Every year, new students arrive at North High from different schools, states, and even countries. For transfer students, adjusting to a new environment can be challenging—but it can also open the door to new opportunities. Junior Lindsey Stoller and Senior Tony Ping both came to North High from very different places, but they have found their own ways to connect to the school
community. Lindsey Stoller moved to Great Neck from Nebraska and quickly noticed major differences between North High and her previous school. One of the first things she appreciated was the wide range of academic options.
“I like that we have so many class choices and flexibility in our schedules,” junior Lindsay Stoller said.
In particular, she enjoys the Community School program and the access to resources and technology that North High provides. Stoller also values the variety of extracurricular activities available. At her old school, opportunities were more limited. At North High, she is deeply involved—she is a cheerleader at basketball games, vice president of the theatre company, a trumpet section leader in band, and a member of choir. The large number of clubs and activities helped her feel more connected after transferring.
Still, not everything about North High feels like an improvement. Stoller noted that her previous school used Chromebooks instead of laptops, which she believes worked better. She also came from a school almost twice the size of North High, with a strong football culture, homecoming dances,
and frequent sports events.
“North doesn’t have the same school spirit,” junior Lindsay Stoller said. “There’s less unity overall. Battle really brings everyone together,” claiming that it is her favorite school event.
One exception, she said, is Battle of the Classes, an annual competition where grades face off in events like tug-of-war.
She also enjoyed North’s newer traditions, such as the winter homecoming and spirit week. Overall, she describes her experience at North High as positive, especially because of Community School and the opportunities she’s been given.
Tony Ping’s travel to North High was even more of a distance. He moved from Beijing at the end of his freshman year after his family decided to settle in New York. Ping had visited several US cities, including San Francisco and Honolulu, before choosing New York for its culture, diversity, and strong public schools. Before transferring, Ping attended a British international school in Beijing. He says the biggest difference between his old school and North is the level of self-expression.
“People are more dormant over there, not as self-expressive,” senior Tony Ping said.
According to Ping, the collective mindset in China discouraged individualism, while American schools encourage students to stand out and find their voices. At North High, Ping has embraced that freedom. He is now the elected School Speaker and enjoys being part of a more open and expressive community.
“Here, I’ve learned so much about different backgrounds and perspectives,” senior Tony Ping said.
Ping also appreciates American school traditions that didn’t exist in Beijing, such as prom and pep rallies. However, like Stoller, he finds Battle of the Classes to be the most unique event at North High.
“Battle is something special,” senior Tony Ping said. “It’s not something you see anywhere else.”
Although Lindsey Stoller and Tony Ping came to Great Neck North from completely different worlds, both have found ways to grow and adapt. Their experiences show that while transferring schools can be difficult, it can also lead to new friendships, opportunities, and perspectives. For students arriving from near or far, North High has become a place where they can begin to feel at home.
