Roundtable Q&A Discussion About Ashbury College (2021)

I love that at the start of each new school year, there are always new students. At my old school, there were never new kids… So it's fun now, meeting new people every year.

One of the first things I noticed when I came to Ashbury was the environment and the diversity. Everyone was so kind and welcoming. It felt warm and safe. I genuinely love going to school, which sounds unusual, but it’s true.

It’s also diverse, internationally and economically. For example, one in ten students receives financial assistance, and there are students from all around the world.

If I had to pick three words for Ashbury, the first would be adaptable. The second word would be innovative or creative. The last word would be supportive.

I feel lucky and proud to be a student here. I asked my brother, who recently joined Ashbury, and a friend who started last year. We agreed that attending Ashbury feels like a privilege.

My advice is to take advantage of all the opportunities, extracurriculars, clubs, sports… It’s a great way to meet people because there are so many different things happening. It gives you the full experience.

It can feel intimidating at first; it’s a big school. But you form your own little family, and everyone gets through it together. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help; everyone is there to support you.

Ashbury feels like a home away from home. It’s full of great people, and I’m proud to be part of it.

I also think the house system fosters healthy competition.

Ashbury students are driven. If they set a goal, they’ll work to achieve it. The school prepares us to pursue whatever paths we choose.

What I really appreciated about the school was the number of opportunities available from sports to academics to extracurriculars. There was always something for everyone.

Now that I’ve had distance from the school, my perspective hasn’t really changed; if anything, it’s become even clearer what an awesome experience it was. The amount of variety you had access to, and the support you were given to try new things or push your boundaries, was pretty unmatched.

Once you leave Ashbury, you realize that as you get older, you have to force yourself to seek out new experiences. But at Ashbury, it just happened naturally, whether meeting new people, learning a new skill, or trying something that scared you. The school puts you in environments that help you grow.

I was pretty involved in sports, and one of the biggest things I remember is the passion and commitment from my coaches. They had classes during the day, but they still spent countless hours coaching after school, organizing games, and travelling for championships.

If I had to describe the school, two words come to mind: school spirit and passion. Those words come up a lot because so much of it stemmed from the teachers and staff. They were motivated, dedicated, and genuinely cared about helping students get better every day and try new things.

I also landed on three personal words to describe Ashbury: creative, passionate, and entertaining.

I think families would be most surprised by how connected the community remains after graduation... The majority of my closest friends are people I met at Ashbury years ago, and that connection remains strong. The school does an excellent job of maintaining relationships with alumni.

My advice to students would be: take advantage of everything. The more you put in, the more you get out.

Most importantly, make use of the support systems available to you. There are so many people there to help you succeed.

The teachers genuinely know every child. They know their strengths, weaknesses, and where they need support. As a parent, that’s incredible.

As a parent, you want to give your children tools to succeed, and Ashbury provides an entire toolbox.

One thing that has really stood out is how the school teaches students to cope when things don’t go perfectly. If they don’t do well on a test or project, they learn how to improve and that they can improve.

Ashbury encourages students to step forward, participate, and grow. And no student is ever left feeling isolated; if they’re nervous or unsure, they receive support. The confidence Ashbury builds is invaluable, not just now, but for life.

You can feel that everything they do comes from the heart and that they want the best for every child. When you walk into the school, you feel like you belong, not like a visitor.

Both my kids absolutely love the school. During a recent parent information session, both of them were sitting beside me, asking, “When can we go back? Will we be in uniform? What sports can we join?”

Every year, when it’s time to renew, I sit them down and ask, “Do you want to return?”. And every year, the answer is: “Yes. Renew us.”

I also love the uniform. Beyond making mornings easier, it creates equality. When students walk through the doors, it doesn’t matter what their background is; everyone is the same.

Choosing three words for Ashbury was hard, but I’d say: inclusive, diverse, and adaptive.

The school's values are very similar to our family values: honesty, respect, collaboration, and accountability. Students learn to advocate for themselves, ask for help, and support their peers. It teaches independence and responsibility; skills they’ll carry into adulthood.

The sense of community extends to parents as well. I’ve been part of the Ashbury Guild for three years, and now I’m involved with the Parents Committee.

My advice for new families is: visit. Attend info sessions, talk to other parents, and let your child speak to Ashbury students. Kids communicate with each other in a way adults can’t replicate.

Even on our first visit, I remember noticing that the students leading tours spoke from the heart. Nothing felt rehearsed. Their responses were genuine, and that left a lasting impression.