Lise's Lens: January 12, 2023

Lise reflects on this week’s powerful assembly presentation, considers reframing the concept of New Year’s resolutions, and spotlights two artists offering new perspectives on traditional concepts. 

WHAT I’M READING
  • Tish Harrison Warren always offers up such thoughtful, kind, and practical life advice. At this time of year, when there’s much discussion of New Year’s resolutions, her wisdom around creating a personal rule of life really resonated with me. As she explains it, “A rule of life is an overarching plan governing your daily practices, habits and routines. It is not a resolution, but rather a comprehensive way to take stock of how you spend your time so that you can be the person you want to be.”

WHAT I’M THINKING/TALKING ABOUT
  • I'm thinking about one of the most powerful assemblies I've experienced in my 30 + years in education (although it really was so much more than an “assembly”). This week, Reverend Sharon Risher told her extraordinary story about one of the most tragic events in recent American history—the shooting at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC on June 17th, 2015. That day, Reverend Risher lost her beloved mother—along with eight others, including two cousins and a childhood friend. 

    During her brief time with us, she offered us many pearls of wisdom and inspiration. I won't do them all justice, so here are a few that particularly resonated with me.

    Reverend Risher talked about the day when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited the County Hall in Charleston—"He sounded like God to me".  She referred to that experience as one of those "moments in your life that will set the stage for what you will become". She also addressed Dr. King’s position of nonviolence and the Old Testament command "Thou shalt not kill", reflecting on how challenging it was to live by those tenets (and by the tenets of forgiveness) after the assassination of her mother on June 17, 2015. She related that it was "a hard walk towards forgiveness" even for her, a pastor and community leader, and shared how activism and advocacy have helped her move forward. 

    I found her closing words particularly relevant for our students: "Find your thing—that thing that drives you to be motivated and courageous. It will bring you purpose and meaning. And, bring someone along with you in your journey. Together, let's try to create Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's Beloved Community.”

WHAT I'M WATCHING
  • Taiwanese pop star Abao is redefining what it means to create Indigenous music. She sings in the Indigenous Paiwan language — not Chinese, which is far more prevalent in Taiwan's highly competitive music industry.⁠ In doing so, she’s engaging younger audiences not only in the music, but in the culture and history of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. 

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE

This brief Instagram video about the design and construction of Bahá’í Temple of South America is a fascinating view into what defines a sacred space, and how one such space was designed and built. 

More News from CSW

List of 5 news stories.

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CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.