An independent, college preparatory, co-ed, Episcopal Day School serves a community of students in grades 6-12.
Issue link: http://palmertrinityschool.uberflip.com/i/154164
By Chaplain Jay Lentz We at Palmer Trinity do our best to create a quality educational experience for all grade levels which most often happily culminates with our seniors. As teachers of seniors we realize that they are in a unique situation as they begin to reach closure with high school while simultaneously anticipating college. It takes a lot of emotional energy as seniors struggle through this process in spite of the great job that teachers, college counselors and parents do with each student. In short, our seniors are beginning a process called "taking leave" and they are living "On the Verge." From my experience "taking leave" offers great promise but exacts a great cost as well. The promise is new life, launching those we love a little further into "our purpose"; our deeper callings, conveying love to others, sharing our gifts, and, God willing, recognizing the beauty in the moments we have together. However, it can be difficult, messy, and troublesome when we get caught up in only the future. The cost comes in the struggle to let go as we worry about the unknown future, and the inevitable force field full of emotion that leaves us so vulnerable during these times. Of course, it is perhaps best for someone like me (teacher and parent) to take a longer look at the log in my own eye rather than the speck in my seniors' or children's eyes. Are we projecting our fears or unlived life on them as if college will be the largest decision they will ever make? Was it, or were the other numerous "leave taking" experiences from our lives just as emotionally intensifying, like leaving home to college, getting married, having children, losing family members, changing jobs, having economic issues, buying and selling homes, moving the family, living through floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, etc.? So as this year unfolds and when we eventually all gather at Trinity Cathedral the evening before graduation with the beautiful class of 2010 and whatever shape and form their leave taking may have taken (either this year or in years to come), remember that your confidence in us at PTS along with your own life-lived confidence that "things do actually work out" is a big part of education too. Our experiences taught us this and it will go a long way for those who are now are on the verge! 2009 Graduating Class PerspecTiveS 25