Island School students have been busy these past few weeks with academics. With only two more weeks before 8-day kayak rotations start, classes are in full gear. Student Margaret Kelly reflects on a recent research class.

I have had many life changing experiences so far, but one experience so far has really stuck out and stayed with me. On one Friday during my research class, my group went out into the field. I am a part of the Deep-Sea Biodiversity research group and for our field day we were going out into the Exuma Sound to retrieve some traps. It was a beautiful day out with only a slight breeze, so I knew that it was going to be a very fun class. The process of retrieving our traps can be long and hard and sometimes we will sit out there for an hour rocking back in forth with the rolling waves watching hundreds of meters of line being coiled into our blue bins.

When we were at the 800-meter mark of our 1000-meter line, 4 of my fellow classmates, the intern helping us, and a visiting teacher all jumped in the water. We wanted to watch the traps come up from the deep blue abyss that we were currently hovering over. I had been snorkeling in a previous class out there, but not being able to see any bottom is a strange feeling. When you look down into the ocean all you can see is the light shining down into an endless vortex. After about 10 minutes of floating in this unreal place I noticed a white blob surface from deep bellow us. After about a minute of observing this strange thing, we all realized that it was part of the traps and that they were almost to the surface. It was absolutely incredible to witness our research actually happening. Once the traps got closer, I realized that what I had seen earlier was actually a Bathynomus giganteous that we had caught. For some reason, it was mind blowing to me to watch the traps surface.

While we were boating back to campus, I started to reflect on what we had just witnessed and also about what a great opportunity I have been given. I am in one of the most beautiful places in the world and I am going to school. For most people The Bahamas is a place for vacation, but for me it is my campus for everything that I am learning here. Our school days very rarely just involve sitting in a classroom because we are always using what is around us in order to learn more. This hands on learning style has definitely impacted me and I know that when I go home I will be able to take it with me.

Margaret Kelly

Tomorrow morning marks the end of Spring 2015′s first month! Here’s what student Tallis Blossom had to say about her first 30 days.

It’s fast here. Always something to do, someplace to go. It gets a bit hectic and stressful at times. But the overarching experience is amazing. Every day here is a new adventure (or five), and you have to be ready to roll with the punches. We’re over a quarter of the way through and it seems as though we’ve been here for a year and for a second, all at once. I feel like I have known these people my whole life, yet I know only the surface of so many of their lives. Each day I learn a bit more; the place unfolds and the people share more stories with me. I find myself falling in love with these people. With this place. Sure, it’s hard. Every day we learn new content, we reach deeper into ourselves to discuss Omeros in Literature and culture in Histories. We write about a higher level of the food chain for Marine Eco, sitting 40 feet beneath the surface of the water. Research hands us another scientific journal to summarize, and takes us out to sein in thousands of mojarra with the hope of catching even one juvenile bonefish. We run farther before breakfast, we study harder after dinner. Yes, it’s a place that forces us to search ourselves, to push ourselves and wonder and question and bond with each other. The tight scheduling forces me to not be homesick, which is nice, because if I take too long of a break, I begin to think about what everyone at home is doing. And while I will be excited to see everyone again, I need to enjoy this experience, to milk it for all it’s worth, because I won’t ever get it again. I’ve given myself 100 days to sink into the ocean, and go home more alive than ever.

Tallis Blossom

Student Jeremy Diaz took a moment this weekend to reflect on his transition to The Island School and all that he has learned in his first month. Here’s what he had to say.

I came here blinded from the world beyond the city, now I have lifted my blinds. I’m originally from the big city of New York City. So, the closest thing to the great outdoors is going to the park. Within the first few weeks of coming to the Island School, I learned how to open up to the world around me, scuba dive and swim, at that order. I also can’t forget for kayaking and camping for the first time as well. The overall staff and classes that I am taking are guiding me to the path of self and world observation. I truly feel that coming here has entirely changed my outlook on life. When seeing things now, I just don’t see it; I analyze it and search for every aspect of it in order to create connections. For example, you might see a plant, but I see a primary producer who plays a key role in an ecosystem. It’s something about pushing your perspective that improves the way you see things. That is the difference between before and after the Island School experience. I feel that after this whole experience, I will take what I learned and try to share it with other people.

Jeremy Diaz

Island School students have been busy this week with classes, Community Outreach, and an advisory World Cup soccer tournament. Sometimes though, it’s the spontaneous, unscheduled events that can make a week. Lucy Zachau writes about one such moment.

No matter how old you are, no matter who you are, where you’ve been or where you’re going…rain is SO much fun. This was quite clear after last night, when campus experienced its first real rain storm of the semester. Two minutes passed after the first raindrop hit the decks before we stormed the flagpole. All 53 screaming students flooded to circle, sporting our finest spandex and sports bras, and of course, crocs. Screams were never ending, all you could feel was excitement, there was absolutely no way not to enjoy this moment. As the rain continued to fall, a circle formed out of all the chaos, and once again, we felt the excitement of one another. Screams were overwhelming, no longer was this playing in the rain, it was like a ceremony. Where we all felt like we were one, appreciating the rain, playing in the rain, feeling the cold drops hitting our sunburnt skin. I wasn’t thinking about school, or the swim the next morning, or the fact that I hadn’t even started my homework, all I was worried about was how loud I could yell, and that is exactly why I love Island School, because no where else can I appreciate a rainstorm with 52 other teenagers and not feel weird about it at all.

Lucy Zachau

Stay tuned for more student updates throughout the semester!