A Level Programme

“I stepped into 55 Main as a shy, timid girl in Prep class, who wouldn’t say a word, and slowly entered O Levels as a more outgoing person, with many interests, but little focus. It was the two years of A Levels where the school aided me in making my passions, goals and qualities concrete. 55 Main led me towards realizing the core of what I want my academic present and future to look like.

After the rocky beginning of A Levels, amidst a global pandemic, and inner lack of direction and confidence, the Education Advisers at 55 brought me back to my focal point-my passions. They encouraged me to take Urdu as a fourth subject, a language I was extremely fond of but too under-confident to test myself in. They brought structure to my many different ideas for college essays and applications, while giving me the breathing room to express my creativity.

As the Editor-in-Chief of our magazine, I learnt that 55 Main takes your interests seriously, while not letting it compromise your academics. I worked on our magazine, I took part in our plays, while also, with the help of our faculty and advisors, stayed consistent with my classes and tests.

The faculty and advisors prioritised my well-being and aspirations before anything else, always. To me, a good school provides you with facilities, resources and avenues for your academic future, however, a great school, such as 55 Main, provides you with all that, and cares about you too. 55 Main cared about me, and has helped me to become who I am today. “

“Everyone tells you the jump from O to A Levels is a big one, that however difficult you think it’s going to be; you should double it. Despite the warnings though, you don’t quite understand what they mean until you experience it firsthand.

With the growing burden of coursework, plus the seemingly insurmountable task of college applications, to say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. However, the support system 55 Main provided made the entire process much easier.

I knew I could rely on the education advisors for any queries or concerns I had about the application process from choosing the colleges to apply to, to deciding a topic for my essay. With all the uncertainty surrounding my A Level result because of COVID-19, their prompt replies to my panic-riddled emails were a source of great comfort.

55 Main is home. It’s where the people who I feel most comfortable around are, it’s where I can find my way to all my classes blindfolded because I’m that familiar with it, and it’s the place that has helped mould me into who I am.

College may or may not be starting this September because of the pandemic, but I know whenever it does, even though I’ll be nervous going into a new environment, all I need to do is draw on what 55 Main has taught me and I’ll be okay.“

“ Being here since fourth grade, I have had a lot of time at 55 Main, time in which, looking back, only one thing has been permanent: change. Surrounded by teachers and students, who have inspired me with their life experiences, their ideas, and their actions, 55 Main has inspired change. It has prepared us, to be open minded, accepting, and powerful, even if it’s in the smallest of actions. It has inspired me to want to be a driving force for the changes I want to see and has instilled the confidence in me, that without a doubt, I will be able to do it.

This confidence is a result of the encouragement to try new things and the school’s effort to make those opportunities available to us. A focus on academics with a desire for students to be more than their studies is what made it possible for so many of us to be successful in our college application journeys.
Juggling head-girl duties with the academic rigor of the A Levels during college application season was only made manageable through regular visits to the advising office. The advisers’ invaluable advice came with the freedom to shape my application how I wished. How and when to take the SAT, how to begin my college essay, reviewing those many drafts, building a college list, helping build your activities list and even lending emotional support and comfort are all ways in which my advisers helped me.

At 55 Main, our futures are prioritized, and it has been a privilege to be able to experience it.“