Convocation 2023

Mr. Matthews, other members of our Board of Trustees, parents, colleagues, students, the Class of 2024 (and most of all, Christian Brutans), it is my privilege and honor to begin the academic year with this Convocation.

I heard a story about a mother who went into her son’s bedroom yesterday to remind him to get ready for school. “It’s time to get going,” she said. The son replied, “Mom, I don’t want to go to school. The mother answered, “Give me two good reasons why.” The son thought for a moment, “Well, the students hate me, and the teachers hate me. Give me two good reasons why I have to go.” The mother replied, “Well, first, you’re 51-years-old and, second, you’re the Head of School.!

Certainly, that is not the case for me, and please know that I am excited to be here. I am confident that this is true of our students, too. That said, there are always some challenges at the beginning of an academic year. Further, it is often a little difficult for most of us to say goodbye to the summer. This week’s weather definitely doesn’t help. The months of June, July, and August are opportunities for rest, relaxation, and, hopefully, restoration. How was your summer? Did you experience “Barbenheimer?” Were you lucky enough to go to a Beyonce or Taylor Swift concert? What was the best experience you had?

I was fortunate this summer to travel and visit with family and friends. Making/taking time to be with those we care about is paramount. A particularly special moment this summer was the chance to visit my very first Head of School, who hired me to be a history teacher and coach after I graduated from college. Along with his wife and another couple, we had a wonderful lunch and spent several hours catching up and sharing stories.

Summer also gave me the opportunity to catch up on my reading, and there were several books on my list. The first was one I assigned to the faculty, AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future. This book by Chen Qui-Fan and Kai-Fu Lee is a work of science fiction set twenty years in the future. It offers ten different short stories, each featuring a different form of artificial intelligence.

As you know, AI is everywhere and we use various forms of it each day, not just ChatGPT. How will it impact education, especially in the areas of teaching in the classroom? One of our goals this year is to create a climate of innovation here at Gill St. Bernard’s. Along with utilizing artificial intelligence, the introduction of new daily schedules in the Upper and Middle Schools will naturally support this effort. How might you utilize AI this year. More importantly, have you figured out the new schedule yet?

Another book I read along with the senior leadership team was Trust and Inspire by Stephen M. Covey. Covey argues that in the face of massive changes in the nature of the world, work, the workplace, workforce, and the infinite number of choices we have; our leadership style also needs to change. Covey advocates for a new approach; one which turns away from simple management, instead focusing on collaboration and building trust, in order to bring out the best in others.

For those of you on the Honor Board, or who are in student government, captaining a team, or in any other leadership role, what is your style of leading? Do you actively think about it and want to improve your skills? What is involved in creating positive change? How can you make a difference in our school this year?

Speaking of student leadership, Dakauri, our student government president, earlier read out loud the children’s book, Be You, by Peter Reynolds. Its meaning is largely self-evident. Be ready, be curious, be adventurous, be kind, understanding, brave, and many other things. Above all, “Be the best version of yourself.” Is this something you have thought about? How might this happen? Reynolds’ final words are, “Each day is a new chance to be more you.” I like that. Each day we get another chance, with new opportunities . . . if we are ready for them. In addition, it is important to remember that the best version of yourself thinks about the needs of others. Be you and be considerate.

Simon Sinek first connected with the world of independent schools more than ten years ago. Unsatisfied with his own life, his self-examination led him to a deeper insight, which ultimately became the book, Start with Why. Sinek suggests that we all know what we do, and some even understand how we accomplish important things. Be do we know why? What is our purpose? What is it that we give back to the Universe? His short answer is that the best way to discover our “why” involves asking a close friend the question, “What is it about me that makes you want to be my friend?” This is a difficult exercise and can even get awkward or uncomfortable. But, if you are persistent and really drill down, the response might help you discover your purpose in life, your “Why.” For seniors, this is something that may have occurred as they worked on their college essays. After all, as you consider this next step in life, most colleges want to know why you want to go to a particular school. What is it that you will bring/add to their campus?

Finally, as I reflected on the beginning of another academic year, the exercise Simon Sinek suggested reminded me of Robin Dunbar’s book, Friends. Dunbar is considered one of the foremost experts on the science of friendship, which he studied for decades. His research, along with that our other social scientists, has helped broaden our understanding of the many different types of friendship – acquaintance, good friend, great friend, old friend – the list of varieties is long. That said, Dunbar’s research showed that most people only have about five really close friend and around 15 or so in their “circle of friendship.” The reason that there are not more (and, by the way, Dunbar’s book is meticulously documented), is that exceeding those numbers is exceedingly difficult.

I emphasize this because I understand how important it is to have friends. Even one friend can make all the difference in our lives. However, there is a catch: friendship requires time (it doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes lots of work, often hard work.) If you remember only one thing I said this morning, make it that. Friendship requires time and a lot of work.

New years are exciting and full of both hope and possibility. As we begin this one, consider this question: “What is your Why?” Mark Twain once remarked, “The two most important days of your life are the day you are born . . . and the day you find out why.” Be you this year, be considerate of others, and find out your “Why.” Moreover, share your “Why” with the GSB community and the world.

Best wishes to the Class of 2024.

Thank you and, Go Knights!