Dear 11th Grade Families,
It was great seeing folks at the Parent Forum a few weeks ago – I’m very grateful that folks made the trip to campus to meet with me, Ms. Cunningham Feikens and Ms. Lalli, or that people made the time to listen in via Zoom. As we discussed at the Forum, the college counseling process is gearing up for the juniors and will be fully underway in the new year. And as I hoped to convey, in the midst of the college process rollout, I hope that we can all work together to “lower the temperature” for our juniors around college admissions, but, furthermore, around the students’ very palpable stress and anxiety surrounding academic performance. Yes, grades matter, but so, too, does a very real and intentional focus on the here and now. Being present, being mindful – these things matter to our students and can make a difference between an educational experience over the next two years that either feels incredibly stressful and frankly not so enjoyable, or, hopefully, one that inspires them to learn, to be invigorating by learning, and to enjoy the journey, even when things get tough and challenging, which they invariably will.
During my Class meeting with the juniors last Wednesday, I emphasized the importance of “being where your feet are”; that is, to be present, to be aware of what is literally happening in any given moment, and to step forward from there. I told them that the journey is less about where you’re going – although that is important – but it’s also about discovering who you are as a person today, right here, right now. I reminded them that they matter, full-stop. They are worthy, valuable, lovely individuals apart from anything they do, achieve, or become. They simply are. And I hope they know that, and I hope they grow into a fuller sense of who they are during their next two years at D-E – and beyond.
Thank you, as always, for all of your support and encouragement – it is a privilege working with your children.
With gratitude,
Jeremy Meserole