Tuesday, May 9, 2017

 

 

“Are you a need-knower?”

“Are you a need-knower?” That is the question I asked the students at the career day gatherings at New Vistas School last Friday. The theme of the day was “A Balanced Life,” and the invited speakers shared with the students how their lives were balanced between work, family, community and life interests. I approached the topic with an initial question: “Did you ever swim in a current?” The students shared their varied experiences, and we all agreed that one can never swim against a current or he will eventually drown. But understanding the dynamics of the current, one can use the current to his advantage and not only save himself but also have fun in the process. Then we talked about the imaginary balls that I juggled which represented facets of the students’ lives and those of their parents. We realized that we all have to juggle different balls and we better be balanced if we want to keep them in the air. All this discussion led to an understanding: You better be a “need-knower” if you are to succeed and make it.

       I was taken aback by how honestly and how penetrating the students were in their understanding of the necessity to be a “need-knower.” Only the individual can really know his own needs, and with the help of teachers who respond to those needs, real growth can take place. One student confidently told the group that he loved to play video games because he was ADD. He said that his “current” was taking him in a certain direction, but as his own best need-knower, someday, he was going to create games for kids who could not focus easily. We all supported his dream because we thought it would come true.

       I left NVS with a new sense of the mission of the school and a better sense of the students and teachers who live and learn there. Our job as a board is to support the efforts to help the students become their best “need-knowers.” –Bob Gillette, NVS Board of Directors