News Detail
The things we can control
“People are tired” was the penultimate line in an early morning newspaper article about the anxiety surrounding today’s election. Tired of a “rancorous campaign” and tired of hearing about the potential of a protracted legal battle to determine who becomes our next president. Cautious optimism for some mixed with hand-wringing worry for others, with both sides experiencing the same emotions. And all of this happening in midst of a deadly pandemic that is not showing any signs of letting up.
Recently I have found myself thinking back to our virtual 2020 Commencement and the prescient words of our commencement speaker, Mr. Shane Battier. “Control the things that you can control,” he said to the graduating seniors. He told them that how they face adversity will ultimately define them, just as it defined his professional basketball career. “Focus on what you can control” and “don’t forget to take some time and enjoy the journey.”
What I can focus on and control at this difficult time in our nation is how I celebrate our community.
Last week, for some inexplicable reason, I stood briefly between the two lines of cars during morning drop off at the middle school. Traffic congestion was at its peak, and I immediately realized how easily an accident could happen. I thought about the members of our facilities staff who stand in that traffic every morning, and who, as essential workers, have come to work every day since the March quarantine, in spite of COVID-19. I also thought about their working the better part of seven days a week to meet the relentless demands of pandemic protocols. I celebrate them.
I celebrate the faculty who have worked double time to adapt to a new pedagogy and who continue to challenge, engage and inspire our students in ways that we had not considered a year ago. And who, too, have put on their masks and come to school each day so that the students would benefit from in-person learning. I celebrate all those faculty members who wrote letters of recommendation for our seniors in addition to their other duties, and I celebrate the words of our new Director of College Counseling, Mr. Lew Stival: “I have read the faculty’s letters and they are really good. I am impressed.”
I celebrate the members of the administrative staff who help us all do our jobs better.
I celebrate our resilient and optimistic students who never seem to miss a beat. This past weekend our students did our school proud in football, swimming, cross country and drama. I marvel at how well our youngest students have adjusted to COVID-19. I have watched them at middle school arrival, as they sit inside hula hoops and wait patiently on the turf field for the start of first period. This will forever be the year of the “Hoopsters.” The upper schoolers have continued with their rigorous curriculum and the development of broad interests outside of the classroom. I commend our seniors, who waded through virtual college visits, endless surfing of websites, and intensive essay writing sessions to submit applications to 442 colleges and universities on or before November 1, which may be a new record for our school.
Lastly, I celebrate this richly diverse school community that is holding fast to Paul Ransom’s words to “put more into the world than you take from it.” Yes we are all tired, but one would never know that judging from the many activities and accomplishments, some of which are chronicled in this month’s Dell + Cannon. We have had to make sacrifices; we have had to accept what we cannot control. Yet the journey, in an odd and almost inexplicable way, continues to be enjoyable. I send my gratitude to every corner of this remarkable community.
Middle School
2045 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 250 6850
Upper School
3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133Phone: 305 460 8800
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. It is rated the top private school in Miami and among the 10 private schools in North America. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.
Ransom Everglades School®, The RE Way®, RE Pathways® and Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities™ are trademarks of Ransom Everglades School.