Innovation and Resilience

“Resilient people are masters of innovation. Their fertile imaginations are expansive, and they attend to details … using everything at their disposal to create the best possible outcome.” — Joan Borysenko, PhD

The link (pun intended) between innovation — our yearlong theme — and resilience is no accident. I welcomed the middle school students back from winter break by leading a discussion about how we can look at every challenge as an opportunity. After asking students about something difficult they could turn into an opportunity, responses included leaving their friends as they move onto high school (challenge) but making new ones (opportunity), riding a new horse (challenge) but perhaps a champion (opportunity), the possibility of not getting accepted into a high school (challenge) but making the best of where you end up (opportunity). The students’ maturity and understanding of this concept was inspiring.

I am constantly impressed by how our teachers (from primary to middle school) are constantly empowering our students to solve their own problems, think critically about their options, and make decisions. Innovation and resilience? Clearly a great skill for the future!

Warmly,

Beth