“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Plato
Thanks to our warmer than usual spring weather, I’ve gotten to see lots of my students play over the past couple of weeks. I saw you singing Adele in the fit lab. I heard you beg to play volleyball at lunch (even in the rain). I watched to you play kickball. I saw you participate in the JSSF. I shared a loud bus ride home with singing freshmen.
I teach math, but more importantly, I teach kids. And seeing you kids play over the past few weeks has reminded me how lucky I am, and given me a fresh perspective on all of you. You are more than budding mathematicians (or scientists), you are people and when you play, your personality shines through.
You may not remember the explicit formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence in a few years, but you will remember the laughs we shared in class. You might not remember how you finished at the JSSF, but you will remember the time you spent with your friends. You will use your ability to relate to others every day. You will remember how it feels to win, and how it feels to lose. These play times will teach you to be more caring, more balanced, more principled.
The most interesting, fun, and successful adults I know are the ones who remember to play. As you keep growing up, keep playing, too.
