re: Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (Natchitoches)

Threads about LSMSA are always fun to read. The perspective from people who never attended is so slanted and incorrect.

My wife and I went there from 2002-2004. Both attended LSU for undergrad. She earned a PhD and I have a Masters degree. We’re well adjusted adults with good jobs and three kids.

Sure, there were some kids who were socially awkward there. But there was also diversity that I’d not experienced being from a tiny town - people from various religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, etc. That diversity was actually welcomed for me and allowed me to learn and grow as a man.

The faculty is amazing and the academics are rigorous. Admittedly by this point, a lot of the faculty that was there when I attended has retired. But they keep top notch teaching talent there. It was a wake up call academically for me, coming from a small, rural school where I didn’t have to put forth much effort to maintain a 4.0. I had to learn to study, prioritize my time, and seek help from advisors and friends.

Back when I was there, we were allowed to participate in sports at St Mary’s or at Natchitoches Central. My wife swam for Natchitoches Central. At that time, LSMSA had a rowing team and participated with NSU’s rowing team, which was awesome experience.

Back then, we had 10:00PM curfew on weeknights and 12:00AM curfew on Friday and Saturday nights. Looking back, that feels like a lot of freedom for juniors and seniors in high school.

Junior year, I left Friday afternoon and drove home every weekend, returning by 10:00PM on Sunday. So I really was only there Monday - Friday. I started dating my now-wife at the end of Junior year, so I stayed on campus most weekends my Senior year.

Anyway, those are my two cents in this thread. Others may have had different experiences but it’s really what you make if it. I credit LSMSA for a lot of my success and I’m thankful I met my wife there.