I am new to Brown this year. When I was applying for Brown, there were certain things I had to do: fill out a form, get teacher recommendations, go through an interview with Brown APs Bryan Garret and Amy Thorton. When I arrived for the interview, I was surprised at how nice the staff was. They welcomed me and asked how I was and were just accepting in general. The students at Brown were also friendly and welcoming. I made lots of friends the first day of school and even before school started.

I interviewed six people that were new students to Brown this year, and these are the questions I asked: 

“How did you feel about calling your teachers by their first names?”

“How did you feel about switching schools?”

“How was it attending a K-12 school?” 

“Did it take you time to adjust to Brown?”

The students I interviewed are Kenley Herrington (10), Carlos Rodriguez (10), Samra Halilovic (9), Jermaine Bentley (9), and Sophia Levi (9).

Kenley Harrigton said that it was weird for her to call her teachers by their first names. She was also nervous about switching schools. It took her time to adjust to Brown but  she didn't have trouble fitting in. From my experience, I honestly liked calling teachers by their first names but only some teachers. It felt good switching schools because I was excited for Brown. It didn't really take time for me to adjust to Brown, and I didn’t have any trouble whatsoever fitting in; I've met lots of new people here, and it's been a very welcoming experience.

Sophia Levi said that she likes calling her teachers by their first names. She liked switching schools because of the change. She says it is fun going to school with little kids. It didn't take time to adjust to Brown and that she did not have any trouble fitting in, just figuring out her locker. Jermaine Bentley likes calling teachers by their first names, but it depends on the teacher. It was fine switching schools for him. He said he didn't mind going to a K-12 school. It did take him a little time to adjust to Brown. He didn't have any trouble fitting in, and what he likes about Brown the most is that we get out before 3:00.

Carlos Rodriguez said it isn't bad, but it is interesting to call teachers by their first names. He said he's used to switching schools because he has a lot but already knowing people here made it a lot easier to get used to. He said it's alright going to a K-12 school, and it didn't really take him time to adjust to Brown. Samra Halilovic says she didn't mind calling her teachers by their first names. She felt good switching schools and liked going to a K-12 school because she likes spending time with little ones. It didn't take her any time to adjust and fit into Brown. She likes meeting new people and friends the most.

Then we went deeper into their experience.

I asked:

“Brown is a self-directed learning magnet, do you feel like you are being self-directed in your learning? 

“How is Brown different from the last school you attended?” 

“What is the most important thing you learned or skill you developed thus far this year?  “What is your most positive experience at Brown, thus far?”

Kenley Herrigton said her most positive experience at Brown was meeting new people. She said she is feeling like she is being self-directed in her learning. She experiences it the most in math and world history. Brown is different from her last school because we call teachers by their first names. The most important thing or skill she learned this year was taking time out of her day to study because at her old school, the work was so easy she didn't have to study to get an A. Carlos Rodriguez said his most positive experience at Brown so far is his soccer season with the Brown team.  He said he isn't being self-directed because he needs to be more responsible with his work. He also said Brown is different from his old school because the work is harder, but he learns more. The most important thing he learned revolves around developing his writing skills.

Samra Halilovic said her most positive experience at Brown so far was having fun and making friends. She does think she is being self-directed in her classes and she said Brown is different from her old school because we each get help individually. The most important thing she learned this year was many skills for different things like becoming a better writer and editor. Jermaine Bentley said his most positive experience at Brown so far was field day. He said he does feel self directed because when the teacher is done explaining what to do, he focuses on his work and gets it done. He said Brown is different from his old school because there's more grade levels. The most important thing he learned was time management, making sure all of his assignments are accounted for and on time.

Sophia Levi said her most positive experience at Brown so far was all the friends she made. She said she does feel very self directed and the class that she feels most self directed in geometry with Andrew Gray. She said the Brown school is very different from her last school because she went to a Catholic school, so the Catholic religion was very involved in the teachings. The most important thing she learned so far this year at Brown is to be accepting because everyone is important.

In my 4 months here, I've had a wonderful experience, and I've learned a lot. I'm being pushed here by getting harder work than I'm used to and by needing to study more than I ever did before. I'm realizing that I am capable of doing more than I thought I could. Brown emphasizes a safe environment and safe learning space. The students at Brown are very kind and welcoming. I've made lots of friends here at Brown, and I enjoy it very much.

“Businesses are the backbone of an economy..” according to Adam Hayes, who has 15+ years senior experience as a derivatives trader and private wealth manager on the prestigious and well known Wall Street. While businesses are well known as a firm contender to our country’s economy, have you ever stopped to think about the people behind them? When asked about who’s behind the businesses of America, many would imagine a big, powerful businessman or woman with a heavy briefcase full of plans from weeks before to the future, upcoming weeks. But what if you were to find out that at least 6%  of small business owners, by 2024, were 34 years or younger. According to this statistic, a number of those businesses are owned by Americans 18 years or younger, bringing to light the younger entrepreneurs of America, of Kentucky, of our city and of our school.

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

All Brown School Students: Are you a young entrepreneur? Do you/ Did you have a business ?Do you wanna get featured in the Brown School Newspaper? If you do, then feel free to fill out this form for potential interview questions and chance to have your business experience or potential experience to be featured! Remember there’s no age limit to success!

https://forms.gle/XAW48nUxpkT2Rd8s5