Groton has a 5+1 course load, so you can take up to five academic courses and an art class. This policy makes it so you aren’t forced to choose between taking an art and academic course. Without it, I’m not sure I would have found myself down in the Woodshop each week.

I am making a Shaker hall table with three drawers. After a lot of sawing, sanding, chiseling, and mortising, I have finished gluing up the legs and side pieces that make up the base of the table. After Winter Break, I will work on adding the drawers and the top. There are no nails or anything of that sort in my table. Mr. Benedict, our shop teacher, has made sure of that. His motto for the Woodshop is “Work hard and be nice to people.” The working hard part of that motto entails a focus on craftsmanship and attention to detail rather than speed.

Over the course of this year, the Woodshop has become a haven for me. Mr. Benedict always has music playing, and I have great conversations with friends as we chisel away. Somedays, Mr. Benedict brings in his dog, Stella, or a box of Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins. It is the perfect Saturday morning class.