The day that I moved into my dorm at Meredith College for Governor’s School, I was accompanied by 399 strangers. Though I was enthusiastic about the program, I had no idea that these people would later become the best friends I would ever have. Furthermore, I did not know that the person I would get to know the most at Governor’s School would be myself.
Accepted for choral music, I was the only student from my school to attend Governor’s School in 2005. The program offered me the chance to learn in a college environment—my peers and I stayed in dorms, ate cafeteria food, and did our own laundry. Classes were held in the morning, and in the evenings we saw films and heard speakers that challenged our minds.
All students took classes in philosophy and personal ethics. I found myself drawn into the discussions about ideologies, religions, and politics, stretching my mind by thinking about thought itself. I was constantly challenged to ponder the profound questions of human life: Why are we here? What is the nature of human nature? Is there a God? Who exactly am I?
Our instructors sought to pry open our minds, often playing the devil’s advocate to introduce different perspectives. In class discussion, fellow students not only challenged each other’s ideas, but also shared their personal experiences and opinions. Being at Governor’s School was like living in a bubble—I was given the opportunity to examine and criticize the outside world in an environment that would not ostracize others for their beliefs.
In addition to my philosophy classes, I attended chorus rehearsal twice a day. Governor’s School East’s advanced ensemble of women studied and performed works written in the twentieth century by composers such as Randall Thompson, Eleanor Daley, and Charles Ives. My musicianship flourished as a result of this rigorous study, but my mind was also opened to new types of music and other arts from the concerts and performances that I attended. I discovered the beauty of abstract art. I wondered at what point noise became music, listening to John Cage’s 4’33”. Governor’s School helped me to redefine art and beauty in my mind.
For the first time in my life, Governor’s School allowed my mind and my personality to be free. My experience that summer changed my life forever, making me more confident in my own beliefs and changing the way that I think. Surrounded by scores of intelligent high school students, I found that a love of high-minded discussion and a thirst for knowledge had been sparked in me. Not only did I become a better musician, I also became a better citizen, more aware of the world. Governor’s School taught me the things that one is not taught in high school—to be open-minded and respect others’ values, and to fully know and believe in one’s self.
- Anna Diemer
GSE Choral Music ‘05
