Working Through Fenn Together

~Colter Martin, Class of 2025

“Best friends believe in you, when you do not believe in yourself”

Anonymous

To my classmates, my friends at Fenn, 

I just want to let you know how much I appreciate you as I depart from school. You have shown me the true meaning and power of friendship. When I first came to Fenn I realized how you made me feel like I belonged. I could rely on you for help, and shared interests with you. These were qualities I felt special to be a part of and are the foundation of our friendship.

You are one of the main reasons that Fenn is such a meaningful place. I am excited every morning to come to school and know that I belong to something bigger than myself. You always included me in times like the DC trip, mornings in the gym, bus rides, recess football, and lunch. I know and am confident in the fact that if I fall, you will pick me right back up. You cheer up the team even when we are down on ourselves. It is hard to imagine where I would be today without your support and care for me. I can definitely say that you have made my experience at Fenn much better than I ever could have imagined.

While some of you may not believe we have much in common, I know we do. I feel confident at Fenn because we share many interests and experiences. We share the Fenn values and Sua Sponte in working hard in school and playing hard on the field. Together we agree that we can joke, but we know that some things require a higher level of seriousness. We celebrate the small things. Whether it’s personal milestones like projects, making teams, singing at ASM, volunteering with SLAB, playing recess football, or even relaxing in the recording room, the small moments are what’s important. Finally, we share the knowledge that Fenn is a great place to go to school. Even if the homework is heavy and all seems bad, there is no place we would rather be.

Also, we have overcome many challenges together. When we played on the same soccer, hockey, or lacrosse team we always had a great time, win or loss. We had the same classes with each other and we overcame hard assignments too. Additionally, we would cope through physical injury and lean on each other through personal challenges.  Sometimes we would march through downpours with our instruments in the Concord parade, hike up Mt. Wachusett, or conquer the Windsor mountain ropes course. No matter what the challenge was at hand, we overcame it together.

Although I have talked a lot about what you did for me, I want to let you know that I am always here for you. No matter where you are, if you need me I will come help you. I do genuinely care for you. I could do nothing in the world to even come close to repaying you for what you have done for me at Fenn. Next year will be a hard one knowing that I won’t go to school with you any more, but I know that I will be back to Fenn frequently. It has all gone by too fast, but the next chapter of our lives is upon us and will take us to great places.

You have elevated my Fenn experience to another level. I just want to thank you for doing that and for being an amazing friend throughout my three year experience. I want to thank you all, my classmates, personally for all you have done to make my Fenn experience better. We may be departing to different places, or staying to experience another year, but I will never forget what you have done for me and the Fennship we have created.

Sincerely, Your Friend,

Colter