Senior Series - Addie Gardner

I started at Hawken during 9th grade in the fall of 2020 during the height of Covid. There were so many uncertainties at that time. A new school, new peers, new teachers and coaches, and the new realities of life with social distancing, plexiglass dividers on every table, and masks. Volleyball was the only thing that was familiar and even that looked very different. During the last few years we've transitioned from playing games in closed gyms with only parents sitting six feet from the next family to the more traditional setting of larger crowds and loud fan sections.  I've grown to appreciate the "normal" game experience much more now that I've experienced the realities of being an athlete during a pandemic. I am grateful for the Hawken coaches, administers, staff and our families for doing everything they could so that we could continue to play despite the challenges.

The Hawken volleyball program helped me to grow as a student, as an athlete, and as a leader. I learned how to face challenges, overcome disappointments, celebrate successes and lead through words and actions. I know when I reflect on my high school years, the memories created with my Hawken volleyball teammates will stand out as some of my favorite experiences. Winning the first CVC conference championship in 38 years through hard work, grit, and teamwork is one of my proudest athletic moments. None of us could have done it alone and all of us contributed in unique ways to that accomplishment. The team sleepover, trips to Patterson's, impromptu get togethers, themed dress up days, and endless laughs shared even during the hardest of days brought us together as a team and helped us form strong bonds that extend beyond the court and classroom.

I chose Hawken because of the many academic and extracurricular activities available to students and the emphasis on exploring more than one dimension of who I am as a person. The coaches, teachers, and administrators at Hawken work together to support each of us in ways that encourage us to learn the most we can about both ourselves and the world at large during our time together. I have grown to understand the value of a Hawken education but even more so what it means to be a part of a community filled with tradition. Hawken volleyball has been an integral part of my high school experience and I know I am prepared for the challenges the next chapter of my life brings.