During my recent trip to New York for the Thanksgiving Holiday, I had an interesting conversation with the gentleman sitting next to me on the airplane. The conversation drifted around the superficial, hackneyed topics, as would any with a stranger on a three-hour flight – the Broncos, best ski resorts, having to pay for a soda on the flight, etc. Inevitably, the conversation drifted to employment. “Colorado Academy? Wow! What an incredible college preparatory school!” Of course, I agreed. But he kept at it, wanting to know all about CA’s academic curriculum, including which AP courses are offered, and then naming colleges and asking if CA had any alums that went on to attend. I had to interrupt him. We are more than a college preparatory school, I told him, we are a life preparatory school.

This may sound surprising, coming from an AP Calculus teacher, a person whose success in some ways is measured by the results of a four-hour exam in May. But I’m not that naïve to believe (the majority of) my students will actually remember the conditions for the Mean Value Theorem a year from now. I do know my students will be able to think through any problem given, be able to play with possible solution paths, work collaboratively with and be respectful of others, and present, whether with the spoken or written word, a cohesive argument.

In the book A Leader’s Legacy, Kouzes and Posner write, “By asking ourselves how we want to be remembered, we plant the seeds for living our lives as if we matter.” Yes, CA students are constantly planting those seeds. As I served as a tour guide at last month’s Parent preview, prospective parents were awed at the work being done, and amazed at the discussions they heard in so many classes. Some of them believed these events were staged for their benefit. Seeing it every day, perhaps I’ve become callous to the legacies that are created here. Why is it that without reservation I was able to interrupt a student working on a physiology project and ask her to explain what she was doing? And she, being put on the spot, was able to, without hesitation, enthusiastically articulate her work? More impressive than what she was working on was how confidently and eloquently she spoke.

“Leadership is often a struggle, and yet strong taboos keep us from talking openly and honestly about our difficulties for fear of looking weak and seeming to lack confidence. …adversity is precisely what unlocks our greatest potential.” – Leadership and the Art of Struggle by Steven Snyder.
Dr. Davis’ Life, Legacy and Leadership class for the entire junior class forces students out of their comfort zones. Through speakers and presentations, students analyze moral and ethical dilemmas. Incredibly honest dialogue has surfaced from topics ranging from the ethics of methods of torture for the greater good to the effects on our country’s race relations as a result of the recent events in Ferguson and Staten Island. It was amazing to see in a lecture hall of 100, the thoughtfulness of our students, the confidence with which they spoke, and the respect they showed their peers. Again, I’m awed by taking a step back and seeing with fresh eyes what I’ve long grown accustomed to seeing. Here sixteen-year-olds are thinking critically beyond their years, speaking to a large audience, listening to viewpoints which may not agree with their own, all the while challenging their set ways.

There are countless more examples to be cited that show CA’s life preparation. Look at Students H.O.P.E. We all know the incredible service that the day provides. Beyond that, students display organization, leadership and team work, all for a selfless goal. Look at any Town Hall. Student speakers, sharing personal passions, abound, as the community respects and celebrates its individuals. And I can go on. The point is: our students proudly walk across the stage on the Welborn lawn every June, not just prepared for the next step, but for the entire hike.