The last page referenced emotive passions; today's explores obsessive passions.

In recent years, people lament that colleges don't want well-rounded kids; they want communities comprised of students with dramatic areas of passion and expertise. While the curriculum here certainly promotes the liberal arts, Proctor has long been known for its capacity to develop independent individuals, free thinkers and those who excel in highly focused domains. The passion of the adult can be contagious.

Take Jared, for example. From my perspective—seated high above Route 11—it seems that Jared is surgically attached to his mountain bike(s). Jared lives in a small single on the second floor of Carr House with three large bicycles (he’s repairing other students’ bikes), a fourth bike frame, thirty inner tubes, sprockets, chains and lots of tools.

Meryl (left, below) was born and raised in New York, but she periodically visits her many relatives in Ghana. The Language Department—long looking for a kitchen for ethic meal prep—has commandeered the old Doots’ Den kitchen, and Meryl’s French class recently prepared Recettes de Cote d’Ivoire. Here are a few of Eric Viandier’s students using mortar and pestle to mash boiled plaintains, which will be fashioned into balls called Foutou and enjoyed with a complex, spicy peanut sauce (sauce arachide).

A mature senior at a neighboring prep school—undefeated over three years of varsity golf and two-time league champion—finally met his match on Wednesday, when he lost to Mack, a 15-year old Proctor freshman who shot a torrid 36 (par) at Canterbury Woods. Goliath meets David!