Head of School’s Notebook

September 12, 2024

I often marvel at the spontaneous moments of magic that characterize life on the Mesa. Such as seeing a senior holding the arm of a younger student on her way to the health center or the happenstance conversation I had at the Amazon Locker Hub with sophomores minutes after their return from Yosemite, packs on en route back to their dorm where they were giddily anticipating the simple luxuries of a hot shower and soft bed after a week in the wilderness. These small, delightful, and spontaneous moments of connection and care remind me of the larger questions and intentions that shape our collective experience at Cate.

One of the many intentional ways we begin the year is to identify an inquiry question that serves as a reference point guiding us throughout the year. This year in particular, I felt that our question – How do we come to believe what we believe? – could assist us in investigating and sharing the beliefs we each hold dear.

In my own reflection on the question, I am reminded repeatedly that while beliefs are abstract in their very nature, the origin of each belief is anchored in a story, an experience, a person we know, a book we read, or a place we visited.

For example, my understanding of the U.S. government is rooted in my experience growing up on Capitol Hill where I was friends with the children of politicians and when I saw their parents in the news, my first thought was, “Oh that’s Sarah’s mom, or Whitney’s Dad,” before I considered their political party. This still informs how I view leadership at every level, and more broadly, my understanding of others.

This understanding was reinforced earlier this summer when I received an unexpected email from a complete stranger, offering yet another example of how stories shape our beliefs. In this case, someone unfamiliar with Cate now holds the School in high regard given her inspiring interaction with one of our seniors. She was so moved by her interaction that she took the time to find my email address to share this message and then even went on to post the story on LinkedIn. She writes:

“I had the ultimate pleasure of meeting one of your students on a cross-country flight yesterday, Mike Barrera. Before I even got onto the plane, this young man noticed I was looking for a charger and offered me his. As fate would have it, I was in the middle seat, next to him, flying from NJ to California. When I tell you that I had the most impressive and insightful conversation about school, work, opportunity, fortune, and perspective – it’s not an exaggeration. This young man was such a gentleman. He spoke so highly of the privilege to be part of the Cate School and as we got into my career trajectory, he challenged me (respectfully), about why and how I got to my path. We chatted about his future, network-building, and life.”

As I think about the ocean of stories that inform who we are individually and collectively I can’t help but feel even more inspired to help Cate become the healthiest place to live, learn, and work so that we can ensure that our students, like Mike, enter the world beyond the Mesa open hearted, engaged, and curious. I believe that there is no greater predictor of long-term well-being than what Mike displayed on that cross-country flight.

What gives me even more joy is knowing that thousands of moments, stories, and interactions like this one happen each day as Cate students, alumni, and families live lives of meaning and impact and by doing so, tell the Cate story authentically through action. Now, there’s something to believe in!