New London — Attempts to pinpoint objective opinions about downtown New London — and the city in general — are mostly perilous, much like trying to climb Kilimanjaro in stilettos.

The parties are divided between the snarling naysayers and the breathless cheerleaders, leaving the rest of us singing along to Stealers Wheel: “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right; Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.”

And yet here is Jack Lavorel, a human oasis, an educated young man, aspiring historian and championship soccer player at Connecticut College. Lavorel was a freshman at Conn when the Camels won the Div. III national championship. Now he’s a senior on the Camels’ latest Sweet 16 team, whose rainbow ride continues this weekend in the regionals at Mary Washington College in Virginia, another Final Four trip possible.

Lavorel spent last summer as a museum education intern at the New London County Historical Society, part of their Summer Discovery Program. He was among the city and its people as never before. Lavorel, a native of Bethesda, Md., has no agenda. He knew nothing of New London before he arrived.

Whoa. Get back, Loretta. What follows here is honest-to-goodness objectivity about the 06320.

“This was kind of a shallow thought I had, but when I first arrived in New London, I was expecting the campus of Connecticut College and New London in general to be almost preppy,” Lavorel said Wednesday. “That's also just because, coming from Bethesda, it's a very kind of preppy, private school vibe you get there. So it was a big culture shock, the multicultural, diverse atmospheres that both New London and Connecticut College offer. But I think over the years, I've kind of grasped a deeper understanding of the different facets of multiculturalism here, and it's something I've kind of grown to appreciate.”

Maybe his best education came in the summer with the program at Shaw Mansion.

“The society works in partnership with the local branch of the Salvation Army,” he said. “We bring in campers or students from the Salvation Army and we try to teach them more hands-on history, natural history, like exploring the different plants, trees and different animals in the area. I specifically was a part of the archeological section, outside in the backyard area of the mansion (Shaw Mansion).”

Funny how these things happen sometimes. Through teaching, there is learning, too.

“I was able to do a lot of fun stuff downtown,” he said. “I think I got a better feel for New London and its community. I loved Sailfest. I've never seen New London that packed. Like thousands of people. I was like, ‘Oh my God, how is this possible?’ Just kind of seeing the city come to life was something really special.

“At least during the school year, I kind of feel like the students are the life of the party when it comes to interacting with the community. But for once, I got to experience the community, not so much as like an outsider, but more like I was observing community practices, which was really special to see.”

Many New Londoners view Conn as an exotic plant: nice to look at, but nobody really knows what to make of it either. But have we ever wondered how Conn students, on their collegiate voyages of self-discovery, view us?

“A lot of Conn students see New London as a hidden gem,” he said. “There's so many aspects of New London that don't get talked about. I remember talking with some faculty near the end of the summer about my experience. I said there's a little bit of something for everyone in New London.

“Like, for me as a big history guy, I love the history of this city, how it's so deeply embedded with colonial ties and the history of our nation as a whole. But we’re also on Long Island Sound, right up against the ocean. There are opportunities for sciences, natural sciences and STEM. I just feel like there are so many different opportunities that you can have when being a part of the New London community that are somewhat overlooked. And I think you really have to embed yourself within the city in order to really understand that.”

Lavorel, who wants to be a history teacher, is on the 18th fairway here among us. Before he leaves, though, he’ll try, with his teammates, to bring home the second national championship in four years — testimony to the brilliant work of the Soccer Whisperer, otherwise known as Conn coach Reuben Burk.

“I think something that became really obvious to me playing soccer here was not just about the talent you have on your team or how much effort you put on the field,” Lavorel said. “It's also about that family dynamic and the brotherhood off the field. I've become a lot more well rounded, both as an athlete and as a person, just interacting and talking to different people who come from different backgrounds and who have different perspectives on things.

“Conn’s a very tight knit community. I think the total student population is between 2,500, maybe 3,000 even. I'm on a first name basis with most of my classmates. I actually remember a few times warming up recently, I've looked over to my friends in the crowd and they have my number on their back written with a Sharpie.”

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro