Blue Key Heads lead the class of 2025 in a chant, along with the 25 hand sign.
Cheers erupted from Andover’s Class of 2025, accompanying student and faculty speeches to welcome the Andover community back to school during the first All-School Meeting (ASM) of the 2024-25 school year. The first ASM, held on September 13, commenced the new format of biweekly All-School Meetings.
Throughout speeches, references made to the number “25” were received by shouts, raised fists, and the Senior Class sign XXV on the hands of members of the Class of ’25. For Patrick Xu ’27, the emphatic start to the ASM set a lively atmosphere that lasted throughout.
“[The ASM] was very vibrant and the energy was definitely there. It’s a great showing for the new students that we have spirit at Andover… I think with the flag procession, the organ, and Drumline, everyone was really hyped for the entire ASM. That strong beginning I think is what carried a lot of people through the rest of the speeches,” said Xu.
In their first address since being elected, 2024-2025 Student Body Co-Presidents Nate Liang ’25 and Saraya Angbazo ’25 offered advice to each class in their opening speech. Samantha Gong ’28 noted the relatability of Liang and Angbazo’s talk, specifically appreciating how their status as students helped her feel more comfortable with starting at Andover.
“Being a Junior here, at such a prestigious school, is really nerve-wracking. I think Nate and Saraya giving such a light-hearted speech on advice itself made it feel more chill. I feel like [the fact that] it’s not a teacher giving the speech made the advice a bit more useful. They lived through it, so we can live through it,” said Gong.
Tasha Bohorad ’26 appreciated the knowledge shared with the community, acknowledging how each speaker played a crucial role in each year’s first ASM.
“Nate and Saraya were great speakers. They always bring the energy and… they were very confident. Dean [Susan] Esty, [Dean of Students and Residential Life], and [Head of School] Dr. [Raynard] Kington gave concise, relatable speeches. It wasn’t things we’d heard before, people could really listen and concentrate on it. The international speech that they do every year is really interesting,” said Bohorad.
For Jaylen Daley ’25, the moment was filled with energy and pride. Daley, one of the ten Blue Key Heads for the 2024-2025 school year, elaborated on how his duties as a Blue Key Head intersected with the personal components he brought to the moment.
“It’s one of the moments of being a Blue Key Head that you know [is] ultimately really fun intrinsically. It was rewarding to be around my class and hype it up the way that I did. I was happy to be creative with what I brought as my prop[s] because I did bring my Jamaican and Dominican flag… I brought the pride that I wanted to bring. I didn’t think about it as an obligation to be there with so much energy, it was just super prideful,” said Daley.
Even for returning student Nisa Khairunnisa ’25, the excitement of the first ASM still came as a shock a year later. Khairunnisa spoke of her experience as a previous new international Upper, noting how her experience at the first ASM had been a pleasant surprise.
“I remember… looking at all these people chanting. All of this hyping culture… was mind blowing. When the ’24s came in and they just started chanting ‘24’ they looked like they were having so much fun. I feel like when we came back for the ASM that just shocked me because I completely forgot about that part… I was caught off guard because of just how little I’ve been thinking about it,” said Khairunnisa.
Now, as a Senior, Khairunnisa saw this year’s ASM in a new light — as a moment to reflect upon her time at Andover. Adding onto the advice given throughout the speeches, she offered her own goals for Senior year.
“It felt special and… it felt like there’s a deadline. I need to do everything now, I need to try on everything. Andover is the first place that I found the people that I really connect with. I’ve never had anyone talk about my interests so deeply before. People want to listen to what I say. If you’re somebody who appreciates passion, you’re always going to find somebody who is passionate about something. There’s always going to be a place for you in Andover,” said Khairunnisa.
