4 December, 2012
Dear Parents,
It is with mixed emotions that I write my last principal’s message. As I thought about
the topic for this message, I reflected on the past 8 years at HHS and what final
thoughts would be the most valuable for me to share. I decided that if I could share
one message with you, it would be the importance of letting your children struggle
through the difficulties of life and develop the essential coping skills and resilience
that will help them navigate their future.
The children in Hopkinton are, for the most part, very blessed. The majority of them
have stables lives and live in good homes with families who care about them and are
doing all they can to help them to succeed. In my experience, they are good kids who
strive to be respectful to others and treat them with kindness. That being said, they
are still teenagers, and they make teenage mistakes and have typical teenage issues.
It is so important that when they make those inevitable mistakes or have those predictable
lapses in judgment, that they experience the natural consequences of their
choices. When parents consistently try to save their kids or pave the way for them so
that their path is easy, children do not learn how to deal with disappointment and
pain and they do not learn the fundamental truth that all actions come with consequences.
Some of the most resilient children I have met in my career are the ones who
have had to struggle, who have experienced loss and heartache and have had to work
hard for their good fortune. They have gained confidence in their own ability to make
it through difficult times and their experience tells them that the hard times will pass
and that the sun will start shining again. If we don’t let our children experience difficulties
during their teenage years and learn that they can make it through them, then
they will not be prepared for the challenges of young adulthood.
So, when your child experiences a road block, whether it is a conflict with a peer, a
difficult conversation with a teacher or a poor choice on their part, let them try to
work it out on their own first. Let them experience the sadness, the pain or the heartache,
let them serve the consequences of their actions and learn to make a different
choice next time. Give them the opportunity to struggle and realize that when things
do not go their way, they have the ability to make it through difficult times. By doing
so, they will gain the confidence that they can navigate the pitfalls and roadblocks
that come their way and they will be stronger young men and women because of that
knowledge.
I want to again thank all of you for your support and confidence in me throughout the
past 8 and a half years. I will certainly miss working in this community and the opportunity
to interact with such a special group of young men and women. I am very
proud of the faculty and staff of Hopkinton High School and I know that they will continue
to work tirelessly to provide a high quality education for your children. I am
also confident in the ability of Mr. Bishop and Mr. Ghosh to lead the school and we are
working to ensure that the leadership transition will be seamless for your children. I
look forward to watching the success and growth of HHS as it moves forward. It has
been my privilege to be the leader of such a vibrant, high quality and hard working
community.
Best wishes for a blessed holiday season!
Sincerely,
Alyson Geary
To see the HCAM News interview with Principal Geary, Click Here.
