As I watched our youngest learners perform Little Prince this week, I couldn’t help but reflect on one of the story’s messages.
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
When students are free to explore their interests, to try and to fail, and to experience the interests of others, their imagination and creativity grows — as does their perspective. By having the freedom to explore their own interests and ideas means and being exposed to the interests and ideas of their classmates, students not only learn to embrace their uniqueness but to appreciate the differences of others and try new things as well.
“All grown-ups were once children, but only a few of them remember it.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
It seems like children are often more open to the beauty and mystery of our world, forever curious, exploring, asking questions, and seeking adventure in the everyday. With the responsibilities of adulthood, it is easy to get caught up in the many tasks, to focus on scores and results, to stop seeking experiences that broaden our perspective or serve no other purpose than adventure or to quench a curiosity. I feel so privileged to have a profession in which I am constantly reminded to lean into the messy process, to be open to new ideas, to keep exploring, and to enjoy the little things.