Interests or Passions
Source/Author: Mike Murphy, Headmaster
April 14, 2017
This weekend while spending a few hours checking out the migratory birds that have traveled from Central and South America and are making their way north to their nesting areas, I saw a Northern Parula Warbler. He was magnificent. The Parula has all the field marks a birder learns in introductory classes. He has eye rings, two white wing bars, a blue head with yellow at the nape, a yellow throat and chest, a black necklace and a rufous patch on the yellow throat and chest. Of course, the beak and movements were classic warbler field marks. The bird I saw was the perfect model of a Parula. The colors were distinct and bright. He moved from branch to branch grabbing up insects as he refueled for the next stage of his trip north. I was thrilled to see the bird. Since college, birds have been a significant interest of mine but probably not a passion.
We hear lots of talk about teachers, schools, parents and guardians helping children and students find their passions. In reality we are helping our children develop interests that may become passions later in life. It is important to develop an array of interests so we know ourselves and learn a variety of ways to contribute to our personal development as well as ways we can contribute to the betterment of our families and communities.
The “Passion Projects” that our eighth graders have been working on all year will soon be unveiled. Hopefully, many of those projects have sparked an interest that will last a lifetime. Understanding that these projects are the “passion” of the moment provides an insight into the current mindset, interests and attitudes of our students. Our hope is that they will develop multiple interests that will eventually lead to lives that are fulfilled, good and well-lived.
If you get a chance to see a Parula or any of the other migratory “light-bulbs” that are making their way north, I hope you will share the experience with a friend. You never know, you may ignite a new interest for someone who is committed to lifelong learning and the wonders of our planet.
Cheers!
Mike
