By Zach Minkin

Minkin’s Musings: The Case for Afternoon Engagement

Mr. Ledyard spoke at a recent assembly. He implored us to continue to “step forward” and avoid disengaging from the community. Adam Schutsky ‘24, in a recent senior speech, spoke to the importance of being a “community of ambition” and having a willingness to “take risks.” Both of these messages compelled me to reflect on my Gilman experience, in which being a doer is an integral part.

I have attended this school for fourteen years. Beyond classes, amazing teachers, and competitive sports, my fondest memories of Gilman are those I made in the afternoons. Whether that be at Mock Trial, Model UN, or Gilman News meetings, I have never felt closer to the Gilman community than when participating in clubs. 

In my opinion, being a Gilman student goes beyond simply attending classes. It is challenging yourself to engage with the wonderful community of peers that make up this school. My participation in the recent play, The Matchmaker, opened a door to a new faction within a community I thought I knew so well. By daring to expand my horizons and taking a risk, as Schutsky spoke about, I found a new passion for acting and a new group of peers, even new friends, from every grade. 

In the Ford advisory, we often discuss the schedule. Some peers in my advisory do not like the schedule, calling the afternoon a waste of time. When I tell my friends outside of Gilman that we only have classes until 12:40, I am often met with shock and jealousy. I have always liked our schedule. The current schedule’s flexibility and freedom is one of our great strengths as a school. It allows students time to engage in meaningful activities beyond classes. But with great power comes great responsibility. I fear that some of us are neglecting the opportunities that the afternoon blocks afford us. Not only are some neglecting the gift, but by doing so, are squandering the fleeting, ever-dwindling time we have here.

By going off campus for lunch, leaving during free blocks, or simply skipping the afternoon, students are demonstrating a lack of care for the community. Certainly, seniors should enjoy the privilege of off-campus lunches, but to abuse the privilege and leave school for the entire day benefits no one. I wonder what would ultimately be more fulfilling: to go home and watch TikTok for a few hours or attend a Philosophy Club meeting. Personally, if I had simply left school and skipped blocks, my educational experience would not have been as fulfilling. 

Yet, instead of simply admonishing those who skip assembly and afternoon blocks, I think it best to examine the root causes behind a student’s decision to go home. It is a stinging indictment when my peers say they have nothing better to do than go home and use their phones, and it is a failure in two ways. First, it is a failure on the part of the student to foster meaningful connections to the community by not participating in afternoon clubs. Second, it is an institutional failure born from not emphasizing the importance of engagement. Students shouldn’t stay on campus because they are forced to; they should stay on campus because they want to. 

In no way am I excusing students who leave school early, but I do recognize how dull afternoon blocks would be if I did not have activities to enjoy during that time. While the dean's office continues to bolster its monitoring, I would hope that the community simultaneously refocuses our energy on cultivating and participating in exciting afternoon activities. I am encouraged by nascent clubs like Ethics Bowl, which recently won a regional competition. The club just started this year, but has already found great success. It is a great example of the natural talent we all possess and shows what we can accomplish if we simply try. 

To students who feel like they can’t find opportunities to get involved, I promise you there are plenty of groups who would welcome you with open arms. Just look at the vast list of clubs displayed daily on Mr. Gouline’s nightly announcements. All you need to do is show up, and they are right in front of you. Or, find a few friends and start your own club and add to the already diverse array of opportunities.