Students Finding Purpose through Action
What does it take to convince Town Hall to start a bike-to-school day?
On Tuesday, one of our seniors gave a talk at our all-school meeting about his year-long quest to make change in his town. Motivated by his passion for combating climate change and inspired by models from other countries, he began reaching out to local nonprofits, members of town government, and local school officials. Some doors opened. Many stayed closed. He kept at it, building allies, following leads, and refining his pitch. He experienced the sometimes frustratingly byzantine nature of local politics and the excitement of discovering allies in that system. He is now on the precipice of seeing his dream of a bike-to-school day in his town come to life and perhaps inaugurating a tradition.
Last year, our faculty and staff read William Damon’s The Path to Purpose. Damon, in a deeply evidence-based way, argues that fulfillment and happiness in life are deeply linked to purpose, even – or perhaps especially – for young people. Purpose goes beyond “following your passion.” People find purpose when they devote themselves to something bigger than themselves and something that has a positive impact on others. In sharing his story at assembly, this student provided a model of how – even as a high schooler – our students can find fulfillment and meaning through action. Purpose can come from painting a powerful mural that tens of thousands of people see each day and from being kind to a friend who is struggling. It can come from doing published research in a cancer lab and from starting a club with your friends. One of the greatest gifts we can give our students is the chance to find purpose while they are here, in hopes that that experience will build lifelong habits that will sustain them on their journeys. And our world will be better for it.