During the summer months, we enjoy soaking up the sun, spending time with friends and family, and sometimes taking moments for reflection. As the summer months give way to the “Back to School” commercials, we prepare for the thrilling transition to a new school year. With this transition, there might be excitement, anxiety about the unknown, and wonder about how to start the school year on a positive note. To prepare for the start of a successful school year, we should reflect on the strength of community, hold dignity at the center, ensure we create a sense of belonging for all, and lean into our curiosity and encounter new experiences, stories, and people.
Hold Dignity at the Center.
Each of us has inherent value and worth just because we’re human. This essential idea is the foundation for creating and sustaining a community. It is a notion that allows us to boost our confidence, helps us find ourselves, and all the while knowing that others have the same inherent value and worth just by existing. Holding dignity at the center of our hearts creates an opportunity to continue learning about ourselves and learn about the experiences of others. If we hold onto dignity, we can create an avenue for our sense of belonging and others. When preparing for the start of the school year, we can ask ourselves, “How would I like for others to honor my dignity?” and “What are the ways in which I can honor the dignity of others in my community?”
Dignity Creates Belonging.
At the start of the school year, we often find ourselves in spaces where we reconnect with friends, encounter new people, and spark new friendships. It is important to remember that we all seek places to belong, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves so that we can flourish and thrive to our full potential. But to simply say we belong to a friend group or a larger community does not equate to a true sense of belonging. A true sense of belonging comes from a community that practices and holds dignity and identity-consciousness at the core of what they do. To feel a sense of belonging is to be acknowledged, affirmed, accepted, and to have access to the full experience that a community provides. As members of our school community, we can ask ourselves, “How can I ensure I acknowledge, affirm, and accept others for who they are?”
Creating and Sustaining Community.
Through dignity honored and a true sense of belonging, we create and sustain community. A community is defined by the way we bring our full authentic selves and are able to see, value, and hear the ways others bring their full authentic selves. We must think about the ways our multiple identities come together to weave a tapestry of a school community where the stories we’ve lived can be shared with each other. So let’s ask ourselves, “How do I contribute to my school community?” and “What are the similarities between my story and the stories of my community members?” and “How can I remain curious about the stories I encounter and affirm, acknowledge, and accept others for who they are?”
As we return to school, let’s think about each of these questions and reflect on the ways that our community can be stronger because each of us brings a unique perspective while also holding true that the thing we have in common is the dignity that we honor in each other.