March 13, 2025
Middle School student Ford B. shares five key things about his MPA experience, including discovering passions, finding his place here, and skills he’s built upon.
1. Everyone is super welcoming.
I joined MPA last year for my seventh-grade year. On the first day, I was afraid to make new friends, until my first class, and someone asked me to sit next to them. It instantly made me feel more at ease.
2. You can try new clubs and sports.
I had heard the Nordic team was fun, but I had never done it before. I still gave it a shot, and it’s now one of my favorite things I do. And now I’m in the school play, which I haven’t done before, but I’m giving it a shot.
3. Homework builds strong skills.
Homework here may be different from other schools, but over time, it became easier once I learned to plan out my homework load and do my best not to procrastinate.
4. Learning is experiential.
I had the opportunity to participate in Future Cities in eighth grade. It honestly was really fun and built my skills to work on a team.
5. You can be yourself and express yourself at MPA.
I realized at MPA that when I’m myself, I’m more well-liked than pretending to be someone I’m not. I made many more friends, and feel like I could get along with everyone when I am just being myself.
