Category: Saadia Akhtar

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akhtar, saadiaIt still hasn’t sunk in that I have graduated. It still hasn’t sunk in that I won’t be coming back to Gatton this fall. Or that my friends won’t be down the hall from me. Or that the whole building will share a common culture, a common identity.

In the weeks leading up to graduation, I refused to think about what my life would be like after I graduated. In fact, I refused to say the word “graduation.” I was in denial that my Gatton experience would be ending. Now, you may be wondering, many people graduate high school, get over yourself Saadia. However, I didn’t just graduate from high school, I ended a significant two years of my life- two years that I will never forget.

I moved in junior year expecting to live in a building full of nerds with no social graces and in a high-intensity environment. Looking back upon that moment, I laugh. That’s what everyone expects from Gatton, isn’t it? I quickly learned that Gatton is nothing like that. Gatton is a family. We have our own traditions (singing “Piano Man” last at every dance), our own culture (Ultimate Frisbee, anytime, anywhere), our own slang (Gattops, Accountabillabuddy), and our own problems (CPS). Just like a real family, we help each other get through our struggles. We help each other debug our codes, help each other pass Pesterfield or Minter’s class, and help each other navigate through life. I met some amazing people who helped me do just that.

Despite only knowing them for two years, I have made some incredibly strong bonds from friendship, bonds that I won’t ever break. I cherish every moment I spent with them, from hanging out in the common area, decorating the wings, walking around campus at 10:15, to studying abroad in England.

I’ve had to give up quite a bit to come to Gatton- friends, family time, driving, etc. Was it worth it? I’ve dwelled on this question for quite a bit and I believe I have found my answer- yes, it was definitely worth it. Not only was it worth it for the two years of college credit, the friends, research opportunities, and travel abroad opportunities, but it was especially worth it for how much I grew and learned over the past two years.

Coming from a high school where I was known as the “smart kid,” I had no other identity. And during my freshmen and sophomore years I was okay with that. It wasn’t until I came to Gatton, where everyone was the “smart kid,” that I realized my persona had a lot more to it than just intelligence. Soon, people started describing me as “shade-thrower” and “opinionated.”

I also realized what it truly meant to struggle and work hard. Quite frankly, my home high school barely challenged me. Even the AP classes were easy to me and did not require much effort on my part. Gatton, however, was a whole other ballgame. I mentioned earlier how Gatton wasn’t a high-intensity environment. It’s true that the building isn’t dead quiet with people furiously working on their laptops, but Gatton can definitely be stressful. One hundred and twenty teens taking college courses is no easy task. I realized very early on in the first semester that my old habits wouldn’t cut it. Over the past two years, I’ve worked harder than I ever have and have not maintained the 4.0 GPA that I used to be so prideful of. However, for every grade I received, I felt like I earned it.

These past two years bring with them a flood of emotions. On one hand I am happy to be done with high school, but on the other hand, I am sad to be leaving Gatton and its community. Even though my time at Gatton is over, my legacy is not. I will proudly say, for the rest of my life, that I went to The Gatton Academy for high school. I also know that if I ever wish to visit, Gatton will welcome me with open arms.

2016 Winter Break

February 5, 2016 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Saadia Akhtar | No Comments

Akhtar, Saadia 2By:  Saadia Akhtar

Western Kentucky University offers a three week period in the month of January in which students are given the option of taking a class. However, Gatton requires all of its students to do something during this period, as high schoolers regularly just have a two week winter break, not five. Gatton provides funding for winter term, which can be used during winter term or during the summer in between junior and senior year to help pay for the Harlaxton study abroad program. Academy students are allowed to take classes on campus (and stay at Gatton), take an online class from home, do a service project to get volunteer hours, or study abroad.

This year, Gatton offered two study abroad opportunities- Costa Rica and Italy. Costa Rica is a fun option for those interested in Biology, as the trip is a research course that is held in the forests of Costa Rica. Italy has no credit-bearing option and allows students to have a nice and relaxing time to explore sites such as the Coliseum and Galleria dell’Accademia.

Winter term is a good opportunity for students to fulfill a class requirement (like U.S. History), get service hours that Gatton requires (to graduate with honors), or expand their horizons through traveling.

 

Akhtar, Saadia 2By:  Saadia Akhtar

One of the ways The Gatton Academy helps incoming juniors adjust to college life is study hours. For the first five weeks, the juniors are required to study and do their homework in one of two designated rooms from 7-9 pm. This allows the juniors to get used to the college workload and gives them a specific time in which they have to study. During study hours, tutors are also available in various subjects, especially in Computer Science and math.

After the first five weeks, all students have a “Five Week Assessment”, in which they get their grades validated and signed by their professors and turn them into the guidance counselor. Our guidance counselor then looks over the grades, and if a student isn’t failing any class or doesn’t have more than one C, he/she will be let off study hours. However, if a student (junior or senior) is failing a class or has an excessive amount of C’s, he/she will be on mandatory study hours until he/she gets his/her grade up.

The two rooms designated for study hours are available from 7-9, Sunday through Thursday, all year long. One room has a more quiet setting for students who really need a peaceful environment to study and another room has the tutors and allows for some talking and group work. Tutors are also available all year long and students who are not on mandatory study hours are welcome to come to study hours and utilize the tutors. Study hours are a great resource and a good way for the Academy to help students study, especially away from their parents.

Club Day

August 25, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Saadia Akhtar | No Comments

Akhtar, Saadia 2By:  Saadia Akhtar

Like any typical high school, Gatton hosts a variety of clubs for students to join. This past Saturday, we had a Club Fair with a variety of clubs headed by the seniors at The Academy. We have traditional clubs like Beta Club, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), and Yearbook as well as some more unusual clubs like Ultimate Frisbee Club, Niven Club, and Cooking Club. While Gatton doesn’t have as many clubs as a regular high school, students are free to start a club.

Gatton students balance their tough courses with the extracurriculars The Academy offers. Many look forward to participating in non-academic activities in their free time and love to be a part of something that enhances the Gatton community. The Club Fair was especially fun for the incoming juniors, for they didn’t know that Gatton would have so many clubs to choose from. It was also fun for the seniors, as there were a few new clubs that were started this year, like the Harry Potter Alliance and Hindi Club. All and all, clubs are an integral part of The Academy and provide another way for students to be passionate about what they love. 

Avatar Intro: Saadia Akhtar

August 19, 2015 | 2015-2016, Avatars, Saadia Akhtar | No Comments

Akhtar, Saadia 2I’m Saadia Akhtar and I am a senior at the Gatton Academy. I am passionate about Biology, History, and Foreign Affairs. My junior year at the Academy was a quite a journey. For the first time in my life, I actually struggled in a class. I also got my first B, and had to learn how to cope with that. I came out of shell as well; I wasn’t afraid to be a typical nerd and try hard in class. The best thing, however, about my junior year was the friends I made and the community I became a part of.

Before I came to the Academy, I thought most people would be super awkward nerds who would always be studying. However, I was happily mistaken. There were a wide variety of people at the Academy- athletes, band kids, quiet kids, loud kids, etc. Everyone got along with each other and supported each other. After spending three weeks in England with most of my class, I became even closer with them. Now I look forward to finishing my high school career with all the friends I made and with the support of the Gatton community and staff.