Planting seeds of strength with Amanda Gorman's inspiring poem

As I copied her words onto the windows, I felt as though I was carrying her message into our classrooms, hallways and lunchrooms. Beneath Gorman's words, I painted flowers of all colors, shapes and sizes.

As I was nearing the end of the painting process one evening, Andrea, a member of our incredible cleaning crew, stopped to compliment my flowers. After sharing my thanks, I asked if she had helped with the clearing and cleaning of the windows the week before. Andrea nodded and smiled, explaining that when she was not too busy cleaning the rest of the school, she worked to clear the windows for a short time.

I was overcome with gratitude for this woman who shared her time, energy and elbow grease to help me fill the halls of Collier with a little beauty. Keeping our school doors open during a pandemic places extra burdens on those who work tirelessly to keep our campus clean and safe. Andrea, like many others at Collier, simply stepped up to do the work in front of her without being prompted.

Andrea's witness models how each small task at Collier is not simply part of the job, but rather contributes to a larger mission. At Collier, we plant seeds and care for what begins to bud. However, this work is always a team effort, and it takes a village to build a healthy environment for true growth.

During these two weeks of remote learning, I was reminded of the moments before a harvest, the quiet before a bloom. As I painted daisies and tulips of all colors on the windows, I thought of the many colors our students carry onto this campus, the way our students uniquely bring themselves into this quiet space in the woods. The campus becomes holy ground each time our students christen it with their presence, struggles and joys.

School during a pandemic has been by no means easy or without obstacles. In many ways, Collier's ability to teach our students in person has been a great blessing. Most of our students are better able to thrive when in person and on campus.

However, in-person instruction has also been exhausting. Wearing masks, social distancing, using desk barriers, postponing clubs and activities, occasionally switching to remote learning and experiencing unreliable internet connections, dealing with difficult home situations, feeling separated from community, losing family and friends, and more have gradually chipped away at our resilience.

Amanda Gorman's words resonate in a particular way as I think back on the first half of our school year:

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

That even as we grieved, we grew

That even as we hurt, we hoped

That even as we tired, we tried

As we experienced loss and change this year, we discovered community and creativity. As we encountered new obstacles and wounds, we were continually inspired by fellow students or staff members. As we grew weary of remote learning and physical distancing, we recommitted to keeping one another safe.

Gorman's words, now dancing amid a mural of wildflowers in Collier High School, remind us of the obstacles we have had to overcome this year and provide us strength for the many more we will face before the school year is over.

I began painting the flowers on the Collier windows just as the Northeast was hit with a major snowstorm. With nearly 2 feet of snow on campus, it was difficult for me to even open the building doors. However, I smiled to myself while painting as I looked beyond my paintbrush and transparent canvas to what lay beyond the windows. The powdery snow created a stark contrast for the colorful flowers. The background of the cold winter was greeted by a mural of blooming and bright flowers.

This image was reflected in Gorman's closing words:

When day comes we step out of the shade,

aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light,

If only we're brave enough to see it

If only we're brave enough to be it

Amid a difficult year, the hallways of Collier were brimming with life and color, waiting for the students' laughter to provide water and sunlight for growth. When we cannot find the strength or hope to continue in difficult times, we need not turn far for inspiration to bloom.