What I Wish I Knew Before Attending Avon | Boarding School Blog | About Us | Avon Old Farms

Students in Tiziana Rozzo's digital photography class took on a photojournalism project that tasked them with telling a story through images. Throughout the summer, we’ll be sharing some of those projects. Today we hear from Joachim Vogel ’26 , who captured the experience and impact of being a spectator at an Avon sporting event.

If you are about to come to Avon Old Farms, you probably think you know what to expect. You have surely already seen the fields, the uniforms, the traditions, or the special architecture shared by every building here. You won’t find any school more impressive in these aspects than this one, but what the photos don’t show you is what it actually feels like to be an Avonian.

Morning will come at you fast. If you’re lucky, the soft light will shine through your window, slowly waking you up. If not, loud footsteps or your roommate’s alarm will do that job. Waking up is truly the hardest part of the day, but for what comes afterward, it’s totally worth it. You’ll feel tired more often than not, but you’ll wake up either way because everyone else is doing the same thing beside you.

Classes here will challenge you. Practices will push you even more. Students are required to participate in at least one competitive sport here. On the field, you’ll feel pressured to perform, to improve, and to prove yourself. Succeeding here is simple—not easy, but simple. There will be moments of frustration, where you are exhausted by everything that's happening around you. You might be asking yourself if it’s all worth it, but if you push yourself and stay on track, moments where everything clicks will appear, and trust me, there's no better feeling than that.

What will surprise you the most is the people here. This school has a community anyone would be lucky to be a part of. Living in a dorm means you’re never really alone. You can build relationships and connections with anyone and about anything. I personally never had this great relationship with teachers before. Laughing after practice or just sitting together are the small things that build real connections. The “brotherhood” you hear about is real here, and no other school does it like Avon.

For this project, I interviewed my friend and teammate Leo Miranda ’26, and he shared the same opinion about the impact of the brotherhood. “There’s something different about grinding through school and practice with the same group of guys every day. The campus is beautiful and traditional, but what really makes it special is the people. You’re never really alone here,” Miranda said.

At the same time, living here isn’t always easy, and living far from home can be harder than expected. You will certainly miss simple things from home, especially in the beginning. But know that everyone faces these challenges, and it will become easier over time. These moments are also part of the experience.

But that’s what makes Avon different. It pushes you to grow and become more independent. It’s not always easy, but it’s all worth it in the end. Avon will not only show who you truly are, but it will also change you for the better.

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