An overarching theme throughout this school year has been the value of face-to-face interaction. The new cell phone rules caused a stir at the beginning of the fall, and, more recently, Philadelphia Eagles star Lane Johnson warned about the dangers of social media while addressing the upper school in Centennial Hall.
Last April, the editors-in-chief of The Index had a simple message for the student body — “Stay healthy” — with an emphasis on problems like addiction and sleep deprivation. We similarly want to reiterate the importance of physical well-being: maintain proper nutrition, make the right choices, and get enough sleep.
Keeping in line with this year’s lessons, though, we also want to place an added focus on mental health, and the topics of screen time, social media usage, and the nature of interaction are clearly relevant.
There is no greater cure for mental and emotional distress than engaging in an open, honest conversation with a peer
As the weather continues to improve, we hope that all of you will find more reasons each day to leave your homes — and your screens — to truly connect with those around you.
If there is one thing we’ve learned this year, it’s that there is no greater cure for mental and emotional distress than engaging in an open, honest conversation with a peer. This spring, make the effort to create those opportunities, not just to support those around you, but to support yourself.