Friends School’s first 8th grade class will be graduating in May. As they look towards high school, we’ve taken the opportunity to interview each of them to find out about their time at Friends School, whether they are “lifers” (here since Preschool) or brand new to Friends School. Please enjoy this interview of Ali Tenzer, one of Friends School’s lifers.
Name: Ali Tenzer
What grade are in?
8th grade
How old are you?
14
Share a memory from a ceremony or trip. Tell me about the experience and what it meant to you.
When we went to South Dakota in sixth grade. The car ride might have been the most fun part – being with my friends and listening to music. Also in South Dakota, we sneaked up on Tanner and he screamed so loudly that everyone thought it was me!
What is a life lesson that you learned here? What will you take from your experience here into your future?
When I was at the elementary school I thought it would be a good idea to climb upside down and I fell on ice and rock. I think I learned that if I know something is not a good idea, I should listen to myself and not do it.
Tell me about a project or class that stands out and/or inspired you.
Doing labs in science stands out for me. One time we did a lab and we caused a gummy bear to explode. Another lab that was interesting was the “liver lab”. I think it was a cow liver and we were testing it in different solutions.
Tell me about a person from Friends that stands out and/or inspired you.
I think all of my friends right now. Everybody in this school teaches me new stuff every day. People expect teachers to teach you new things, but here I learn from everyone.
How has being at Friends School changed your view of the world? (from Charlotte)
If I had not come to this school, I would not know myself as a learner as well as I do now. I am very much a visual learner and the teachers here helped me know this and they help me learn in a way that uses my strengths.
Do you have advice for future Friends students?
I would tell them that school and learning is fun at Friends School. Be yourself if you come here and know that you will be accepted for who you are.
Do you have any advice for me, things to change/things not to change?
All that I would say is for you to observe our sixth graders when they come to the middle school. They don’t fully know each other yet and as they have transitioned from being the oldest to being the youngest in the building, it can be a little hard, I think. It takes time to build trust and, it took until second semester for my class to fully connect in 6th grade. If they really take the time to know one another, they will connect and get through the challenges of middle school.
Do you know where you will go to High School? 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice
First choice is New Vista, then Lyons, then Boulder High.
What are your passions? What makes you, you?
I am passionate about all kinds of nice cars. It gives me something to look forward to and work towards. If I could choose the car to buy right now it would probably be either Bugatti Chiron – looks amazing and the interior is beautiful. The details are unique and nobody actually knows its top speed. Or a Lamborghini Centenario Roadster. The Lamborghini looks amazing and they are known for being comfortable and very fast.
What was it like being a part of starting the middle school
For me it was still a little bit scary to think about going into middle school, but once I started I learned that middle school isn’t scary at all – it is fun!
If you could wave a wand……
I don’t know. From my point of view everything here is great as it is.
