This is the first of two posts that address two sides of the same coin- the opening of private school for fall and what it means for adults (parents and faculty) and students.

For each group the beginning of the school year comes freighted with expectations and responsibilities.

Faculty must work with students to take them as far as possible- intellectually, spiritually, athletically, and socially. Students must work to embrace challenges, the new, and respond to expectations in as adult a manner as possible- always working to set aside the parts and impulses of childhood as they move toward adulthood.

This first post is directed toward students and what returning to campus requires of you.

It’s hard. Summer may have been a relaxed, a little free-form, maybe, brain shaping activity was minimal. Now, it’s back to the grind. School schedules and structures are going to demand of you as are the faculty. You’ll have a great experience most of the time. Some bumps. Along the way, you might have to answer for a poor decision, finding yourself mute when asked “what were you thinking?”

I’ve come across a new piece- a letter written to students by the incoming dean of students at Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA), Kevin Soja. I’ve never met or worked with him, but I like his tone in “Dean of Students, Introduction and Greeting.” He asks student to bring two key things to campus:

An open mind.

Humility.

“…Our expectations of you are high. I trust that you wouldn’t want it any other way. We expect you to be purposeful in pursuing excellence in your academic, athletic, and service-related pursuits at EHS. While I am confident that you will achieve great success, you may experience disappointment and adversity along the way. Trust me when I say that in both instances, the ability to keep an open mind and to act with humility will serve you well. To me, this is a selfless and constructive approach for any individual, one that fosters an understanding that being an EHS student is as much about living in a community as it is about you.

You are in control of your EHS experience. In any healthy community, it is vital for you to realize that you can and should be held accountable for your actions. Of course, this is easy when things are going well, but often challenging when they aren’t. In those challenging times, I will be here to support you. In return, I ask that you be honest with yourself, with your family, with the faculty, with your peers, and with me. This is known as integrity; it is something that I believe in very strongly.

Finally, as you consider your entry, or re-entry, into EHS at the end of the summer, please keep an open mind about the impact that each and every one of you has on each other and the culture of the school. Attending EHS is a privilege. I hope it is one that you never take for granted. Take pride in the community in which you live. Pick up a piece of trash when you see it; greet a visitor or guest; be considerate of those around you and attentive when someone else is speaking; care for the spaces you use; cheer for your teams; attend a play; and, have respect for the rules and guidelines which have been created to guide you, not rule you. These are the little things that significantly impact our community. They will all be noticed and help to shape the culture of our School…”

Humility provides insight into one’s connections responsibilities to others. An open mind helps you to see the world from varying perspectives and the affects your actions can have- empathy.

As we begin the coming year, let us humbly approach the contributions we each make and responsibly recognize the affects that our attitudes and actions have on those around us. Our goal should be to leave each day better than we found it.