A Morning Run

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” -Dr. Seuss

     The dew from the long grass envelopes my shoes as run past. Soaking them with every cold step across the field behind my house. I stride across the field to a large bush, which I go around around and into the forest. The ground littered in decomposing sticks and leaves. Making the landing of my feet feel soft with every step. Like I’m running on memory foam. I take a right at the intersection. Barely moving down this long corridor covered by leaning trees. 

    I run along the side of a big hill, to the left I see beaver pond. I speed up and can feel the cold wind I run up and down small hills, cold morning air burning though my lungs. The trail takes me alongside great views and alongside a marsh. I run by a river emitting white noise masking the sound of birds for a moment. Until it fades into the distance and quiets down. I run along swampy ground on wooden planks the move whenever you take a step. Sometimes marsh water spraying up at me when the planks submerge themselves under the mud. Splattering my legs in mud and dirt. 

    I take a left off the trail leading into a self made trail of cleared debris. I run up the steep hill and stop as I get to the top. I take a deep breath and consume the environment around me. I look out seeing the entire marsh and the pond in the near distance.  I sit down on the bench I made many years ago at this spot. Memory’s flowing through my mind as I think back to all the time I spent at this spot. I jog back down the hill contriving this memory into my mind forever.

Studying Leadership

“Leadership is not a position or title, it is an action and example”

     We shuffled our feet onto the pine needle littered end lines of the tennis court. The referees dropped the ball and we all went running for the dodgeballs. Some classmates stayed back and played more defensive while other went all the way up. We seemed to get most of them out but one opponent was still left. This one lasting opponent speed around hopped up on adrenaline whipped constant balls at us while dodging the ones we threw at them, knocking a couple of us out. Then I really focused in, watching his movements and predicting his next steps. We finally got him out with a swift ball to the legs, knocking him down. While at camp Belknap, I learned a lot about my classmates and how they acted as leaders and teammates. While playing games I saw my classmates act and respond to different situations and solve problems. I got to know a lot of them a lot better and formed stronger friendships.

    You can learn a lot about people just by observing them. My classmates throughout all the activities really showed a lot about themselves that I hadn’t seen before. One activity was called bombardment. It was like dodgeball however you can’t get back in if you get out. So there was a lot of effort and teamwork involved with the game. I could see how differently they acted when the where losing three to one or the other way around. If they were the last one I could see their rush of adrenaline as they go insane knocking the other team out one by one. Even students that I would never imagine trying as hard as this. Their feeling of their team depending on them making them try even harder and more determined than before. Seeing the triumph of the human spirit was amazing to see and really seemed to show their respect for their other teammates and their primal will to win. 

     But besides seeing my classmates triumphs, I also saw my classmates roles as leaders on their team. Whether it’s directing positions, instructing when to throw the ball, or giving general advice to their teammates. Some kids lead others in certain moments and others in others. But I still could see what classmates in my grade really stood out as leaders. And the classmates who didn’t really at all. And even if I didn’t see some students stand out as leaders as much as others I saw them stand out in other ways. Sometimes it was teamwork skills and companionship and compatibility with others. And sometimes it was listen to others and be respectful to their fellow students and the teachers/counselors. Which is incredibly important as well in regards to one of Fenn’s core values. And definitely a very important aspect to being kind and responsible as well. 

   I got to see my classmates strengths and weakness when it came to being a team player. Making this bonding trip was very helpful and informative. I even learned a little bit about myself as we did an activity on what kind of a leader I was. Which was very helpful and let me see what I usually couldn’t. The trip also bonded our class a little more which is extremely helpful to making a nice, welcoming ninth grade class. And our companionship will have a positive effect on the lower grades and their expectations when they get older and take our places as seniors.

Connor Soukup

8th grade English

Tuesday, September 10

The Power of Community 

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassion of its members”-Unknown

     Community can be one of the most important someone’s life. It can effect that person for the rest of their life’s. Memories are most often made within communities. And those memories can last forever within that person. Community can be like a home away from home. It shapes and forms you which lasts the rest of your life.

    One of the most inclusive communities I’ve been a part of was The Fenn School. It’s filled with people who trust and like each other. Fenn was so important for me because I just came from struggling at my local public school. I came to Fenn and almost instantly felt like a part of their community. Fenn’s community however more inclusive than other schools, I haven’t seemed to form as deep friendships as at public. I went to Lincoln Public School for many years and have seen and noticed the differences between that and Fenn. 

    The public school I went to was less friendly and caring for each other. It was more a fight for survival. When you made friends in public school you kept them. They where some of the only things keeping you happy throughout the hard work and dull halls of the school. And as to Fenn, you’re more excepted and don’t have to change your personality to fit in.  This causes less connections between peers which is however more more important. 

    Most students at my old school didn’t even own a single item of school spirit clothing. Which shows that fenn’s community cares a lot more about each other. This is very important because it makes the members of Fenn feel a lot more welcomed and included.

    Fenn is definitely more involved with stewardship and kindness. Members of Fenn care more about its community and school spirit. Fenn’s community is so small that it allows people to form more friendships with your peers. A small community like Fenn often can have the greatest on a students experience especially if they are not too adapt at making friends. 

    Fenn’s students are regularly offered positions of leadership and stewardship. This gives the students the ability to feel good about themselves or have feel like they are being useful. Fenn’s welcoming community makes it easy for students to fit in and thrive. 

    The value of stewardship is important for everyone and gives you a sense of belonging and usefulness we need to be happy. Knowing that you have a purpose for others and the world is one of the most important feelings people need to be happy. Being a member of the Fenn community gives you belonging and a sense of stewardship. So it is very important that Fenn has a sense of stewardship and belonging within its community.