This summer, intense sunlight blanketed the East Coast with unbearable heat. However, the heat did not hamper the festive summer mood in Cape Cod. The dense grove filtered out most of the blinding light and the cool sea breeze from the vast Atlantic Ocean, leaving the trails in Cape Cod cozy places to walk on. A group of students and teachers arrived in a full Cape-styled house, devoting their energy to English and computer science classes.
In a place with a pleasant climate, students and the teacher delved into a profound theme in an English class: what is a good life? The novella Dead Poets Society, a significant piece of literature, served as a guide for the teacher and the students as they explored the story of a group of high school students transitioning to find their passion for life.
“The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”
– “O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman
Our lives are short, but by reading the stories of others, we can experience the frustration, love, sorrow, hope, and so much more from these characters. Life exists and identity, and our differences in identities contribute to this vibrant world. Our differences are the verdant grove between us and the searing sunlight in the vast, cloudless, blue sky. Diving deep into each character’s emotion, growth, and interactions with one another, the students navigated through the trails of vivid portrayals of the characters’ lives. Through them, the students found their own verse-in-progress.
The passion was ignited through poetry and storytelling. Something was lit in the students’ eyes that could light up the whole Cape Cod village.
“Carpe Diem!” The student’s excited voice escaped the car, leaving Cape Cod, as she excitedly waved at the English teacher. The teacher beamed with an irrepressible smile, knowing that the student would embrace every moment of her life and seize the day.
Through programs like these at 4Schoolers, we encourage our students to think critically and philosophically. Exploring literature is one way we promote well-roundedness and meaningful discussion.
