Parents of Buck '12, Austin, T.X.
- Beau & Val Armstrong
Where did you attend high school? How does EHS compare to the high school you attended?
Both Beau and I attended large public high schools in Texas. I wish I had had the opportunity to attend a school like EHS for the quality of the education, the faculty, and the facilities.
Why did you decide to consider a boarding school for Buck ’12?
Buck had attended the same Episcopal day school since first grade, and after attending his freshman year at that school, Buck knew he was ready for a change and a different experience. He looked at all of his options in Austin, but felt that what he was looking for wasn’t available here. He wanted a strong education and a great lacrosse program.
Why did you choose to send Buck to EHS?
We have friends who told us about EHS. They had a son here and a daughter at a New England boarding school. One thing they spoke so highly about was the sense of community they felt at EHS; they didn’t feel this at their daughter’s school. We liked that. However, we let Buck choose where he wanted to go to school because we believed he was capable of making the decision. He liked the size of Episcopal and the fact that it was all boarding, as well as how EHS “felt” to him. He just sensed it was the right place, and he was correct.
How has the decision to send Buck to boarding school affected his relationships with you and with his sister, Addy?
We have a much more mature relationship with Buck. I had been the one who knew what Buck had going on in school, when tests and papers were due, etc., and I spent a lot of time supporting him in that area. Well, that role was quickly taken away, and I became more of a support system for Buck than a leader of his life. Buck made really good grades at home during his freshman year, and I wondered if it was somewhat due to my support and help. I couldn’t have been more wrong; he made the same grades at EHS all on his own. It has been a blessing for his father and me to take a step back and have a much richer relationship with him. I have a great deal of respect for him and how he has handled going away to school. His sister was away at college when he left for EHS, but she remarks on how mature he has become, and they really enjoy each other and share their independent lives.
How has EHS impacted Buck’s life?
Buck has made some incredible friends. He has grown immensely and thrived in the EHS environment. I am absolutely amazed at his increased maturity and responsibility. It has been such a great experience for us all.
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