Freshman students have adjusted to The Peddie School during the fall term, settling in with their daily routines. Audrey Liu ’28 is no different, with her life filled with academics, sports and making memories with her friends. The following is a typical day in her school life on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m. “I wake up around 20 to 30 minutes before class,” Audrey said, “and do my daily morning workout – I run to class in three minutes.” Getting an adequate amount of sleep the night before school is a top priority for her to make the most out of her classes. She said that this helps her pay attention in classes, and her friends say the same.
Audrey’s favorite part of the day is the DMX period because it can help her unwind and restore some energy. Especially on days she misses breakfast, DMX can be helpful in preparing for the rest of the day. “DMX saves me,” said Audrey, “I hang out with Bestie Alice and get snacks in the library. Or I will catch up on work.” Because DMX lasts for 50 minutes and happens right after the first two classes of the day, it definitely is a welcomed period for many students, especially freshman students, when they are trying to adjust to the academic rigor Peddie offers.
After school, she heads straight to rowing practice. JV Rowing starts around 3:30 p.m. and ends around 5:45 p.m. Therefore, Tuesdays and Thursdays have more gap between school hours and practice, as 8:00 a.m. school days end at 2:45 p.m., while the 8:30 a.m. ones end at 3:15 p.m. During rowing practice, she usually runs a mile or two with her teammates around the track, often seeing the cross country and football teams as well. Then, the actual practice begins in the boathouse, where everybody works together to steer the boat forward and make quick communications in various situations.
Due to the rigor rowing practice offers, Audrey enjoys the time she has before study hall so that she can relax and unwind. Audrey enjoys food provided by PFS, but on some days she also has fun walking around Hightstown or getting a burger from Hightstown Diner. After dinner, she usually hangs out with her friends in the lounge, playing UNO or sometimes joining in a quick truth-or-dare game. During study hall, which starts at 8:00 p.m. and ends at 9:30, she said that she enjoys “listening to music” while studying because it helps her focus better. Other times, she also shows up in math centers, working on her spirals and getting help when needed.
Audrey’s day ends when lights-out happens at 10:30 p.m., and the dorm proctor of the night stops by her room to close the door and say goodnight. Then Audrey finally gets some sleep so that she can prepare for another upcoming day yet to happen. Just like Audrey, every freshman, day or boarding, is slowly making their way as a Peddie student, balancing out their studies, plays and lives just like the Peddie motto suggests. This way they are building a strong foundation, not only for the next few days to come, but for the four years that they will spend at Peddie, gradually gaining knowledge and maturing into healthy adults.
