Mr. Ryan Liese joined MBS as Head of Upper School in the fall of 2020 as a “freshman” with this year’s graduating class. This year marks his fourth year at MBS, making his “graduation” this spring with the Class of 2024. In celebration of his four years at MBS, Crimson Sun asked Liese to reflect upon his high school experiences.
How do you feel as a graduating senior in the Class of 2024?
It’s a little weird to think that I’ve been here for four years, I still remember the first meeting that we had as a class and you guys were happy to be here but also nervous and just all masks and eyeballs. That day I just kept thinking I can’t even imagine this class graduating. At that point I just couldn’t see the future, it was like every day was ‘let’s just get to school,’ so to be at this point now is a little surreal, but it’s exciting and I’m so very excited for it.
What has been your favorite memory so far over the past four years?
That’s a really good question, it’s hard to pinpoint one thing. This senior class has probably had more opportunities to get to know my personality and see me in informal moments more than most classes, and they have definitely shared their personalities with me without much of a filter! Additionally, there have been some moments in assemblies that I have loved in terms of our class representation and participation. I did, unfortunately, miss Micah [Leibowitz] doing the Family Feud thing, but there have been some times when Ethan [Levy] has gone up and talked, or Micah a couple of times where it has been enjoyable. Seeing you guys have fun with each other has been so amazing.
What are you looking forward to in the next few years in grad school?
After graduation, well, you know, every year is a little bit different, I don’t have a college choice yet, and I don’t know where I’m going yet so I may have to do a post-grad year here, you never know, we will see. It will be strange not to have this group that has been together and that has been a class for so long. Every year, graduation is very strange. I actually don’t like graduation because it’s like saying goodbye to these people you’ve known for a while and you guys have known each other even longer. I’m just gonna have to play it by ear for post-graduation.
What advice would you give to the upcoming graduating class/Lessons you have learned as a senior?
It will go by very very quickly. At the beginning of the year, especially with the college admissions process, everything seems to kind of fly by really quickly. Basically, enjoy each moment and opportunity you have to celebrate together and have unique experiences as a group, because even though there are a lot of those moments during the year and still to come, you want to appreciate them in the moment rather than look back on them as a vague memory. So yeah, just take a breath, take your time, and spend time doing things you like with the people you like doing them with.
What is your favorite part about being Head of the Upper School?
My favorite part would have to be watching the journey that students have over four years and then reliving it at graduation. At graduation, when I am sitting there and listening to the names being read, I will remember the first interaction I had with someone when they were in 9th grade and then watch them walk across that stage, not physically, but as a person who is the same as I remember them when I first met them. Seeing kids who I remember in 9th grade, who thought they were going to do x and y, but ended up doing something completely different, and are extremely happy with it. It’s sort of like watching the journey for the four years, it is like I’m watching them in 9th grade walk across the stage, grab the diploma, and then they’re gone.
