by Matt Witten
Production Chief
Lifers. If you aren’t one yourself, I’m sure you have at least a few friends who have called Paideia home for their entire academic lives. Yet to escape the “Paideia Bubble,” they have never called a teacher by their last name, never stepped foot into a cafeteria and couldn’t imagine a school where everyone’s feet are fully covered.
As a self-proclaimed “new gen” on Paideia’s campus (I arrived in ninth grade), I have conducted a lot of personal research in my almost four years at the school, and I have found a shocking pattern: lifers tend to have a certain “vibe” to them, whether they care to admit it or not.
Maybe it stems from collective memories of Paideia junior high, or maybe it’s the fact that they get to take an academic class all about the art of backgammon. Either way, it’s abundantly clear if someone has been born and raised solely within the “walls” of our school.
Take Andrew Pickel for example. He has an indistinguishable “lifer energy” to him. A vibe that tells people “I don’t get out much.” And to me, that sums up how I view lifers on Paideia’s campus.
by Andrew Pickel
Photo Editor
As a person who has happily spent their entire school life at Paideia, I can confidently say I have a better understanding of the school and a stronger connection to the community. I may have become accustomed to the unorthodox ways of Paideia; however, there is no evidence to prove that I could not easily adapt to a different environment.
Having spent 12 years at Paideia, I can confidently say there is not a single teacher I do not know to some extent, regardless of whether I had their class or not. I have been able to see the people around me alongside the identity of Paideia change in real time, giving me a deep insight into the students and staff who have spent this time with me throughout my years. This depth of understanding is not something that can be experienced by a “new-gen,” especially someone like Matt.
You can’t replicate the passage of time and the experience that comes from it. This time forms deep memories that can be commonly shared with the people you have grown up with. These shared experiences give a strong sense of shared identity within the Paideia community. A shared identity makes the community feel much more connected and safe with one another, which is a feeling that simply just can be accomplished if you haven’t been here your whole life.
