Upper School (US) students say success isn’t a one-size-fits-all trophy — it’s a goal shaped by personal significance and pressure. For some, it looks like perfect grades or scoring an unforgettable first goal; for others, it’s about balance and finding their place. Success is sometimes less about chasing accolades and more about choosing what matters and makes you happy. Together, these four students shed light on how the US community defines success.

Gideon Coleman ’29

“My first goal for BB&N against Governor’s was an absolute bang. You cannot recreate that if you try. I remember it was just so hype in the moment. That’s definitely one of my prouder moments.”

Eliot Saad ’28

“A lot of times, people care a lot about what the world or other people think. Their own measure of satisfaction is heavily swayed by what their community believes in and what they think is right. The more educated you can be in making the decisions and trying to parse out what ultimately is meaningful for you is the most important.”

“Balancing grades with personal fulfillment in school means spending the amount of time where I can achieve 80 to 90% of my full potential in that class. Maybe that’s within a half grade, 3%, of what I could do if I really spent a ton of time and tried my absolute hardest. I use the rest of that time to do things that I enjoy or find meaningful.”

Gaella de Fontaine ’27

“At BB&N, success means having a well-rounded school life. It’s balancing school, required sports and activities, such as clubs. It’s really up to the person, though. They should do what they want to at BB&N. Outside of school, it’s having different interests or finding things that bring me joy, like my family and my hobbies of cooking and softball.”

Lexi Nicholas ’26

“Older people in my family have influenced my idea of success. I’ve seen the difference between someone who feels happy with a job they like and someone else who makes the most money but isn’t happy. It’s about being able to compare and contrast how people end up feeling in their lives, and that’s how I’ve made my definition of success.”

“After BB&N, I hope to end up at a college I really like. It doesn’t have to be my first choice, but I want to just be able to be happy wherever I end up. I just want to enjoy where I’m at, and it doesn’t really matter what I’m doing, as long as it’s fun and makes me happy.”