The Depot #8

By OLAYENI OLADIPO ‘19

Hey, Team! Welcome to ‘The Depot’, a storage facility for the topics of our time: the victories and defeats, the reliefs and worries, and the mindsets in the space of Milton Academy. Happy New Year! It’s officially 2019. The end of a year and beginning of a new year are times for reflection and anticipation. So, let us reflect and anticipate.

As a senior, 2019 holds a whole lot in store. I will receive my high school diploma, walk the halls of a new educational space, and Milton will become a distant memory – for the most part. So, when I reflect these days, I reflect on my whole high school career and what Milton has also experienced over the years.
The 2015-16 school year seemed to be a relatively positive time. The student body exhibited vigor and audacity. It was my freshman year. Everything felt new. Everyone was eager. Then, the year of 2016-17 came around, and things took a turn. The word ‘messy’ introduced itself to common slang at the perfect time, for the word is the only adjective I can use to describe my sophomore year. It was a messy year, not solely within Milton but within the country as well. In fact, the country’s messiness invaded the walls of the academy making that school year exhausting, turbulent, and unforgettable. After what seemed like forever, the 2017-18 school year finally began. The year was quiet and a bit weird. It felt like something hung in the air, disguising itself as normalcy. However, the year definitely ranked better than the last. And now, we are in the midst of the 2018-19 school year.

In the first edition of ‘The Depot’ this year, I shared a goal with the community. After a summer of daring to be my best self and live my best life, I called “that we, as a school community, should strive to become more introspective, deepening our self understanding through the understanding of others.” As 2019 begins, I ask of you, Reader, to not simply reflect on this goal but to continue striving for it.

Many frown at the phrase, “New Year, New Me.” It seems impractical to insinuate that a change by one second (from December 31st, 11:59:59 to January 1st, 12:00:00) can unleash your whole new character. In truth, that character, if a new one is even necessary, takes months to fully develop. And so, instead of implying that a new year requires a new you, I simply ask you to continue building on what you’ve already established. The same thing goes for Milton as a whole.

In an effort to remember the foundation on which we can develop—a foundation built on hopes and motivations— I redeposit the words I first shared on September 21st, 2018.

“I believe that knowing oneself requires more than an inward evaluation; it demands the understanding of others and the subsequent comparison that finally determines what’s truly important to oneself. The challenging part about this requirement is the sharing piece; divulging our histories and vulnerabilities is exposing. Sharing is most times impeded by fear and worries of misunderstanding … Still, even with the fear and potential discomfort, I encourage you to share what’s important to you, things that can help the community understand you and better support you.

As we share and view ourselves with others, seeing our stories beside the stories of our peers, we can begin to appreciate the coexistence of each other and our cultures at Milton. The more we engage with one another, the better we understand ourselves. This schoolwide self-awareness will allow us to confidently act in our truest form.

I envision Milton Academy as a place where every student, staff, and faculty member possesses such self-consciousness and self-control, qualities that come only through a united, intimate community. At this Milton, every experience is valid, as we walk with respect and dignity… By trying to be our best selves and practicing introspection through dialogue, we notice the potential in ourselves and in our community.”

This new year, take steps to reach your potential. Share your story and listen to others. Before we know it, the 2018-19 school year will be over. So, make the most of it while you can.

See you again at the ‘The Depot’!

Do you want a concern, opinion, or question of yours to be sorted, stored, valued, and remembered? Make a deposit to ‘The Depot’ today. Email olayeni_oladipo19@milton.edu and note whether you request anonymity. You can also drop off your letter in the TMP Office in Warren 304.