Wolverines Write the Week Away During Essayfest

One of the most challenging requirements for Wolverines aspiring to matriculate at their first choice school is writing the college essay. “The parameters are hard and the struggles are there whether you are by yourself or working with others,” acknowledged Ms. Isabel Neal, Humanities Instructor. “These essays are a challenge; they are very personal.” With that in mind, and knowing that feedback is essential in the writing process, the Bridgton Academy Essayfest was born. “We always like to get more eyes on student essays,” shared Neal. “This allows students more feedback on their writing.” So, for a week in November, the second floor of the Bridgton Academy Humanities Center was turned into a writer’s workshop where over 135 student essays were workshopped with the help of both peer and staff review. Students were afforded the opportunity for focused writing time with constant feedback. Fueling their success was “a helpful environment with support and a collaborative focus on writing,” observed Ms. Neal.

Though the Humanities team was the primary driver of Essayfest, members of the entire Bridgton Academy team stepped up to read essays, conference with students, and give valuable time to this important process. Still others contributed behind the scenes. Academy Registrar, Mrs. Deb Dutton, created a complex schedule to allow each student to participate in the process. The Dean of Academics, Mrs. Jamie Izaryk, whipped up batches of pancakes, and the Dining Hall team provided snacks to reward the hard work of all. One of the unique bonus features of the week was the privilege for students and staff to work together beyond the regular classroom. “It’s great to get to know students outside of my regular classes,” noted Neal. It was equally great for faculty to see those students succeed and find benefit in the experience. According to Neal, feedback forms revealed that several students had purposeful meetings with other staff who volunteered their time. “Students were productive, had great conversations, and showed growth and improvement,” concluded Neal. By all accounts, Bridgton Academy’s inaugural Essayfest was a huge success.