Three days on and I’m still too shell-shocked to make much sense of anything, and even the Cubs World Series championship tastes like ashes in my mouth, but I want to share this hopefully inspiring message from my high school alma mater, Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois.
Yesterday, the superindendent, Dr. Eric Witherspoon, read the following message on the P.A. system and then again with groups of students in the cafeterias during lunch periods. It’s posted at District 202’s website, but it’s worth sharing here. Read and enjoy (an explanation: since Northwestern University teams are the Wildcats, ETHS’s are the Wildkits):
Dear ETHS Students and Parents/Guardians -
This morning Dr. Witherspoon shared the following message of hope and belonging with students and staff over the P.A. system. This message will be shared on the ETHS website and social media channels.
Evanston Township High School
Good morning, E-Town –
This is Dr. Witherspoon.
Once in a while it’s important that we pause and reflect on who we are and reaffirm our appreciation for one another.
This morning I want to remind all of you that ETHS is a safe and welcoming place for you. You attend a school where we not only respect differences, we embrace our diversity.
We embrace one another’s race and ethnicity. We embrace one another’s family background, heritage, language and culture.
We embrace one another’s religion and your right to your own personal customs and beliefs.
We embrace your sexual orientation and your gender identity.
We embrace your special needs.
We embrace you and value you as individual human beings.
Never forget: you belong here at ETHS—each and every one of you.
Today, I urge you to be kind and caring to one another. Redouble your support for one another. And even though we cannot always control what is going on in the larger world around us, we can define our own school, our own community.
Let’s make this school year a year of strengthening our sense of community here at ETHS, and let’s reaffirm a community legacy for all the students today and for those who will follow you at ETHS.
The sun is shining today. Your school is a nurturing place for you to learn and grow. Your futures are bright.
Let’s protect and take care of each other. Everything is going to be okay.
I love all of you. Fill your hearts with love for each other. And no matter what, remember, even today, that it is a great day to be a Wildkit.
ASUNTO: Todos son Bienvenidos Aquí - Un mensaje del Dr. Witherspoon
Buenos días E-Town –
Este es el Dr, Witherspoon.
A veces es importante que hagamos una pausa y reflexionemos en quiénes somos y reafirmemos nuestro aprecio por cada uno de nosotros.
Esta mañana quiero recordarles a todos ustedes que ETHS en un lugar seguro y acogedor para ustedes, Ustedes asisten a una escuela donde no solo respetamos las diferencias, nosotros abrazamos nuestra diversidad.
Nosotros abrazamos nuestra raza y etnicidad. Abrazamos nuestros antecedentes familiares, herencia, idioma y cultura.
Abrazamos la religión de cada uno de nosotros y su derecho a sus propias costumbres y creencias.
Abrazamos su orientación sexual y su identidad de género.
Abrazamos sus necesidades especiales.
Los abrazamos y los valoramos como seres humanos individuales.
Nunca lo olviden: ustedes pertenecen aquí a ETHS - cada uno de ustedes.
Hoy, los exhorto a que sean amables y se cuiden mutuamente. Redoblen su apoyo mutuamente. Y aunque no siempre podamos controlar lo que está pasando en el amplio mundo a nuestro alrededor, nosotros podemos definir nuestra propia escuela, nuestra propia comunidad.
Fortalezcamos nuestro sentido de comunidad en nuestra escuela año a año, aquí en ETHS, y reafirmemos un legado de comunidad para todos los estudiantes hoy y para todos aquellos que los seguirán en ETHS.
El está brillando hoy. Su escuela es un lugar seguro para que ustedes aprendan y crezcan. Su futuro es brillante.
Protejámonos y cuidémonos uno al otro. Todo va a estar bien.
Los quiero a todos. Llenen su corazones con mutuo amor. Y no importa lo que pase, recuerden, incluso hoy, es un gran día para ser un Wildkit.