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An Evening with Wes Moore on Resilience

 


“True resiliency means you were able to make a bigger table for other people to see their own greatness as well.”


This key message was delivered last night by Wes Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, one of the largest anti-poverty forces in the nation, and bestselling author, combat veteran, and social entrepreneur. Mr. Moore provided a riveting, inspiring talk via Zoom for our graduating eighth graders, their parents, and the alumni/alumni parent community on resilience, this year’s school-wide theme. The evening marked the 17th annual Alumni Parents Council Lecture Series event; this year renamed for the first time in honor of alumnus Eric Wu ’14 (R.I.P.), in celebration of Eric’s short but meaningful life.

Lauding the graduating class for their ability to adapt during this curve ball pandemic year, Mr. Moore observed a great lesson from this pandemic: that the only certainty in life is inconsistency, surprise, and the need to adapt. As he reflected on the unpredictability of life, Mr. Moore encouraged the boys to live deeply and purposefully, to “go big” and leave a positive mark on this world: “While we are here, let’s push, let’s advocate, let’s organize, let’s love, let’s fight, find an issue, pull people together, have conversations with those we might not have had conversations with before.” 

Mr. Moore noted that we are all part of a larger, global fabric and our individual successes are dependent on the success of all others. Resilience, he said, requires more than an individual’s singular conclusion; it entails using one’s power to pull others up—we are all interconnected.

In closing, Mr. Moore expressed his confidence in our boys, stating, “I know the hopes, dreams and expectations of everyone here are that you are going to be truly resilient and the world will be better because of it.”

Each year, our Lecture Series provides a culminating master class experience for our graduating class which includes presentations by the guest speaker, followed by a question and answer session with the eighth graders. Yesterday evening inspired all present to live lives of impact and meaning, and was the perfect lecture in honor of Eric, an incredible young man who epitomized our school motto Ut Viri Boni Sint in deed and in word.

Saint David’s School thanks Mr. Moore for sharing his wisdom and insights with the boys, their parents, and the alumni community. Appreciation also goes to APC co-chairs Winnie Feng and Annie Haddad, J.P. Hormillosa and Maureen Barry of the Development Office, and alumni parent and former trustee Suzanne Karr for bringing this memorable evening to fruition.


 

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