“Class dismissed.” A thought flashes: Which dining hall should I go to?

When we opened the map app for directions on our phones, they were difficult because these apps originally regurgitated blurry images of our destination. Now we can see our destinations in sharp detail: colorful gardens and newly renovated buildings. There is no mistaking where we are headed now. This innovation, AlphaEarth Foundations, is Google’s artificial intelligence research laboratory, created by Google DeepMind.

When we opened the map app for directions on our phones, they were difficult because these apps originally regurgitated blurry images of our destination. Now we can see our destinations in sharp detail: colorful gardens and newly renovated buildings. There is no mistaking where we are headed now. This innovation, AlphaEarth Foundations, is Google’s artificial intelligence research laboratory, created by Google DeepMind. The project originated in July 2025 as part of the Google Earth AI initiative. According to Google DeepMind, the project “accurately and efficiently characterizes the planet’s entire terrestrial land and coastal waters by integrating huge amounts of Earth observation data into a unified digital representation, or ‘embedding,’ that computer systems can easily process.”

As a tradition that dates back over 2000 years, Halloween has found its way into Exeter’s culture as one of the most exciting events of the year. When fall term comes to an end, students have a chance to enjoy the cool mid-autumn weather. They dress up as their favorite characters, twinning with friends, and trick-or-treating around town.

It was a fateful day. A day of reckoning. It was a sunny morning on Oct. 20 when I woke up to do some morning work. I opened Canvas, and the loading screen appeared, and continued to just circle and circle.

Listen. We play Clash of Clans. By the transitive property, that basically means we can design the optimal base, actually a town. This will be an Exeter-centric layout. First: a real boba tea shop in town. Not saying that The Juicery or Me & Ollies don’t deserve their place — but we students do need a boba shop.

Instructors in English Emily Quirk and David Rhee always have Harkness in the back of their minds. As faculty in charge of dozens of formats, emails about extensions, and a Harkness table brimming with “adding-onto-that”s, they are known for the kind spirits and powerful comments that allow them to platform students to share perspectives on a plethora of books and stories.

I opened my camera roll from 2021 to find photos of a cake shop next to my house — one that has long since closed. Next up is a photo of me and my classmates on a roller coaster at a local theme park. After that, screenshots of the SSAT and TOEFL scores that became my ticket to the life I am now living. It feels like I am scrolling through another lifetime, one that I can never return to. It’s a bittersweet feeling — that nostalgic mix of happiness and sadness at knowing, for better or worse, that we will never pass that way again. But when nostalgia kicks in and leaves us longing for something that is no longer, how do we find the way back up?

“It’s okay, you will get it next time.” When it comes from a classmate, it feels totally natural. But when it comes from the father who has been pushing you to succeed, it might feel like the world is leaving you behind, and you are free to do anything. The big pressure difference on the shoulder divides people and breaks people down.

For over seven years, Principal William K. Rawson ’71, P’08 has provided steady leadership that defined life at Phillips Exeter Academy. He constructed the pillars of the community with a focus on belonging, integrity, and unwavering dedication to non sibi in times when the Academy was learning how to heal and rebuild trust.

Phillips Exeter Academy was named after the founder of the Academy, John Phillips, as well as the town it is situated in: Exeter, NH. Despite being one of the town’s landmarks, the Academy is not the only secondary education institution in town. Located on Blue Hawk Drive, less than 5 miles away from PEA, Exeter High School serves more than 1,300 local students from the town of Exeter and the surrounding area.

Thump. Whoosh. A soccer ball cuts through the air, a group of girls pursuing it down the field to win possession. Their voices echo across the turf—commands, encouragements, and quick calls that reveal both precision and passion. At the heart of this energy lies the four girls’ varsity soccer captains.

Wack. Wack. Wack. Upon entering the squash courts, you are immediately greeted by the repetitive strikes of a squash ball against the glass wall. Squash is a decisive sport—one of patience, persistence, and grit. The sport’s devoted players are prime examples of how endurance and passion can be molded — with dedication and passion. Our new Director of Squash, Sharon Bradey, represents the very spirit of the sport.