“What I was looking for in the post-graduate year was another year of academic and athletic challenge. I was looking to better myself in both those areas, and by choosing Loomis I have been able to do that.”

We recently caught up with Rowyn Nurry, who is spending a post-graduate year on the Island. He has immersed himself in various activities and says he loves how hands-on the academic experience is at Loomis Chaffee. Also, blueberries, an orca, LeBron James, Steve Jobs, Denzel Washington, staying in the moment, and the Korean dish bibimbap made their way into the conversation.

Year: Post-graduate (PG)

Hometown: Kennett Square, Pa.

Activities: Varsity lacrosse, PG representative on Student Council, member of Loomis Chaffee Athletic Association (LCAA), taking beginning piano

What has your PG experience been like? “It has been great. What I was looking for in the post-graduate year was another year of academic and athletic challenge. I was looking to better myself in both those areas, and by choosing Loomis I have been able to do that.”

Why Loomis? He said he visited several boarding schools. “What hit home was when I was walking around the quad. The student life spoke out the most. Everyone had a smile, and they didn’t seem forced. ... Walking by students, looking in the dining hall, it just spoke to me the most rather than the other schools.”

How long have you been playing lacrosse? “A long time. I think my dad put a stick in my hands when I was 2.”

What is it about the sport that you enjoy? “The intricacies of the game, the technique behind it, the work involved to get better at the sport.”

Is there a course or an assignment that sticks out in your mind? A project called “Lincoln’s cabinet” for Positive Psychology. We had to pick up to five people we could rely on for important decisions in our life, and we had to present that to the class. Doing that project made me realize the people I look up to and surround myself with.” He said he chose Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, basketball great LeBron James, his mom, his dad, and his brother. LeBron, he said, is his favorite athlete ever. He said he has listened to some talks by Jobs and just bought Jobs’s autobiography. “He preaches doing what you love and doing that well. And that’s what I want to do in my future — something I love — and not something that means nothing to me.”

On his academic experience: “I love the teaching structure; there is so much hands-on rather than just giving assignments, ... and the teachers are very engaging.” He talked about connecting with teachers, using the whiteboard in math as a learning tool, and the amount of reading in English. “I never was a big reader, but I just ordered a bunch of new books. I read before I go to bed, and I think that is because I have found a different joy in reading through the curriculum.”

Favorite meal at home: “My dad makes a really good bibimbap I like a lot, and my mom makes really good spaghetti and meatballs.” Bibimbap is a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with vegetables and meat in a sauce.

Favorite snack: “Fruit. I eat a lot of fruit and really like blueberries to munch on, and in season I love mangos.”

If you could have any exotic pet, what would it be? “Is there a size limit? If I could — but I wouldn’t want it to be in captivity — an orca. They’re really cool, and obviously you can’t have one as a pet, but I’m fascinated by them and how they rule the sea.”

If there was one thing about the world you could change, what would it be? “Screen time. Everyone is on their phone way too much nowadays. I wish more people were in the moment rather than on the phone.”

Is there a moment that changed you? “I saw this one quote from Denzel Washington [from a motivational speech by the actor]. He talks about eventually in your life you’ll be on your deathbed, and you’ll be thinking about your life. You don’t want your life to be about what you could have done, ... and that made me think about taking the risk in front of you ... so when your life is coming to an end, you don’t look back with regret but with fulfillment because you have taken that risk.”