Head of School Brent Bell’s Convocation Address

August 22, 2014 | 530 views

Read the full text of Head of School Brent Bell's Opening Convocation address below and watch the video.

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year. Our Opening Convocation is a powerful symbol of who we are as a community. Standing here is awesome. You all create a great picture of all that is Darlington. It is a special time when we are all together.

As Mr. Peer said to the Upper School on Monday -- A new year means a new beginning and new beginnings mean new opportunities. So take advantage of those new opportunities EVERY SINGLE DAY. Make this a year of no regrets.

One of the easiest ways to have a great year is to live a life of gratitude.

For me, I already feel a strong connection to this place and its people, and so I want to begin by saying thank you. First, I want to thank my family for their willingness to embark on this adventure. Students, thank you for your commitment to Darlington School. Whether in servant leadership, in the classroom, on the fields or in the theater you make us proud. Parents and alumni, thank you for the sacrifices you make for Darlington School and for the generous way you have welcomed my family into your world. Also, thank you to the wonderful faculty and staff who strive to empower each and every student, each and every day. Finally, please join me in saying thank you to all of those who work tirelessly through the summer and all year to help us be ready for today (our staff from Sodexo).

New opportunities will also mean new challenges, so we should take a moment to reflect on the knowledge that we are on this journey together. We are part of Dar World. We support each other. Dar World is a place where we become Tigers Together as we come to embrace THE TIGER WAY.

Some of us live across the street in the Home-on-the-Hill, others in 23 different counties in the state of Georgia, still more come from 15 additional states and 22 countries around the world. In Dar World, we are connected by the fact that 109 school years have come before us. Connected by the fact that in its simplest form this school was founded, has grown, and will continue to thrive based on relationships. 

We are connected because we believe in the mission and ideals of this school. My charge to you today is to own YOUR experience. Strive to be your best every single day. Believe in yourself, be willing to embrace the challenges and strive for a successful life. Most importantly, trust yourself and be true to yourself!  

In closing, I would like to share a story about Ling. The message is powerful and one that we should all take with us. This is not my story, this is a universal story.  

Thank you to Mrs. Holmes and Mrs. Overberg for helping me find this story... 

The Emperor's Seed

An emperor was growing old and knew it was time to choose His successor. He called the young people in the kingdom together and said, "It is time for me to step down and to choose the next emperor."

"I am giving each one of you a seed today. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge what you bring, and choose who will be the next emperor!"

Ling received a seed like the others. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and carefully watered it. Every day, he watered it and watched to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing grew. Three, four, five weeks went by but nothing sprouted.

By now, others were talking about their plants. Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by; still nothing grew in Ling's pot. He believed he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. He just kept hoping for his seed to grow.

After a year all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for his inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot, but his mother said he must be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right.

When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the others laughed at him.

A few felt sorry for him and said, "Hey, nice try." When the emperor arrived, he greeted the young people and then surveyed the room. Ling tried to hide in the back.

"My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor!"

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm a failure! What will he do?!"

When Ling got to the front, the emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied.  The emperor looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed.  How could he be the new emperor?

Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. I gave you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees, plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"

What will you plant? 
 
Plant honesty, you will reap trust. 
Plant goodness, you will reap friends. 
Plant humility, you will reap greatness. 
Plant perseverance, you will reap victory.  
Plant consideration, you will reap harmony. 
Plant hard work, you will reap success. 
Plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. 
Plant openness, you will reap intimacy. 
Plant patience, you will reap improvements.  
Plant faith, you will reap miracles.

What you plant now will determine what you will reap tomorrow. So, own your experiences. Plant the right seeds. Live a life of honor above everything and know that we are Tigers Together.

In just a few minutes we will ring the bell to begin Darlington's 110th school year. Let's make it a great one! Thank you.