This blog idea put me in mind of the Jesuit Cemetery at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. My wife wouldn’t be surprised: she frequently points out that I seem to be obsessed with death. Fortunately, she doesn’t follow my LinkedIn account.
Like the traditional skull on the philosopher’s desk, this spot can be a powerful reminder: “You will once be as I am now,” they seem to be saying. “So don’t waste a minute!”
At McMillan Education, we’re a group of former teachers and developmentalists first, application strategists second. What this means is that our primary aim is to help our students be fully themselves right in the middle of their life, just as it is, right now. And to celebrate this brave feat, since it takes some serious effort and attention these days not to get lost in assorted distractions, fears, and ruminations.
As it turns out, living fully right where you are is the best preparation for doing the same in college & beyond. So, we use the discrete, WISE Tasks in our Owl’s Nest platform to simplify and demystify the college process. We’ve traveled the road many times, know it well, and enjoy the relationships we’ve built and the conversations we have with admission leaders as a way to continually assess the weather and road conditions as they develop. Our students? They can simply take care of the next college task that needs doing, when it needs doing, and then keep their eyes on their own unique road — contributing to their team, helping a friend with homework, asking for a teacher’s help, showing up fully to their weekend job as a ski instructor, or diving into a topic they’re curious about for their big junior history project.
Like teachers, we get to know each of our students. One might need to do more application work right now, while school is still in session, because of busy summer plans; another might need to do the same simply to defuse their anxiety, demystifying the Common App by making some progress and getting to know it. Others – perhaps most — need to make time to talk to a teacher for a little extra help during office hours and then to decompress with friends after a busy week of late nights doing homework.
I hope the dear Jesuit fathers behind me didn’t spend their life strategizing about how to get the best plot here on the hill when their time on this beautiful campus finally reached its end. I don’t think they did. I trust that their community steered them in the right direction and gave them frequent course corrections when they got lost. We see that as our role too, and it’s one that we are privileged to play for our students and families so they don’t waste a minute while they have all the gifts of the living at their disposal.
