We love our Canterbury alumni! Members of the class of 2015 spoke with our 8th graders about high school as they prepared for their own move to college. Many thanks to Mason Powell, Jack LaFave (received Paul J. Puryear Most Ideal Student Award at Page High School), Tommy Dator, Michelle Buccini, and Sophie Maginnes (2019 valedictorian at Page High School) for sharing their experiences with our students.

Among tips about study skills, making friends, self advocacy and school-life balance, here are some of their words of wisdom:

•“Be confident and know that by being here at Canterbury, you’ve got such an advantage already. Thanking teachers after class, shaking hands, making eye contact with teachers, all these things will put you a step above, and teachers will give you more opportunities. The school you came from will make high school easier for you.”

•“Something I cherish from Canterbury is the public speaking. What they teach you to do here is so important. Canterbury prepares you so well, and students at other schools haven’t had that opportunity.”

•“As Canterbury students, you’re going into high school with the confidence, trust and esteem built around having good manners.”

•“Do things that you love, starting from freshman year. Don’t come in with the mindset that you have to put yourself ahead by doing things you don’t like.”

•“High school is a really good opportunity to reimagine yourself, to get a fresh start. It’s a really great opportunity to meet people you wouldn’t have met before and get some different perspectives on life.“

•“High school is a chance to meet people who share your interests - take that as an opportunity if there aren’t others from Canterbury.”

•“The scariest part of high school is wishing you had another four years here. Stay in touch, because these people are going to be your friends for the rest of your lives.”

•“Here, teachers help you out whether you want them to or not. In high school, you have to seek them out. Also utilize your classmates, because they can honestly be the best teachers.”

•“Don’t do something you are going to look back later and cringe at. If it seems like a bad idea, it probably is.”