Lise's Lens: October 29, 2026
This week I reflect on Gen Z’s apparent love for tangible physical media, offer encouragement to seniors navigating stressful college application deadlines, and celebrate the excitement of CSW’s inaugural Pumpkin Spike Classic volleyball tournament.
WHAT I'M READING
I wonder, have you noticed your teen showing interest in objects you thought were obsolete? Maybe they prefer to listen to music on a vinyl record player, or like to take pictures with an old-school film camera. Apparently, this is a growing trend among Gen Zers, this interest in tangible, physical objects, many of which harken back to an earlier time. A recent piece in Fast Company highlights that nearly 80% of Gen Z say physical objects give them a sense of real-world connection, which makes sense, given that so much of their world exists in the nebulous “the cloud.” I personally appreciate this trend, and hope it’s here to stay.
WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT
Our Seniors Applying to College — and their families!
This is an exceptionally busy and often overwhelming season for our seniors, particularly those navigating Early Action and Early Decision college deadlines. There is a deep vulnerability in asking a young person to condense their entire identity, intellect, and humanity into a single neat package — one that feels subject to intense scrutiny and capable of defining their whole future.
I want our students to hear this clearly: your worth can never be captured in a single file or slip of paper. To all of our families navigating this process, I encourage you to create intentional space away from “college talk” at home, giving your children the room and freedom to enjoy this time as high school seniors. Give them the trust to own this process, and remember that a college experience is ultimately what a student makes of it. CSW students have a remarkable track record of seizing every opportunity placed before them, and I know without a doubt that every single one of our seniors has a bright future ahead.
WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO
I had so much fun watching players from eight different schools go head-to-head in the first annual Pumpkin Spike Classic volleyball tournament here at CSW over the weekend. It’s such an exciting (and heart-pounding) sport to watch; it should come as no surprise that it has been the top girls' sport in the U.S. for nearly a decade… and yet, I must admit, I had no idea! It was fun to watch this video from CBS News chronicling the rise of professional women’s leagues here in the U.S. Women’s sports still have a long way to go, but it feels like we are finally moving in the right direction in giving these athletes the support and respect that they deserve!
WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE
Though I was sadly unable to make it, I heard the One-on-One Dance performance was a great success last night, taking place for the first time in the East Quad. If you didn't know, the One-on-One Dance performance is a student-run, work-in-progress showing in which returning dancers pair up with new and emerging members of the program to choreograph and perform a dance. I love this shot of
Almira '28, Janita '29, Gera '30, Fiona '29, and Olivia '28 in action!
CSW — a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12 and PG — 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.