Meet Beaver student Dom Culbreath '28 - Beaver Country Day School

What is life like as a Beaver student? We interviewed several students across all grades—from middle school to senior year—to get a peek into the Beaver student experience. Below you’ll hear from Dom Culbreath—a rising sophmore. Dom shares how he found community at Beaver through shared interests, his favorite school events, and all of his Beaver favorites.

The first day of 9th grade can be intimidating. What were you nervous about, and how did you overcome it?
I had been at my old school since second grade, so coming to Beaver was a big change! I was nervous about meeting new people and learning a whole new school. What helped was that I went to Springfest the spring before and met a few people there, and I also went to a Students of Color meeting before school started. So I knew a few faces on day one—but not many! After that first week, I had already made new friends. Everyone was really nice and welcoming.

What activities helped you find community and feel like you belonged?
Tech Theater was a big one for me. Being in a space with people who have the same interests makes it easy to connect. I’ve also been part of Car Club and I go to affinity group meetings. School events like Harvestfest and Dam Day are really fun too—they help you meet new people and feel like part of the community. Honestly, you shouldn’t be nervous about finding friends here. There’s always going to be someone who shares your interests.

What would you say is the best part of Beaver?
The people. Everyone is super nice. The teachers are so supportive and always there to help.There are a lot of spaces, like advisory, where you can ask questions and get to know people.

Could you share a bit about a teacher who has made an impact on your experience?
Yes, my advisor, Ms. Garcia. I remember meeting her at the Student/Parent/Advisor Meetings before the first day of school, and she was so nice and so helpful and really helped me get to know Beaver. I never felt lost because I knew she was there if I needed anything.

What was the highlight of your 9th-grade year?
The semi-formal a! It was at the end of the year, and I went with a bunch of friends. It felt like a celebration of everything we’d done and how far we’d come.

Time for some rapid-fire questions!