Relationships Matter

My grandmother, Maude Broadbent, was born just over 103 years ago on Jan. 29, 1923.  Shortly before she passed away, I was in town for a conference, and we met at her favorite restaurant, Marie Callender’s. 

Seeking perspective, I asked her if she had any wisdom to share with me. “Eat dessert first,” was her quick response. After her familiar self-chuckle, she followed up with the additional perspective of one who had lived a great life: “Speak kindly of others, laugh often, write more letters, and relationships matter.” Her actions had already taught me these lessons, but I’m grateful for how she was able to encapsulate a life’s worth of learning in so few words.

“Relationships matter.” As we visited that day, she spoke fondly of family members, long-time friends, neighbors, former teachers, and so many others who had made a difference in her life.  And she reciprocated. 

I remember frequently stopping at her house on my way home from middle school for a listening ear (and usually a homemade cookie). I always felt that when I was with her, I was the most important person in the world. She prioritized relationships over everything else, and it left a lasting impression.

Even in our technology-rich world, our best learning and growing experiences are still centered around relationships, and building these relationships is central to the core values and recently updated Portrait of a Learner at Seven Hills.  

In addition to supportive parents, family members, and friends, each of our students is connected to teachers, advisers, college counselors, school counselors, nurses, coaches, support staff, and administrators who know them, cheer for them, rejoice in their successes, and support them in the inevitable setbacks.  

Our most sincere hope is that each student finds and connects daily with multiple caring adults during their time in our community.  

I love walking the halls and seeing these connections at play — in the hallway, during office hours, in classrooms, at practices or rehearsals, in clubs, at lunch, during school or class meetings. 

Yes, our teachers prepare fantastic classes, develop our students’ skills, and push them to grow, but in the end, our students will treasure the interactions long after specifics have been applied and forgotten.  

I will never forget the time my ninth grade Spanish teacher, Sr. Thomas, convinced me that I could actually speak Spanish, even without using the subjunctive perfectly. He changed my life.

As did my grandmother.  

On that summer day, we decided to eat dessert first by sharing a piece of pie before we ordered our meal. As adults in the lives of the rising generation, let’s all remember the strength that comes from connecting with and lifting these amazing young scholars. Relationships matter.