ESSO in Action
Well, it seems like summer is nearly upon us. All the flowers have bloomed and the trees are sporting their vernal green coats. Under this sunny weather, ESSO held its first ever field day. We invited the children with whom our tutors work, members of ESSO and anyone who wanted to help out and have a great Sunday. We had balloons, a barbeque, cupcake decorating, a photo booth, a popcorn machine and many other events and activities. And here is the greatest part: It was a smashing success!
We had participation from all across campus, and with Kidz Bop blasting eternal classics like “Payphone” and “Stereo Hearts,” it was hard not to have a good time. I was going back and forth between the lemonade stand and the popcorn machine. Many of the events were made to appeal to children, but I have to say, I could not stop myself from using the cupcake decorating station or the obstacle course.
The parents and kids had a spectacular time as well. One parent approached Elizabeth Reyes, one of the two faculty advisers of ESSO, to tell her while suppressing tears that ESSO had given opportunities to her children that she would never have been able to give on her own.
The field day did exactly what we hoped it would. Many club heads had the chance to work with other clubs and students that they may never have met, and many students had the chance to meet and play with kids. All ESSOnians the chance to interact with the local community. Last Friday, lower Jackson Parell, upper Connie Cai and I met with members of ESSO from the class of 1956. They explained to us that the difference in involvement between today and 60 years ago is remarkable. ESSO has been around for a long time, but for much of its time, it did little work with the town of Exeter. One of the alumni depicted ESSO’s relationship as two fingers driving opposite directions. I mention this, because it highlights how ESSO is not at all like that today and how this field day acted as a monolith to ESSO’s inclusion of a community broader than solely the Academy.
We plan to hold another field day next year. Although I’ll no longer be a member of the ESSO Board, I hope the new and all future board members, whoever they may be, will remember the importance of this day and cherish the connections that it affirmed between Exonians and those who are without our innumerable privileges. This summer, I hope that between hibernations you bear in mind the honesty, humility and empathy that ESSO and Exeter strive to imbue within you. Have a magnificent vacation.