The seventh grade class welcomed a new student this year: Melinda Zhang, who traveled all the way from West Middle School this summer and washed up on the shores of Bishop Seabury.
Zhang says the reason she left West Middle School is because she “wanted to try something new because it was really hard for [her] to learn at West.” She adds, “It was time for a change, and I heard a lot of good things about Seabury … I think for learning I need it to be visual [and] someone [to teach me] one on one.” So far Zhang reports, “I really love my [classes] and my [teachers], and I’m getting to learn a lot more.” However, there is “more homework than [she’s] used to … the population here [is different].”
In school, Zhang says, “I never really liked Geography and never was really good at it, but I’m starting to really like it and get into it.” She will continue to enjoy Geography here at Seabury, but there may be no future for her in finance: “My brother’s trying to get me into it, but I don’t think so,” she says.
Outside of school Zhang has many passions: “I play the violin … I used to play piano [starting at] five, and then I quit [because] it just became too much. Then when I went to middle school, there was an orchestra there, so I just tried something new, and I really like it,” she says. Along with instruments she says, “Outside of school, I swim, and that takes most of my time … I’ve been swimming since I was 3 or 4 [years old].” She “really [likes] how everyone’s so [supportive and how] you become so close with the people that you swim with, not just on your team.”
With a busy schedule like Zhang’s, it is important to have downtime and enjoy more relaxing activities. Outside of school, she likes winding down with various activities: “I do art class [and mainly] just hanging out with my friends,” she says. One of Zhang’s good friends is her older brother. They bond, like all siblings, over food: “I love pasta. Pasta’s my comfort food … My brother makes it for me,” she says. When asked if it tastes good, Zhang replies, “I still eat it.”
Apart from her human friends, Zhang has lots of love for her two miniature goldendoodles named “Teddy [and] Jack.” While they are great, Zhang says, “I do really wanna get a Maine Coon Cat … It’s definitely something different.”
We are so excited to have Zhang here, and she says she is “[looking forward to] experiencing … the [Seabury] traditions.” And experience she will. Welcome Melinda!
