Real life doesn’t compartmentalize English and math and art. A statistician needs math skills, but also must have a good command of English, and an eye to know how to present statistics attractively. A scientist who works with waste water must understand the underlying science as well as the human stories behind the numbers. In the business world, disciplines intersect. Art informs science, and history influences technology. Community leaders must have a firm grasp on many disciplines, and understand how they intersect and influence society, the economy, and our world in general.
By nurturing a student’s interests and passions, our students see the bigger picture. That’s why our electives are different. We can’t develop leaders if we teach them one dimensional subjects. Simply learning the facts of how a bill is passed in Congress doesn’t create an informed and thoughtful voter. Learning Spanish should help enrich English vocabulary, but also foster appreciation for literature and poetry and history.
This reflects life. When starting a career, a new hire quickly must learn things not related to the job itself. There are a myriad of other skills and knowledge that new hires must quickly acquire. While the technical aspects of the job are crucial, it’s often the soft skills—the ability to collaborate, manage time, and build relationships—that determine success. Our individualized programming reflect this reality, and set our students up to be leaders in their field.
