The start of every new school year is full of change and uncertainty.
It is also full of the excitement and determination to see it through.
All the way. No matter what.
Every August, at every school, everything is new once again. New teachers, new routines, new classmates, new courses...the list goes on and on.
The courage required by each individual to face a new beginning is paramount. Such times remind us that each of our students, faculty, and parents--truly and to their core--embody Harper Lee’s
definition of courage. The Hess community is comprised of humans who, time and time again, stand up for one another and for what they believe is right. Even when unsure, even when afraid, they are true to themselves and committed to honoring
that truth in their words and actions. It is especially critical when venturing into the unknown to remember and celebrate all of the times we have stuck it out in the face of adversity, and know that we can do it again. Some teachers within our community are in their third or fourth decade of new school years!
In this new beginning, we have watched students, parents, and teachers in our community navigate the ongoing challenges of
school and life with more wisdom and grace than we could ever hope for.
When in doubt, reflect on these moments of perseverance. Trust in the sage advice of Atticus Finch: although it is going to be arduous and unnerving and disorienting, begin anyway and see it through no matter what. Know, with certainty, that we can trust in ourselves, too.
Written by Katy Hamm