning necessities being no different.”
- Anon
“This school has a very good facility and allows me to say the word pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis and hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia”
- Andre Estoquia 😊
*Term coined by IA sophomores and juniors to describe freshman; derogatory