We all know the Hero’s Journey is the classic narrative for the yearning of the human heart.
But why choose it as the foundation for a school?
For two big reasons:
1. The Hero’s Journey is about excellence.
At Wonder, we will not settle for mediocrity. We will ask each day, “Is this your best work?” We will push each other for continual improvement; for analyzing mistakes in order to learn; for addressing fears and for being honest with each other. It is easy to be mediocre. It is safe, like staying moored in a harbor. The search for excellence is a long, arduous journey that takes years of effort. This is the Hero’s Journey to which we have committed ourselves. We promise your children will understand what it means to achieve excellence if they choose to stay at Wonder for a number of years – because, yes, it takes years.
2. It is about service to others.
Finding your own passions and gifts is meaningless without the Hero’s Journey as a framework. At Wonder, the ultimate purpose of honing your gifts is to use them to make life better for others. Simple as that. The entire practice of leadership at Wonder is set in the ideal of serving from behind rather than ahead of others. This means listening more than speaking; being a role model rather than an announcement-maker; inspiring through empathy. It means celebrating when others shine rather than seeking credit for the shining.
When our children have a hard day, we can encourage them that the journey they are on is not for the average human being. But it is for them. They have chosen it and we believe in them. Taking a rest can be good but the most important question may be: Are you ready to journey on?
[Blogs or portion of blogs may be adapted from the blog of our partner school founder and advisor, Laura Sandefer.]