Having attended Proctor Academy for four years, I have had countless interactions with Andover townspeople. It was enrolling in journalism class that gave me the push to see what kind of reputation Proctor holds in the eyes of Andover residents and to write an article. Speaking with a handful of people at Jake’s Market and Lake Sunapee Bank, I now better understand Proctor’s impact on the town of Andover.

Interviewing a few residents, three concerns kept surfacing: students crossing Route 11 safely, the crush of students in Jake’s during lunch time, and the attitude a few students display when interacting with residents.

I first talked with a woman named Melissa. She’s lived in Andover for 14 years and commented, “Students for the most part are very polite and respectful.” Her one major concern involved Route 11 and how some students don’t stop before crossing the street; they just walk across without looking.

She noted, “I always stop because I see them, but I don’t think they even think twice. Some of them do [stop] but not all of them. It’s just very scary; they are all dressed in black, and they just step out into the street.”

This is something that has been the topic of conversation in many all-school assemblies, and students are constantly reminded by faculty to stop, look, and be sure to give a friendly wave to the cars that have stopped. Almost everyone I interviewed said that students need to be more mindful when crossing the road.

Another popular topic with local residents was the chaos that students create at Jake’s during the lunch hour. I can say from experience it is like a zoo. Students are all packed inside ordering from the deli and finding food on the racks. Students are talking and laughing – it can become really loud.

When I asked Jeff, age 64 and an Andover resident for 39 years, how this lunchtime rush affects him, he said, “Sometimes when I enter Jake’s, it is full of students and it’s hard to get in the front door.”

I explained the situation to a few Jake’s employees, and they said that they try to move the students who have purchased their food out of the store to create more space. Some students recognize the issues. Michael Hovem, a two-year junior at Proctor, said, “I try to let the townspeople get around me and go first in line. They shouldn’t have to wait behind 10 Proctor kids. I also try to be as polite as possible.” Michael also wanted to tell the Andover residents, “I’m sorry for the ones [students] who are rude and disrespectful. We aren’t all like that.”

It’s important Proctor students continue to be polite to Andover residents because they do appreciate our presence in the town.

My final question was, “What would the town be without Proctor Academy?” An elderly gentleman who wished to remain anonymous replied, “Oh, it would be a very different town, certainly. I think Proctor is the heart of the town.” Another resident who has called Andover his home for more than 52 years observed, “It would be very quiet without Proctor. It’s part of the community.”

Hearing comments like that makes me happy and optimistic about Proctor’s role in Andover as it’s been my “home away from home” for four years.

Connor Hollenbaugh is a senior from Summit, New Jersey.