Gavin Schmidt ’24 | Nayan Shankaran ’24
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). We have come a long way from the beginning of the school year when this Chapel theme was introduced. But, we believe that this theme does not merely apply to this year—every year, we are changed. And, for us, it seems like we have grown up at EA, starting here in Pre-K and now on the cusp of graduation.
“To be honest, I didn’t really know what the theme meant when it was first released, but going to Chapel every other day has revealed that to me,” Colin Schlitt ’24 shares. He continues, “It’s being open to change and embracing the change…It’s really just being vulnerable with your thoughts and letting them transform you for the better.”
In a way, the act of going to Chapel sparks the renewal of one’s mind. Each time, our perspective is shaped, and we develop new ways of looking at our situations. From his view as Senior Warden of the Vestry, Na’rome Rayborn ’24 reflects, “I believe that a lot of the Chapel speakers and students were able to live by [the theme], and I and other vestry members saw a lot of people not just renew themselves but also transform themselves and become better. I believe that’s what the Chapel theme does for a community…I believe it brings us together.”
After we leave Chapel, we are able to apply these newfound lessons to our outside lives. But, the process of transformation never ceases, and growth continues as we expose ourselves to different experiences. Even outside of Chapel, this same transformation occurs—whether we know it or not. Vestry member Theo Engelman ’25 articulates, “Chapel themes are not really something that are talked about in the lounge or at lunch. People are not going around and talking openly about them. However, it’s impossible to hear about something every other day without absorbing it at some level.” He adds, “Consciously or not, I think that hearing about the Chapel theme has made members of our community both more tolerant of change and readier to keep an open mind. Change is always more apparent in hindsight.”
The EA experience as a whole is meant to transform different aspects of us. In fact, it is not just the “mind” that is being transformed—it is the mind, body, and spirit. These facets form the foundation of what EA seeks to renew in each of us, from the first time we set foot on campus. In our minds, we are constantly introduced to new intellectual concepts and ways of thinking that help us problem solve, make critical decisions, and form information-based worldviews. As a student in his fourth year of Upper School, Schlitt has experienced the renewal of his mind: “At class every day, we’re all transformed by the renewing of our minds…taking in different opinions, different lectures, different teachers, different material, different facts.”
Photo courtesy of Matt Wargo
Looking back on our Scholium careers as they come to a close, we realize that we also strive to transform through our work on the paper. Each year and even each issue, we aim to expand our vision and pursue new topics that were not previously covered to reach all parts of our community. We are grateful to have been on this journey with you, building upon the Scholium’s legacy. Thank you for engaging with us and supporting our mission this school year.