September 11: The Exeter Blindfold

All of us know of the Exeter “bubble.” Many hate it, some love it, but regardless, it’s safe to say that it’s there. Our workload and activities consume us, and as we slip into the bubble of Exeter, New Hampshire, we also slip into our own personal routines and schedules that are essentially sub-bubbles on their own. A quick scan on Facebook, Instagram or your other preferred method of social media can easily lead you to contemplate your physical and social removal from both home and the greater bit of society. The middle-of-nowhere-ness can foster our independence, growth and perspectives, but in too many scenarios we find ourselves blindfolded rather than nurtured. Our bubble has the tendency to separate us from the fast-paced mainstream or the hustle of city life, but the blindfold can also manipulate our thoughts in the short term and cripple our overall perspectives in the long run.This year, there was very little mention around campus of the tragedy that struck our nation on September 11, 2001. Several individuals remembered, and perhaps some teachers brought it up in class, but there was absolutely no school-wide commemoration. It’s not that our community as a whole was bubbled and a little behind with this event; it’s that it was simply blinded altogether. As hectic as the first week of school can be, it’s ridiculous to think that a school whose founding and existence have been chronologically parallel to this very country lacked community-wide remembrance for an event that changed our society both nationally and globally. After expressing disappointment, the only appropriate feeling is “why not?” Why didn’t a school that so carefully highlights the importance of global awareness and exemplifies the values of education in America observe a moment of silence for the deadliest, most tragic event in recent national history? These aren’t accusations; they’re simply observations and questions drawn from this event—or, perhaps more accurately, non-event. Some Exonians, too, glossed over the day; for many, it was just another Wednesday during the fall term to wake up, go to class, and rush to sports or clubs by the afternoon. I’m positive that if we were in a larger city or closer to several other people and not so consumed by the bubble, then maybe, just maybe we would have reflected on these lives lost just over a decade ago. As distant as 12 years can seem, September 11 was a day that altered many lives and perspectives in our country and around the world. The united student body’s commemoration of this year’s anniversary wasn’t diluted or delayed by a clear layer of thin, soapy shine; it was nonexistent.The signs of a blindfold aren’t just emerging out of national events. As discussed during the release of the 2013-2014 calendar last year, Community Action Day will not be held this year. The date proposed for the spring’s school-wide service day conflicted with prospective programs because it was a holiday for local public schools. The lack of the day wasn’t the school’s fault inherently, but it has still taken away from an event that fosters a grounding school motto, non sibi. The idea that a day to give back—for some, a day that’s the majority of their community service share for the year—was removed from the calendar is disappointing. The day symbolized our community’s connection to and care for a world outside our collective, in addition to respective bubbles. The calendar conflict is something we can’t control, but students are still responsible for maintaining awareness and living non sibi outside of an annual Academy required appointment. Failure to do so is succumbing to the negative shadow of the bubble—a.k.a. the blindfold.Echoed by Michael Baldyga ’15 this past April, those in favor of the bubble often state that they appreciate Exeter’s work environment, academic challenge and plethora of activities without the stress of the real world—that dealing with the real world is some formidable task tucked away for the future. I, too, am grateful for these opportunities made possible by Exeter, but there’s simply no avoiding the real world. The truth is, our perspectives, skills and mindsets are developed gradually over periods of time; they’re fed and nurtured by our experiences and surroundings. Rarely do qualities alter or appear so quickly. There’s no switch in your brain that you can simply “turn on” when you’re “just ready” for the real world. Your collection of perspectives will help prepare you for those days. Attending Exeter is partly submitting yourself to a bubble, but the extent to which you bubble yourself and whether or not you relapse into the blindfold state is your choice.The fact that the Academy was not gathered in remembering the tragedy of September 11 is disheartening, but it’s no excuse for some students glossing over the day themselves. Perhaps Exeter expects its students to assume individual responsibility in commemorating such days. Whatever the case is, the community fell short somewhere and somehow. The best and most effective way to change this is not by interrogating the administration or other students. Rather, making our personal efforts a bit stronger the next time around—maintaining consciousness while still inside the bubble—is most influential, especially to others in the bubble with you. Even if the school had held an event, it would have had no meaning without genuine awareness and participation by the student body.There is a clear line between the two phenomena of the Exeter bubble and the Exeter blindfold. The Exeter bubble might delay our interest in a popular culture fad, prevent us from thoroughly memorizing the latest hour’s current events, maybe let some people run away from their old schools back home or gives others a break from the bustling life of the city. The Exeter blindfold, however, can reel us in and consume our mindsets, effort and thoughts. It can eat at some of our perceptions and notions of the real world—a fact of life that we simply cannot avoid. Protecting ourselves can be good, and while we are lucky to be sheltered from some things, we must balance and remember the boundaries of bubble versus blindfold.