Clea Guerrand-Hermes
I usually go to this place at sunset and in the night. This is my place to reflect and have appreciation for the beauty of the ocean. The rock itself is made out of art pieces—I think about that every time I go by there. Each signifies an animal or organism that lives here amongst us. It reminds me to be aware and appreciative of my surroundings. It reminds me of how lucky I am to be here. I’ve had a lot of my most meaningful conversations at The Island School at this rock. It has so many positive vibes—with the wind in my hair and the backdrop of the vast ocean. Here I can think deeper thoughts and unwind from my busy life as an Island School student.
Ethan Bankowski
The flagpole is the rock of our Island School community on Cape Eleuthera. This flagpole is a signature of our community and is always a welcoming sight, even though it is affiliated with a variety of emotions. This flagpole is a symbol of unity at times, serving as a gathering point in the mornings and evenings. Some mornings the flagpole is associated with a lot of dread when we are unenthused with the looming AMX workouts. When coming back from the surrounding communities the flagpole serves as a reminder of this community and seems like one of the most permanent aspect of our ever-changing environment. The perceived permanence of the flagpole is one of the reasons our preparations for Hurricane Irma were so rattling. The flagpole was taken down as a safety precaution (probably a good idea, no one really wants to be hit by a giant flying metal pole) and robbed the community of one of its centerpieces. The lack of the flagpole made the campus feel as if it was missing something, and to say the least we were glad when we had to put it back. Although I am not always eager for AMX, seeing the Bahamian flag flying high above us always seems to brighten my day.
Max Gryska
As I look out my window, shirts and bathing suits hang and dry in the wind. Past the Hawaiian shirts, the turquoise blue water sits calmly in the background. This view from the boys’ dorm is something that I have become attached to even though I wake up to it every morning. The boys’ dorm and all of those who live in it are what I have come to love most about the school so far. We have all become very close, and there is still so much time left in our semester. I am thankful that every morning, once I look past the drying clothes and towels, I look onto the beautiful Bahamian water. I am grateful that every morning I am surrounded by those who care for me just as much as I care for them. I cannot imagine leaving this place on day 100.
Grace Zachau
Every time we tie up to the cleat, new memories are made and smiles are bigger than ever. From the first time that we went to the sandbar and learned what and ooid was, to the first free dive when we silently sat 30 feet under the christening water below, we came back with smiles on our faces. Each time we hauled our SCUBA tank up onto the dock, new memories were made.
“Life brings smiles and memories. The smiles fade, but the memories last forever.” – Unknown