Dorm Activities
By KENDELLE GRUBBS ‘20
During the winter season, boarding students find themselves busy not only with schoolwork but also with dorm activities. From Secret Snowflake to boarder dinner, Milton provides a variety of activities for students. Many dorms have their own special activities, such as Robbins’s tradition of caroling to some of the boys’ dorms on Valentine’s Day and Millet’s Flakes for Cakes where each grade races to cut out and hang snowflakes to win a cake. Many dorm traditions have been ingrained in Milton culture for so long that even the oldest Milton teachers can’t remember when they started. Since the traditions have lasted for so long and don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon, how do current Milton boarders feel about them?
In terms of dorm activities in general, most students seem to enjoy participating in them. The activities are designed to bring a sense of bonding that boarders often don’t get to feel. Simple activities like carving pumpkins or watching a football game in the common room allows people who don’t normally interact to finally talk. Dorm activities help erase the grade level dynamics that often prevent under- and upper-classmen from approaching one another. In a poll sent out regarding community feelings on dorm activities, an anonymous freshman said, “I really don’t know the dorm, the people in it, and our traditions very well. I think dorm activities help bring me closer to the place I’ll be living for the next 3.5 years.”
One of the most talked-about and spirited dorm activities is Dorm Dodgeball. Once or twice a week, boarders walk down to the ACC to face off in three rounds of dodgeball. Students come dressed in onesies or dorm-inspired gear and cheer on their dorm mates while they attempt to throw, catch, and dodge. Familiar tunes like Party in the USA or Mo Bamba blast from speakers fueling the adrenaline-filled atmosphere.
While the high energy can be fun for some, the majority of respondents in the poll believe the school places a heavy emphasis on participating and enjoying dorm activities. Out of the 17 respondents, 76% have felt between some pressure and an overwhelming amount of pressure to participate. The encouragement can turn into a toxic space for students who don’t want to follow what their peers are doing. Students are expected to put off their work for a dorm activity or do their work on the bleachers during dodgeball while the game and loud music distract them. While some students came to Milton excited to be a part of the dorm life, others are more focused on the education. As one poll respondent put it, “I came here to get an education not to pretend these people are my friends for 30 mins.”
Though dorm life has its problems, there’s always a chance for change, as seen with the recent changes to the Chapel program. The general opinion about Chapel seems to be unfavorable. Many students grumble about it and enjoy Chapel only for the opportunity to take pictures with friends afterwards. This year, however, opinions have shifted with Chapel’s new changes. Chapel used to run every Sunday. Now, however, it runs only once a month. Instead of having clubs or selected speakers running them, Ms. Debuhr sends out an email listing a question for us to all think about, and students have the option as to whether to speak or perform during those thirty minutes. Students generally prefer not being forced to make up a speech because their club was chosen to lead that specific Chapel.
There are a multitude of dorm activities at Milton Academy, and each one comes with its flaws and benefits. Milton’s boarding community has a range of students with different personalities and standards for what’s considered “fun.” Students who are unhappy with dorm activities can reach out to their dorm monitors, whose goal is to try to make Milton’s boarding life as positive an experience as possible.