And that's a good thing, because any social scientist (or parent, for that matter) will confirm the powerful influence teenagers exert over one another. And that influence can be a really good thing. What matters is who your peers are—the standards they set, the culture they foster, the actions they encourage. It's why we're so deliberate about the students we enroll and the community they help us build—one where honor, fairness, kindness, and truth are more than words in our mission statement—a community in which we aspire together to fulfill the promises of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Cultivating and encouraging a sense of responsibility to our community and to each other—it’s something we focus on throughout the Thacher experience. In the dorms, that means life is all about relationship-building and leaning into the joys and challenges of communal living. It’s shaped by the supportive leadership of senior prefects, by affinity and alliance groups that offer connection and mutual support, as well as by intentional curriculums that focus on how we can show up respectfully and compassionately for each other—and ourselves—in every part of our lives. Whether that’s taking on an extra load (literally) during a long day of trail hiking in the Outdoor Program, rallying your student group to take action on an important social justice issue, carving out time to run lines with a classmate in the Performing Arts Program, or making sure to give extra words of encouragement and support to your teammates in the Athletics Program.

Peers that push you to reach your highest potential, that encourage you to try your hand at an unfamiliar sport or musical instrument, that have your back when things get challenging—those are the kinds of peers that you’ll find at Thacher.