“My experience at ASFA would not have been complete had it not been for the dormitories. For the years that I went to ASFA, the dorms allowed me to truly call it home because of the wonderful experience I had living there. The head coordinator of the dormitories, Jason Akins, took the role of being a supervisor very seriously and many people that lived in the dormitories including myself, saw him as a paternal figure. The college student RA’s were outstanding while I attended ASFA as well, they contributed to dorm life as much as the students did. They always made an effort to hang out with the students and made sure we were doing well. While being away from home at such a young age can be a big responsibility, I found that ASFA had the proper programs set in place to make sure students succeeded while living in the dorms. For instance, optional study hall that is held every night in the library with an RA present. Study hall was very good for me, as I was easily distracted, and my grades improved significantly after coming to ASFA. When students are not studying, they can usually be found in the lounge area in the dormitories where they meet to watch TV and play games, this time was a unique bonding experience for all of the students in the dormitory. Overall, being a dorm kid at ASFA taught me that a home away from home can be found no matter how far you go as long as you have wonderful people surrounding you. I found just that at ASFA and I would not trade it for the world. “

- Hannah Deschner

"Living away from home can seem like a daunting experience at first. A new environment, many new faces, and a much smaller bed are all things that take time to adjust to after you begin living on campus. Personally, after spending my entire high school career living in ASFA’s dorms, I cannot express how it has positively shaped me into the person I am today. I think the largest impact that the dorms have had on me was facilitating some of my closest friendships. Living together with individuals from such diverse backgrounds and experiences gave me a lot of insight into different worldviews and customs. I was able to live and learn from other students on campus, and that made my experience a lot more unique. Additionally, through ASFA dorms, I was able to develop and perfect some practical skills that I still use today, particularly in college, such as time management, effectively cohabitating a living space, sharing responsibilities with a community, and most importantly in my opinion: doing your own laundry. At first the skills did not seem apparent to me, but after a semester in college, I can fully attest that I had an upper hand coming into college, after having the experience of living away from home and being able to demonstrate independency. The family bond that we share in this community is very tight knit and something that I deeply value. I remember coming in my first year feeling slightly anxious about living away from home, starting a new school, and living in a room with another new student. Immediately upon arriving, all that anxiousness was relieved as I was taken in by upperclassmen, new friends, and the wonderful Residential Advisors on campus. Our dorm director makes it a number one priority for us to feel safe at ASFA and puts forth a tremendous effort in teaching us to be well respected human beings in the real world. I could not recommend a better place to call home if you are considering living on campus. It truly has changed my life, and I am forever grateful for everything that I was able took away from here."

- Tyler Huang, class of 2017

"I actually really miss high school, mainly from living in the dorms! Having people around me that encouraged me to succeed 24 hours a day was a truly enriching experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

- Moriah Rankin, BSN, RN

"I started at ASFA when I was in the eighth grade for dance. I remember my first night in the dorms, and how nervous I was about making friends and starting the school year. That night, I met an upper-classmen dancer who was new to the school as well. We became fast friends, and she soon became like an older sister to me. Six years later, after we had diverged on our own paths, I was able to attend her wedding in southern Alabama. This friendship, and the many others that I forged while living in the ASFA dorms have upheld the barriers of distance and time. In my five years at ASFA, the dorm community soon became my second family, as we baked together in the dorm kitchen, watched movies in the co-ed lounge, had water balloon fights in the courtyard, and helped each other complete our school and specialty demands. Living in the ASFA dorms taught me to be independent and supportive: qualities that have proven to be essential in the University setting. I couldn’t have asked for a better high school experience.”

- Hannah LeComte

"Dorming at ASFA was a life changing experience for me. Life away from home gave me the opportunity to focus on my art and my studies while building discipline and developing a sense of independence. I felt considerably more prepared to be on my own in college as a result. I know many potential dorm student are probably apprehensive about being away from home, probably for the first time. I felt that way at first, too. The community that Mr. Akins has created was a second family to me, and the dorm was a home away from home. To this day, I have not had closer friends than those I had in the dorm at ASFA. I had the same roommate for 3 years, and we even roomed together for a while in college. Every so often, I run into old friends from the dorm, and it seems like no time has passed since we were eating dinner together and playing ultimate frisbee in the yard. There is something special about being an ASFA student and graduate, and being a former dorm student gives me an abundance of pride. I hope many others will be able to enjoy dorm life and find the experience as fulfilling and valuable as I have."

- Aaron Brower

"Living in a dormitory four years before I went off to college was a wonderful learning experience. I personally learned how to work with other people that were not a part of my family, but these people became my family. I learned from great residential assistants and adults around the dormitory that helped me become the best version of myself. Living in the dormitory in high school also gave me great opportunities. I was able to get summer jobs as a camp counselor and travel abroad. For example, this past summer I was hired as a residential assistant by Carnegie Hall to tour with their program, National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2). I am truly thankful for the opportunities and life lessons I have learned from my authorities and peers while living in the dorms at ASFA."

- Cody Chang