How I Built My Boarding School Home Away From Home

Peddie students like tour guide Erin (left) find the sometimes calm, usually fun, but always friendly boarding school life rewarding — especially over a shared slice of pizza (and especially on Decades Day, when the ’80s make a comeback!).

With carloads of Ikea bags waiting to be unpacked, a surge of excitement hit me as I walked onto campus for the first time. As someone with no prior experience living away from home, I had no idea what being a boarding student at Peddie truly entailed during my initial move-in. My nerves were just as tangible as my anticipation. 

My first week in the dorms, however, soothed my anxiety almost immediately. POCO (orientation) games and dorm programming nights that consisted of board games, snacks and meeting my peers allowed me to make connections that continue to thrive today. These same friendships have guided me through navigating homesickness and other various roadblocks throughout the past three years. At Peddie, my friends have become my most immediate family.

Our “family dinners,” as we like to call them, are often hosted at our table in the dining hall, but sometimes also at the Hightstown Diner or Mannino’s Pizzeria (Pro-tip: the Godfather is the best slice). This has quickly become one of my favorite parts of boarding, where laughter, conversation and food is the only agenda. Of course, I could never say no to a round of spikeball on center campus after.

Returning home to my dorm room at night is also something I have come to look forward to during the school year. Here, “Peanuts” pillows, warm lights and a sofa bed have truly made our space feel like a home (my roommate and I pride ourselves on our curation). These connections and spaces, alongside having a group of amazing dorm parents and faculty members that I always turn to for advice, have made my adjustment period feel fleeting. 

But like anyone else, I also enjoy having some time to myself. The studios in the arts center and the quiet floor in the library have become that haven for me. They allow me to unwind and reflect alone, which sometimes is exactly what I need.

Over the past three years, Peddie has transformed from a new, exciting environment to my true home away from home. Now, whenever breaks take me away, I even find myself missing campus life — more specifically, the laughter-filled evenings in the dorms, the lighthearted chats with friends over shared meals and the heartwarming greetings as I walk across campus.

Curious what Peddie’s like day-to-day? Schedule a visit.