Everyone strives towards some form of greatness in life. At some point in our existence we wish to be the Renaldo or Bill Gates of the world. When I was younger I wanted to be both, at the same time. I use this in the past tense because River School taught me something fundamental, which is that it’s okay to strive for seemingly omnipotent powers as long as, on the way, you remain yourself. Even though this avowal might contain a slight amount of, as Mary Lynn would say, “Cheese factor” I think that it contains an absolute truth. Because it is not worth changing yourself into something that you dislike in order to grow celebrated or accomplished. If it is worth it to you, then I guess this rule doesn’t apply to you but what does that show about your character in the first place.
Recently I went to World Affairs Challenge in San Francisco. This challenge is put on by a non-profit organization call zproject Spera. Middle and High school teams came into this competition in San Francisco from many different places. Many teams from River School including mine also attended this challenge. The theme of the challenge was human rights of the child. Each team chose a specific aspect of this research and present. My team did child prostitution and sex-tourism in Thailand. Other topics included chocolate slaves and children prisoners in Brazil. My team happened to have a Lord of the Rings like sweep of the awards, but that isn’t the point of this story. The point is: What other school would allow us to pick such topics such as child prostitution which are completely relevant to current day life but to many seemingly liberal? What other school would allow you this opportunity? What other school would allow this as a project? What other school would let you choose your own groups, subjects, and how you are going to present them? At what other school would you find teens willing to go to an academic activity on a Saturday, during Spring Break, much less having to wake up at 6 o’clock in the morning? What other school but River School? That is why I am grateful that I go to River School because I have had these opportunities. And that is what makes River School special.
At River School I don’t feel that I am being tricked into believing that life is simple and that everything will eventually fall into place. I would much rather know that once in a while I am going to fail than to live in a false world. It’s reassuring to know that I am in a realistic school with people that are samples of what people are like out in the real world, which doesn’t necessarily mean that I like all of them. It is slightly assuring that I don’t live in a superficial world where I believe everything to be perfect and simple. In a sense River School has taught me realism.
River School has taught me the subtle balance between being realistic and the ability to dream. In life it is essential to have both of these ostensibly conflicting elements. The ability to balance between the two is what life is all about and therefore what River School is about as well.