Diversity, shmersity....we're all the same???

The first thing that struck me as really unique about Detroit Country Day School was the amazing diversity of the student population. On my first visit to the school I was fascinated not only by the many different cultures and ethnicities represented, but by the seamless integration of students of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Although we sometimes refer to ourselves as being in the protective "bubble" of DCDS, in reality our students have an opportunity to experience the world as it is outside the protective confines of our school - a melting pot of religions, cultures, ideas and world views. Given all of this, I was interested recently while meeting with a DCDS alum who told me that really all of our students have one thing in common.

While our school is sometimes thought of as the "athletics" school, the "arts" school, or as the "math and science" school, when I was having lunch with our art department and DCDS alum Jeremy Sasson ('03), he told us that really all of our kids are the same in one way - someone in their life cares deeply about their education, and cares enough to make sure they have access to Country Day. That idea really resonated with me, as I see the commitment our famlies make to this school. While our students come from different places, different economic circumstances, and different world views, the one thing they do have in common is that someone in their lives cared enough to support them attending this amazing school. Unfortunately, not all young people in our country or the world can say that they have an influence in their life willing to make that kind of commitment. Aside from their own drive and aptitude, and the resources of this school, perhaps the most important ingredient to the success of our students is the support they get that allows them to attend DCDS.

In a world where we often focus on what makes us different, it's refreshing to search for those things we have in common. At least at DCDS, it's a great reminder that despite our superficial differences, a fundamental similarity is the belief in the power a quality education has to influence the course of lives.