Every year, students are assigned a reflection paper/project that connects the academic and personal growth curriculum at Hyde. They are asked to:
to use written and/or other artistic expression as a tool for thinking, discovery, and personal growth and capture your growth and character at this point in time, in addition to exploring who you are, where you are going, and how you are going to get there. Write as yourself, about yourself, with nothing to prove and something to discover.
The projects can be written, oral, or visual, but all convey the following information:
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"Who am I?"
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Identifying Strengths and Challenges
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Reflection on one of Hyde's Words or Principle
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Sharing Vision and Goals
Each of these points has questions to help guide the student in their writing. For example, in the area of Strengths and Challenges the students are asked:
Strengths - What are your strengths as you see them? What are the best parts of you? What aspects of your character do you bet on to get you through difficult times? Where did you originally develop those strengths? How have you honed or tested them this year at Hyde? What have you learned?
Challenges - What aspects of your character are in need of work and attention? What is it that you need to or want to work on? Why are these challenges in your life? Where and when did these challenges appear in your life experiences this year? What lessons are you learning from your challenges?
The faculty and students are always inspired by what emerges from this assignment. Personally, I am honored when a student shares their thoughts with me. A few that came to me this week included these words:
"Two of my strengths are living in the moment and finding inner peace."
"I have been told that I need to open up. I have never been comfortable with sharing my feelings and it affects how others see me.I do not want to be a surface person so going into 2026, I am challenging myself to break down walls that I may have put up over the years and be more transparent."
"These few months at Hyde School have taught me more than I ever thought they would. I have to say that I have learned a fair amount about myself."
"With the help of Curiosity, I was able to use my strengths that have been noted by others and also be aware of the challenges that can get in my way."
Veteran English Faculty member Mary Agnes Edsall has spearheaded this important project for many years. As she says, "This is valuable experience for all of us, and January is a good time to assess our visions and our plans for reaching them."
Laura D. Gauld '76