During my time on the UltraViolet, I have always elected to write opinion pieces. From articles about Community Days to leg hair, I always have opinions to share. As this is my final opinion piece, I wanted to use this article as an exit message for the Marlborough student body and share what I have learned from my time at this school.
A few weeks ago, my teacher asked my English class what music we had been listening to as of late. One of my classmates mentioned that sometimes she won’t listen to anything on her drive to school, preferring to just take the 10 minutes to collect her thoughts.
As the class discussed this tendency, I brought up that I have a similar practice as I often go on hikes by myself and do not listen to anything, instead just existing with my thoughts. This was met with quite a bit of surprise, as my classmates couldn’t understand why I would choose to do such a thing.
I was surprised by their surprise. Taking time to simply be with my thoughts should not have been as shocking of an idea as it was. I think that modern culture is full of constant stimuli, as we are always plugged into our devices. This has created a culture in which people no longer take the time to connect with something larger than themselves, instead constantly being overwhelmed with distractions.
At Marlborough, this is especially true. The prioritization of awards, the attention given to entrepreneurship and the expected general accomplishment in every activity offered, Marlborough teaches us to strive for excellence now, but more importantly, in our future. I recall being told to start thinking about my resume in 8th grade, my first meeting with my college counselor in 10th grade, the event in 11th grade that prepared us to network and seek out internships and so much more.
There is no doubt that I am deeply grateful for these opportunities. Marlborough has ensured that I go off to college in a few months and feel prepared for whatever the future holds for me. But at the same time, I know that this emphasis on success can lead to a lot of anxiety.
When I was in middle school, I used to catastrophize about even the smallest things. If I submitted an in-class essay that I didn’t prepare enough for, I would immediately catastrophize, thinking that I would get a bad grade, and that this grade would mean I wouldn’t get into college, which would mean I wouldn’t get a job, which would mean I would have a terrible future and so on.
To get myself out of this unhealthy mindset, I had to learn the skill of slowing down and calming my mind. Going on silent hikes allows me to do this, but I also learned to focus on the present moment and what I can control.
As Marlborough can be a high pressure environment, I wonder if there is a way to temper the future driven success mindset. I think that encouraging students to find what calms them down, whether that be meditation, prayer or hiking, is deeply necessary. Creating an environment in which those skills are as highly emphasized as knowing how to write a resume or network with professionals can ensure that Marlborough students are prepared for all walks of life, and long-term success, but most importantly, happiness.
