Beyond your doors, the noise would stay, Inside, I knew I’d be okay. I miss you more than words can show, More than I ever thought I’d know. If I had known our time would end, I would have stayed, I would have said, Goodbye. Thank you. I love you so. For being home when I had none to go.
I you more can More than ever I’d know. stayed, said, you. I you so. For being home when I had none to unaware, As longest hearts have come and stayed, grew, of still make me miss daylight.
But not the love that chose to So back night your door, say I then, A dear old friend.
I took you for granted, unaware, Of how much comfort lived right there. As your longest hearts have come and gone, I stayed, I grew, I carried on. So you know why this loss feels deep, Why thoughts of you still make me weep. I miss the nights, the early light, The silent peace before daylight. Now floods have washed those days away, But not the love that chose to stay. So if you’d let me back once more, Just one last night behind your door, I’d say the words I didn’t then, A proper goodnight, my dear old friend.
Love, Addie Lydon
Love, DEAR HALFORD...
DEAR HALFORD QUAD...
together
I just you I loved and that miss so much. of when first read that would be a room, I names, I
August
The times that we have spent together were immaculate. I just want you to know how much I loved you and that I miss you so much. In August of 2025, when I first read that I would be in a four-person room, I was livid. After seeing the number 304 next to four people's names, I was frozen in time. I had no clue what you looked like or if I could fit everything I needed in you. As soon as I arrived at Hebron on August 26th, I was so nervous, but as soon as I walked in, all of that melted away. Seeing you for the first time is a moment I wish I could relive forever. You were so big and had two walk-in closets, one of which I would get all to myself. You were a place I knew would feel like home.
away. Seeing you I I big and had two walk-in closets, one of which would all to You were a knew would just anyone someone to talk to or with. never all the fun times walls wether it’s laughter spent living together. space, including large in played hockey only have fun, but we also cried. who lived within arms had at least one crash out and one cry. as was sadness, were
You weren’t just home for the four of us who lived there; it was also home to anyone who needed someone to talk to or laugh with. I will never forget all the fun times in your walls wether it’s playing knee hockey in the middle of the floor or getting talked to because Charley dropped the lacrosse ball one too many times. The four walls that you had surrounding us still hold so much laughter from the semester we spent living together. You had so much space, including a large space in the middle of the floor, that’s where we played knee hockey and lacrosse. Not only did we have fun, but we also cried. Everyone who lived within your arms had at least one crash out and one good cry. As much as there was sadness, there were also memories. Some of those memories were Sharon getting ready for her last word, and everyone getting ready for HOCO and soccer.
Now, there wasn’t just crying and laughing, but there was also screaming. One of the most memorable moments in the Quad was the great scare of 2025. As Peyton, Sage, and I all left for our weekly proctor meeting, we had no clue what would be waiting for us when we got back. As I walked back in your door, I heard sniffling, which was weird because I was the first one back from the meeting, and Sharon wasn’t there. I decided to shrug it off and get ready to do homework. All of a sudden, I heard giggling coming from Peyton and Sage’s side of the room. I started to walk over there, but didn’t find anything, then I saw piercing eyes coming from under Sage’s bed. As soon as I saw there were eyes, I yelled and knew exactly who it was: Jess and Charley. Next to arrive in our room was Peyton, who was slightly scared by the two of them creepily lying under Sage’s bed. The last to come in was Sage. Sage walked right over to her bed, distracted, and stood there while talking. All of a sudden, a hand reached out and touched her foot, which made her screech and jump backward. This moment may seem like a simple scare, but what really makes it memorable was the fact that Charley and Jess laid under Sage’s bed for an entire hour waiting to scare us. Without the Quad, we never would have been able to live through the scare of 2025.
Peyton, Sage, I we had no clue what would be for us when we back. As back door, because back the and Sharon wasn’t there. decided shrug off and ready do homework. All of anything, I piercing eyes coming Sage’s I saw there were and knew who it was: and Next to arrive our room talking. All backward. This moment seem like a but what makes it memorable bed
Without the Quad, we never would have been able live through the scare of 2025.
Getting ready within your walls every morning was such a delightful experience. I never would have imagined how much fun I would have in your area with everyone who lived there and visited. The love I have for you is stronger than you can even imagine. I never imagined how connected I would be to you. This is not only a love letter to you, but also a letter of gratitude for making my first semester of junior year spectacular. The flood left you dry as a feather because of the barrier of love surrounding you.
Love, Lilliana Baldasaro (your cleanest member) in great
Getting ready your every morning delightful I how much fun would have area with who lived there and visited. The can even never a junior year you dry
DEAR HALFORD QUAD...
Just a little background
a little coming I girls reading room number, 307. texted sure that it was a mistake, and after some we was. later, we we assumption, email Peyton, I I clue how it was, what it looked like, or how new roommates were to be. my flying driving come. was to see room. had been for this moment all of walked for the first and my eyes widened. was had one roommate at the time. After the first it had started on finally got going never knew it was to miss dorm room while but the break, I missing over Christmas Break. was so to be back after a But I it, I running stairs at to get out. to I I serious this time. The teachers had told us that there was a flood and almost room
When I first logged into myHebron in August, hearing about the dorm numbers and roommates coming out, I was surprised to see four different girls all reading the same room number, 307. I texted Peyton, sure that it was a mistake, and after some late-night texting, we had agreed it was. A few days later, we decided that we needed to clarify this assumption, and after receiving an email from Mrs. Hanby, my worst fear came true. Peyton, Lilliana, Sharon, and I were all put into what would be “The Quad”. I had no clue how big it was, what it looked like, or how my new roommates were going to be. After complaining to my parents and stating, “I'm not going back to Hebron if this is true”, they told me to look on the bright side, but with me, there was no bright side. After flying up to Boston from Jacksonville, FL, and driving 3 hours to school, the time had come. I was finally going to see my room. I had been waiting for this moment all of August. I walked into it for the first time, and my eyes widened. It was HUGE! AND I had a walk-in closet? I was so thrilled! But I still would have rathered a normal room with only one roommate at the time. After the first week, it had already started growing on me. The carpet floors and the huge open space really made it feel like a home. After the first month, I loved it. Memories were starting to be made, and people were even jealous of our room. After I finally got used to it, it was break. After going to Hebron for three years, I never knew it was possible to miss my dorm room while being home, but the Quad changed that. After arriving in Florida for Thanksgiving break, I missed The Quad. I felt lonely in my own room. That's when I realized how much I loved The Quad. When I returned from break, it was a quick couple of weeks, then I went to missing The Quad again over Christmas Break. I was so happy to be back in my bed, my home, after a long Christmas break. But before I knew it, I was running down the stairs with no socks on because girls were screaming at us to get out. I was sure that somebody just forgot to add water to their mac and cheese, but once I arrived at Williams, I realized it was serious this time. The teachers had told us that there was a flood and almost every room was affected. But not The Quad. I was so thankful to hear this and figured I would get to stay in Halford. I was terribly wrong. I was packing my stuff and lugging it to Sturt before I could even blink. And now here we are. Currently writing this in my Sturt room, wishing it were in Halford.
I Currently writing in my it were Halford. you.
So. The Quad. This is for you.
Dear Quad...Read Next Page
Dear Quad,
y
a
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,
ettable. From having
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walks to the rink at 6
Even time spent together in The Quad was short, was unforgettable. From having girls squished the while rushing to get ready our soccer game, cracking Peyton's back every night, having girls hiding in the closet while Peyton, Lilliana, and were at our proctor meeting. The memories we made while The Quad were some of the best memories from time at Hebron Academy. When I was walking past Halford the day after the flood, a specific quote came to mind: “Don't sad that it ended, smile that it happened” (Dr. Sues). As of that quote, finally sank in: was never going to live The Quad again. Every day I think about it, I yearn for it. I yearn the walks back to my during my free block, and the short walks the at 6 am. Unfortunately, you were ephemeral, but the memories last with me for lifetime. You never know what have it's gone. So, the late nights, the early mornings, and everything between. will never forget “The Quad.”
will last with me for a lifetime. You never know what you have until it' s gone. So, to the late nights, the early mornings, and to everything in between. I will never forget “The Quad. ” Love, Sage
Love, Sage
DEAR HALFORD #212, JESS, TRIN, AND CHARLEY,
When I think about this year, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t the schoolwork or the routines or even the huge change of moving across the world. It’s you. It’s the three of you who turned a completely unfamiliar place into something that feels like home. I didn’t know what I was walking into when I left everything I knew behind, but somehow, I walked straight into the best people I could’ve asked for.
year, comes or you completely something I didn’t know what was into when left knew behind, but somehow, walked straight the best people could’ve asked
212 wasn’t just a dorm room; it was the beginning of everything. It was where we learned how to live together, laugh together, and survive the chaos of boarding life together. It was where we had singing parties that were way too loud for the walls to handle, where we tried to convince ourselves we were “studying” even though we spent more time laughing than doing homework, and where we whispered way too loudly during study hall, hoping we wouldn’t get sent back to our rooms. It was where we shared snacks, clothes, stories, and every random thought that popped into our heads. It was messy and loud and perfect in every way that mattered.
212 just beginning everything. were were homework, too we wouldn’t get sent back to our rooms It was where we shared every thought messy every
And even the flood took the room it didn’t take the real 212 because the real 212 space. every hallway personal runway, up even
And even though the flood took the physical room away, it didn’t take the real 212 because the real 212 was never the space. It was us. It still is us. It’s every hallway we’ve turned into our personal runway, every late-night talk that went on way longer than it should have, every moment where just being together made everything feel lighter. It’s the way we show up for each other without even thinking about it. It’s the way we’ve become a little family without ever planning to.
Charley, you bring energy laugh
our chaos, one us us okay And Trin, humor is the that holds us the spark that turns even the most something you brings something something important, something
Charley, you bring the kind of energy that fills a whole room. You’re the one who can make us laugh even when we’re exhausted or stressed or just done with the day. Jess, you’re the calm in the middle of all our chaos, the one who somehow keeps us grounded and reminds us that everything is going to be okay. And Trin, your humor is the glue that holds us together, the spark that turns even the most boring moment into something fun. Each of you brings something different, something important, something I didn’t know I needed until I had it.
I if in, friends, I anywhere But three made the transition feel less like starting over and more like starting something adjust everything:
understood, a way moment with the loud ones, the quiet ones, the ones, the ones, has become a memory carry year something unforgettable. ever
Moving to a new country was terrifying. I didn’t know if I’d fit in, or make friends, or feel like I belonged anywhere. But you three made the transition feel less like starting over and more like starting something new, something better. You helped me adjust to everything: the routines, the homesickness, the weird little challenges of dorm life, and the moments when I felt completely out of place. You made me feel understood, supported, and included in a way I didn’t expect but will always be grateful for. Every moment with you, the loud ones, the quiet ones, the silly ones, the late-night ones, has become a memory I’ll carry with me forever. You’ve turned this year into something unforgettable. You’ve turned this place into a home. And you’ve turned yourselves into the people I trust, love, and rely on more than I ever thought possible.
Thank you for being my people. Thank you for being my 212. Thank you for being the best part of every day. I love you all more than I can put into words, and I’m so lucky to call you my best friends.
day I love all more than I can put into and so to call best friends
