More or Less

By TONY WANG ‘20

The beginning of the school year is always accompanied by change, including new classes, different activities, and novel ideas. Amid the bustle, we frequently hear messages encouraging us to take a courageous step and try something new and unfamiliar. Indeed, Milton offers a myriad of options for each block of time in our day-to-day schedules, and exploring the various possibilities of classes, sports, activities, and entertainment encompasses a thrilling process that defines a significant portion of our identity as Milton students. However, does a student’s experience improve as the number of classes and events in which they choose to participate increases? Generally, their experience improves only to a certain degree. Exploration of new interests is certainly important, but often times it serves as simply the means to the end of building an efficient and fulfilling schedule in both the short and long term.

We have a limited amount of time each day, and using it wisely correlates directly to our success and happiness at Milton. We often hear an emphasis on “more”, but “less” can be just as helpful in our lives at Milton and in the future. Generally, “more” appears earlier, and “less” emerges later. “More” constitutes an important process of accumulation, of discovering and exploring new concepts, fields,and passions. “Less” revolves around the idea of determining one’s true interests, focusing on the most captivating areas, and dropping some of the less engaging ones. Essentially, the latter process entails compressing an expansive list of interests into a functional combination with differing priority levels and goals for each portion.

It is often easy to lose sight of “less” in the face of immense stress and heaps of work, but implementing the idea in our lives actually offers a multitude of benefits. Fewer extracurriculars and worries equate to a lower stress level and an improvement in productivity. Being able to focus on a few tasks rather than attempting to perform many allows for higher efficiency and quality of work. Also, having more time for thought can generate more creativity and innovation. In addition, “less” on a schedule creates a buffer zone and leaves flexible space for other events, potential setbacks, and relaxation. Most importantly, adopting the most interesting areas from the “more” stage of exploration will crystallize into a fulfilling “less” where students can embrace the parts of Milton they actually want to be a part of. In short, while exploring the “more” and discovering novel parts of Milton is critically important, we must remember the importance of the “less”. Not being afraid to dive into the “less” will allow us to prioritize our schedules to fit our interests and maintain healthy productivity from day to day.