~Charlie O’Brien, Class of 2023

New.The key to an open mind

Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

-George Bernard Shaw

Having an Open mind when faced with hardship opens many doors in life. Keeping an open mind when faced with new environments helped me become the person I am today. I learned very quickly that if I kept positive and had an open mind at all times, life would be so much easier. Open-mindedness might be one of the best lessons I’ve ever been taught in my life when facing adversity.

An adversity came apparent to me when I first started at Fenn in seventh grade. I was going to need to stay positive even though I wasn’t exactly happy to be dragged out of Curtis Middle School in Sudbury for some private school in Concord. I hadn’t ever had the situation where I had to make new friends because life in Sudbury, well everyone pretty much knew each other. I knew all of my friends from sports so starting middle school, I had my whole friend group before classes even started.

Nervous as a closer on the bottom of the 9th in the World Series, I stepped out of the car on the damp, green, grass. I felt like a stranger, I knew nobody at this new school. It was something I had never experienced before. I had to make new friends and keep an open mind. The first time where I could put my new skill to test was at advisory, out on the turf. I was super nervous but as soon as I stepped onto our little corner of the turf, Harry Lavoie asked me if I wanted to play football with him. From then on, it was smooth sailing. I found I had lots of connections with my advisors and I felt like I had been part of the Fenn community within the first weeks.

I am very thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone to face the challenge because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. It is important to have these skills in life because you ar always going to be faced with a situation like I was. Fortunately, Fenn is such a welcoming community and I was instantly met with friendships, but if I had been shy and still in my shell, I think things would be a whole lot different. 

When faced with the adversity of entering a new environment, opening up is always a great way to instantly fit in.