Roxbury Latin takes pride in its Renaissance men

John Eliot, after whom the Eliot Church in Roxbury is named and who preached for many years at the First Church in the square that bears his name, founded The Roxbury Latin School in 1645 “to fit [students] for public service both in church and commonwealth in succeeding ages.” He believed that, whatever a man’s profession, the thrust of that man’s life should be “public service.” He hoped to instill in students a desire to live serious lives of noble purpose characterized by a concern and respect for others. The Founder’s statement may have been written 367 years ago, but it still expresses Roxbury Latin’s mission today.

With fewer than 300 boys in grades 7-12, The Roxbury Latin School, located in West Roxbury (an easy 10-minute commute from Forest Hills), is a small school that strives to prepare its students not only for college, but also—more importantly—for life. It is hard for boys at Roxbury Latin to “fall through the cracks” because we pride ourselves on knowing and loving every boy. While formal structures (such as our advisor system) guarantee that a boy will be guided by an adult, it is the smallness of the School community that ensures that many faculty and staff will know and care about a boy.

At Roxbury Latin, there are a number of extracurricular activities that expand and challenge the abilities of our students. We offer programs in sports, music, drama, community service, public speaking, debate, Model United Nations and School publications. Our boys possess richly diverse talents and do not confine themselves to only one or two extracurricular activities. They observe their peers engaged in many commitments, and they benefit from this positive example as it inspires them to try new things and often to discover a passion for an activity that, previously, they never would have expected to enjoy.

One boy, Khalif Mitchell of Hyde Park, who is now beginning his senior year, has taken full advantage of the numerous academic and extracurricular opportunities at Roxbury Latin. Since his arrival as a seventh grader, Khalif has been a strong student, taking a demanding course load of honors and Advanced Placement classes. Last spring, he earned an excellent score (4) on both the Computer Science and English Literature AP Exams, and he is currently taking two other AP courses (Calculus and Music Theory). He also is one of only 1,600 African Americans in the country who has qualified as a semifinalist for the National Achievement Competition, which recognizes the highest test performers on the 2011 PSAT/NMSQT.  

Khalif came to Roxbury Latin because he wanted a greater academic challenge, and he believed that the School’s learning environment would force him to become a more proactive student. He admits that even though it took him a little while to get used to the increased rigor, he always felt supported by his teachers. Khalif stresses the importance of his teachers in his academic and personal development, noting, “I have had some tough stretches. For example, in the middle of my junior year I was having a hard time finding success, but my teachers helped me get through those bumps. It means a lot when teachers know you and care.” Since he has received such support, Khalif, in turn, has worked hard to meet and exceed the expectations of his teachers.

In addition to the positive mentoring of the adults in the community, Khalif believes that the atmosphere in an all-boys school allows boys to be themselves and is conducive to their learning. He speaks in an excited tone about his engagement in class on a daily basis, saying, “There is a casual, but focused style, so it is a great environment for boys. The teachers can cater to what boys need and they get all the students talking, thinking  and contributing to class.”

In particular, he has developed a love of art and computer science during his time at the School and wants to pursue them jointly in college. He hopes to attend a school that focuses on those subject areas, such as Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Northeastern University or Rochester Institute of Technology.

Beyond the classroom, Khalif has been a star contributor in both the arts and athletics. He has adopted the School’s philosophy of “creating Renaissance men.” He is a starting tailback and defensive back on the varsity football team, of which he has been a part for the past three years. He has also been a four-year member and is the captain elect of the varsity track team, which won an Independent School League championship and two New England titles in the last three years. He ran the first leg on the 4x100m relay team, which set a New England record last season, and was a New England silver medalist in the 300m intermediate hurdles, 400m and 4x400m relay. Outside of the athletic realm, Khalif sings in the chorus and recently earned a spot in the School’s highly selective a cappella group.

Finally, Khalif acts as a tour guide for the Admission Office, works behind the scenes on the tech crew for the spring musical, and leads Botball, an extracurricular activity in which students design and build robots for a regional competition. He truly is a Renaissance man. He has grown as a person by being encouraged to push himself to excel in many areas of school life.

It is clear that Khalif has benefited from his Roxbury Latin experience and has given back much to the community. His generosity of spirit extends beyond the halls of Roxbury Latin, as he volunteers in his hometown community as a coach for his former Pop Warner football team, the Hyde Park Cowboys. This service speaks volumes about Khalif’s character, as does his previous summer work experience at the Museum of Fine Arts, where he was involved in outreach to teen organizations.

His devotion to a range of school and community activities is actually common among boys at Roxbury Latin. The School’s culture of participation helps boys realize that there is more to life than one’s own pursuits. Our students are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of life, because they understand and embrace the words etched into a frieze in our dining hall: “From those to whom much has been given, much will be expected.” Khalif Mitchell is an excellent example of the motivated and selfless boys, drawn from all over Boston, who proudly belong to the Roxbury Latin community.

If you would like to learn more about Roxbury Latin, please visit our website (www.roxburylatin.org), email the Admission Office at admission@roxburylatin.org, or call that office at 617.325.4920.