ESSO in Action
Hello, ESSOnians! My apologies that there has not been an ESSO in Action article for a while, but a lot has been going on with co-head turnovers and whatnot. First, I would like to congratulate the new ESSO Board on their positions! ESSO is a very special organization whose branches extend across more than seventy clubs. ESSO imbues and builds in both students and local children the value of non sibi, which is a lesson not easily forgotten. Now, the new board will work to continue this legacy and hopefully gain new appreciations in the process.
I’m unsure whether this column will continue, but nonetheless, I would like to update you on the new happenings in ESSO and close with a note for the future. One new noteworthy club is EVEE. EVEE stands for Exeter Vietnam English Education. Every meeting, an Exonian is paired with a student in a Vietnamese school. Your job, should you attend this club (which you should), is to simply have a conversation. The Vietnamese students understand English, but they do not understand how to have a conversation. It’s a lot like learning a new language and looking at a starter book, reading a sentence, and thinking, “I know what those words mean, but I have no idea what they say.” Likewise, these Vietnamese students need to practice using English in a colloquial setting. Such practice will prepare them for adult life and offer much higher paying jobs. If you would like to help change the lives of a Vietnamese student, e-mail Thomas Lè ‘19 at tle@exeter.edu.
As for other news, this is the last week of ESSO clubs for the term. Clubs are winding down, many co-heads are preparing for their long-awaited senior spring, and the weather is showing signs of the coming vernal season. After club-head turnovers, Issay Matsumoto ’17 and I will be passing the baton to new Beach Cleanup co-heads. I can’t say that I’m not happy someone else will be able to experience the joy that leading Beach Cleanup has brought me, but there is a certain surreal feeling to it. It’s like waking up the day before school starts. If I could give one piece of advice to new co-heads, it would be to live in the present. Senior spring may seem a long way away, but it will be here faster than you would believe.
Finally, a note to the future: keep moving forward. You may find that you did not receive your wanted co-head position or that you don’t know where to bring your club. Don’t worry. It’s important to fight and be grateful for the little victories because that’s the only way to win the long-term goals. Even if you aren’t co-head, you’ve demonstrated an interest in the club, and that is not forgotten. If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to do, try something new. You will miss every shot you don’t take. And sometimes, a little bit of discouragement can lead you to discover a better path. Most importantly, focus on self-improvement in your own eyes, not others’. Strive to beat your former self, compete with yourself alone, and you will find that non sibi comes naturally. I wish the best of luck to the new ESSO Board, co-heads, and to you in your quest to become a model member not only of ESSO, but also of Exeter and the world.
Peace and Love,
John Ragone