Hi! My name is Andrea Peng, and this is my seventh and final year at the Davidson Academy! In 2015, my family relocated from Springfield, Illinois to Reno, Nevada for my dad’s work. At the time, none of us had ever heard of DA. Through a quick Google Search of “schools near me,” my parents discovered Davidson Academy and encouraged my older brother to apply on a whim. My brother enjoyed the tight-knit, supportive community that he met during assessment, and ultimately decided to enroll. In the meantime, I bounced between Reno’s elementary schools, searching for my perfect fit.
Horrified at the thought of attending the same school as my brother, my ten-year-old self had already crossed DA off the list. I had enough of “Are you [redacted] Peng’s little sister?” in elementary school. But in 2016, he dragged me along to the annual Fall Festival. Somewhere in between the liquid nitrogen marshmallows and the cakewalk, I decided to give DA another shot. I remained on the fence for a while but was finally convinced when my brother brought home fries from the neighboring Overlook food court.
In short, my discovery of DA was a fluke. I joined Davidson Academy for good food, but I stayed for countless (better) reasons. I could list a thousand things I like about DA, but for your sake, I’ll only give you my top 5:
- The friends. On my first day at school, a stranger sat down next to me during lunch and started telling me about her favorite casino buffet, unprompted. Seven years later, that same stranger is still my best friend. When you grow up with the same group of peers, you all inevitably become (and remain) close friends. Even though many of my friends have graduated already, they’re only a text away when I need advice or have a funny story to share. The bonds I have developed are lifelong, and I am confident that DA has a role to play in that. Between the small classes and extensive extracurricular activities, you get endless opportunities to get to know your peers. The culture of friendliness permeates every aspect of student life. It’s rare for DA students to lose contact after graduation. Many, if not all alumni, go to college together, work together, live together, or travel together.
- The growth culture. In my first semester, I cried in study hall after receiving my first B on an English assignment. Embarrassing, I know. My prior schools had never prepared me for the reality that I’m imperfect, so one B meant the world was ending. I cringe thinking of the hypothetical world where I never went to DA, a world where I never learned that mistakes are learning opportunities. DA fosters a culture of growth, and the staff has a big role to play in that. For example, many of my teachers offer assignment redoes/revisions, contingent on meeting with them one-on-one for helpful feedback. Every challenge that I have faced during my time at Davidson has undeniably made me more resilient.
- The leadership opportunities. In elementary school, every 5th grader was required to present a 10-minute play to staff and parents. In the Hunsberger Class of 2028, I’m remembered as the kid who crawled under the desks to escape public speaking. In my first few months at DA, I collected Cs in graded discussions; my fear of speaking overwhelmed my fear of having an imperfect GPA. But in joining (and eventually leading) extracurriculars like Student Council or DECA, I came out of my shell. Passion overpowered fear. DA provided me with space to develop leadership skills that will open countless doors for me. Many students create classes and clubs at DA, and it’s equally common for us to become Student Council officers, peer mentors, and teaching assistants.
- The academic development. One of the most unique aspects of our school is the opportunity to take classes at UNR. I began taking university classes when I was 14, and this privilege is how I was able to explore my intended career path as a teenager. The early-college discount for Davidson students made it accessible for me to take over 30 college courses, spanning everything from psychology to accounting. Most concretely, this has benefited me as I will be able to transfer credits to my university to graduate early (and save on rising tuition costs). It has also built the path for me to complete research and be a teaching assistant for an undergraduate course, both of which helped me define my career vision. But beyond the tangibles, it has prepared me with time-management and course-scheduling skills that are necessary for college success.
- The clean bathrooms. Visiting other schools opened my eyes. Don’t take this one for granted!
As I near the end of my journey here, I couldn’t be more grateful that the Overlook had perfectly crispy fries in 2016. Spending almost half of my life at DA has made me the best version of myself. If any of my stories resonate with you, give us a chance! I’m proof that you won’t regret it.
– Andrea, Davidson Academy Student
Adapted from a “Student to Student” profile originally shared in our newsletter. Subscribe >