Spring Term Senior Meditations Adapt to Virtual Programming

By Safira Schiowitz

Senior Academy traditions have been disrupted on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, including Prom and the June 7 Commencement Ceremony. In an effort to preserve Meditation, the capstone of the Academy English program in which 20 seniors share personal reflections accompanied by music, students and faculty involved in the program have taken Meditation online. Seniors’ Meditations premier on Exeter Connect every Tuesday and Thursday in both written and audio form, along with opening and closing music selections. 

The virtual program was organized by Reverend Heidi Heath, Interim Director of Religious and Spiritual Life, with the assistance of IT services. “Ms. McCarron and Ms. Pottle from IT are the real MVP's of this project!” said Heath. “They worked tirelessly to build our Sharepoint page, figure out what kinds of things we needed, and to help make this a reality. I'm also grateful to Ms. Richter for helping us figure out the best way to share meditation with the whole community.”

Heath explained that the organizers of the virtual program tried to find ways to make the online program a fair experience for all students. “We considered the possibility of video vs. audio recordings, but ultimately Dr. Bramlett and I felt strongly that this be as equitable as possible.  Not all students will have the same level of access to privacy for a video recording, reliable internet, etc.,” she said.

Seniors giving their Meditations virtually this term have voiced some reservations about the new format. Though grateful that they can share their experiences at all, there are some things that are difficult to replicate on a virtual platform. “I think it’s [the physical Meditation experience] all designed to create a sanctuary of thought and expression in a way that fosters connection, unlike any other experience I’ve had,” senior Tatum Schutt said, recalling the many Meditations she has seen in Phillips Church throughout her time at Exeter. 

Schutt explained that the seniors presenting their Meditations this term made a group chat to stay connected, and all expressed their disappointment at being unable to present in that space.

The degree of that dissatisfaction varies among students, but most agree that presenting the Meditation in the church was a large part of the experience. “I think that a lot of what makes Meditation almost sacred to me is lost in the online format,” senior Anna Fahey said.

However, when all is said and done, Fahey is grateful for the online option. “What’s lost is lost, and while I would rather give my Meditation in the church, it doesn’t upset me to do it this way,” she said.

Senior Angus Scott shares a similar view, and is thankful that he has the opportunity to share his story. “Despite having to virtually share my meditation, I’m still looking forward to the same things,” Scott said. “I’m looking forward to people relating to my story. I believe it explores universal struggles of growing up and I hope it gives people reassurance. I wouldn’t say I have any reservations.”

Besides presenting their Meditation in Phillips Church, another aspect of the tradition that presenting seniors were looking forward to was speaking in front of their friends and the Exeter community. “The disadvantage of having a virtual Meditation program is that I didn’t get to have the personal experience and really connect with my community and feel the love and support it offers,” senior Morgan LeBrun said. 

LeBrun recalled how the Meditation program was one of her deciding factors for going to Exeter, and she was looking forward to making her mark on a tradition that she admired. “I wanted to look around the room and appreciate the faces of all those who came to hear my story,” she said.

Senior David Gonzalez shared this view. “I’m a little disappointed by the loss of the intimacy of the space of the church, as well as the physical presence that my friends would have given me during my reading,” he said. Gonzalez emphasized the importance of reading his Meditation in front of the Exeter community and his dismay at not being able to do so.

“Being able to share a story with the community, look up and see the people you’ve come to value there to support you is definitely not something that can be replicated online,” senior Avery Clowes said. 

Another concern voiced by some of the seniors presenting their Meditations this spring is that the online platform allows for their stories to be more publicized. “Knowing that my piece can be screenshotted, shared [via] email, texted – it kind of breaches confidentiality in a way that I wasn’t expecting when I wrote it,” Schutt said. 

LeBrun felt similar reservations about sharing her meditation. “I didn’t really want such a large audience to hear my story,” she said. 

Schutt did note that the publicization may come with some benefits.“I think Meditation is probably more accessible this way,” Schutt said. “Not everyone can make it to [Meditation on] Wednesdays. I recognize that people are normally very busy, [and] at least this way, it’s going to be up for a much longer period of time.”

“Based on the numbers I saw on sharepoint, it seems like hundreds of people are looking at these Meditations! If I understand the capacity of the church correctly, this is a much larger number,” Clowes said. 

Asynchronous Meditations allowed seniors to control their presentation as much as they could. “If I messed up, or didn’t like how I read a certain part, I could just start over,” senior Robin Potter said. 

Although not gathered in the church, the Academy community has persisted to support the seniors as usual. “Another highlight for me has been hearing from people who listened to my recorded Meditation and reached out to me over text or social media. Their texts made my day,” Potter said.

In this difficult situation, the seniors virtually sharing their Meditations are trying their best to remain positive. “Something I try to remember a lot is that life is easier if you're not attached to the outcome. This isn't an excuse to not try hard, or to not be hopeful, but I've found that keeping it in mind when things don't work out helps me deal with how letdown I might feel,” Fahey said. 

English Instructor Todd Hearon, the Meditation Series Coordinator, is optimistic about the impact of the virtual program on the Exeter community.  “I’m hopeful about the sense of community that they may continue to foster.  I’m also so happy that the seniors actually have the opportunity to ‘deliver’ their wonderful pieces,” he said.

Heath shares this wish. “I am hopeful it provides us connection in our common life together, and a common way to ‘gather virtually.’  I also hope people will treasure these stories our brave and wonderful speakers have offered for us.  I'm so thankful to each of them,” she said.

Above all, the seniors sharing their Meditations virtually hope that it will give the Academy something to bond over. Schutt reflected, “I hope that this virtual meditation will be a way to bring people closer to each other in memory and in meaning, if not geographically.”