According to Beckett Broh, “Dr. King’s leadership generated some of the most significant social change our country has experienced . . . without holding an official position of power. By speaking openly and fervently, and by sacrificing personal freedoms, he pushed our country to change in unparalleled ways.”

With such an inspiring description, it’s hard to imagine why we wouldn’t honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our school.

Through the annual MLK assembly on Friday, January 16, we celebrated his life and accomplishments as a community, incorporating poetry, music, and student, teacher, and staff performances.

By mixing the grades and bringing the entire school together, we generated the feeling of unity that Dr. King strove to achieve. And with the introduction of the Peace Market this year, younger and older students alike could showcase their plans to make the world a better place for all.

Whether through learning about the Civil Rights Movement, studying his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, or simply discussing the relevance of his messages in today’s society, Dr. King’s legacy has always been an essential part of our school community.

Discussion of King’s work has been so frequent throughout lower, middle, and upper school, that I’ve heard several mentions of the MLK assembly punctuated with exasperated sighs. However, this is exactly why the celebration is necessary.

As our lives get busier and our worries increase, it becomes easier and easier to get too caught up in ourselves. We forget to be aware of how we treat each other and worry about how we can benefit ourselves.

By gathering in memory of Dr. King’s legacy, we can take precious time to reconsider our values. As Broh says, “History and justice are not something you study one or a few times. We must regularly take time to reflect and be mindful of how we live each and every day.”

On our following Monday off from school, we needed to reflect on who and what the MLK holiday truly stands for.

Photo by Caroline Anders’17