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The Thrill of the Finish

People often ask me around this time of year things like “How are you holding up?” As the leader, I sometimes wonder just how authentic I can be in responding to that question. On the one hand, it is critical for the employees to see moments when the Head of School is struggling along with them, but it is also important to know that all is well at the top, so to speak. For me, the finish of the year can certainly involve a roller coaster of sorts, but it is ultimately invigorating.

Just this week, I witnessed nearly sixty Innovation Pursuits coming out of our Innovation Celebration. From an “Autonomous Kayak” to “Coral Curiosity,” our students blew me away with their ability to pursue their own academic passions. Tuesday night brought me to a faculty coffeehouse in Chip Harding’s room. Even amidst the chaos, we paused to share some music, pizza, and laughter together. Whether it was Mr. Davie’s crooning of “Hang me, O Hang Me”, Jaye Singleton belting out a gospel tune, or Jufen Rui giving us a pop song in Mandarin, we heard music and poetry from our colleagues, and our hearts were filled. Wednesday brought New Parent Orientation, with all of the excitement and energy of the new families who make our community vibrant in the future. Finally, I spent last night on the steamy third floor of Fogg listening to our seniors performing together at their Senior Arts night. I circulated from parent to parent checking in on their level of nostalgia. One particular performance of the Cat Stevens tune Father and Son got me, as its most haunting line summed it all up perfectly: “I know I have to go.”

As parents and as students, I know the finish is rather a lot. We drive to sports games and dance shows and presentations and start to wonder if we can make it. But it is also true that summer would not be summer without the hard work that comes before it. Our children would not grow as richly nor build as much confidence if their work did not climax in some sort of public fashion. And Berwick’s mission of promoting virtue and useful knowledge could never breathe fully without launching our graduates to the world beyond this Hilltop. So let’s enjoy the newfound sunshine and the thrill of the finish together as a community. Let’s be present in these moments as much as we possibly can, so we can celebrate these children who give our lives such sense of purpose and fulfillment.

            

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