While most students use summer vacation to give their brains a break from the grueling school process others embrace it by attending governor’s school. Governor’s school (also known as gov school) is when you spend a couple weeks in the summer at a college campus taking classes relating to your interests.

The process to get admitted in to these schools is no easy task.

“I had to take a test on Latin Grammar and write an essay about different topics. I needed multiple forms from teachers, my counselor, and a packet and I had to fill out myself,” said junior Stuart Pratuch. “I had to go through the process twice once in freshmen year and once sophomore year because I learned freshmen can’t go to Governor’s school.”
For performing arts the process was a little different. Students were admitted based on skills and talent rather than just smarts.
“We had to fill out a packet about our previous dance experience, grades, letter of recommendation and write a short essay on why we wanted to go. The school could only send 3 dance people from our school so we had to audition on the school level first,” said senior, Madeline Diez. “Then we had a formal audition at the state level at Mary Washington College where we had to take a ballet and lyrical class and show them a solo. That was in January and we didn’t find out if we made it or not in till April so it was a very long and tedious process.”
Gov School did not get any easier after that. Students took long, hard classes with little down time.
“The highly concentrated learning was tough. We had classes for three hours for three classes a day and they packed in an abundance of information. We learned over a semester worth of ancient Greek and almost 1,000 years of art history in three weeks.” Said Pratuch.
The time spent at Gov School was not all for learning. Students did get time to relax and have some fun.
“Friday nights were the best because we had open mic nights, and being part of the visual arts program there were always singers, actors, and musicians playing.” said Diez, “They would last 3-4 hours and everyone would be so supportive.”
Overall students received many benefits from their time away from home other than just school work.
“The most rewarding part of it would be getting a preview of what college would be like,” said Diez. “I was away from my family for four weeks, had to do my laundry, get used to dining halls, and got to experience the freedom I would have at college.”