Head of School Julia Wall on how to Step Into Your Power (remarks from Convocation 2024)

We are back, Stuart! And I am thrilled to see you all. It has been a really busy summer at Stuart, and as you might have seen, some new spaces in Cor Cordis are still under construction. Even though it won’t be long before we can open all the doors to our new library, learning commons, health and wellness suite, National Center for Girls Leadership suite, and Campus Ministry room, I must admit that I am feeling impatient. I had a goal of having everything “perfect” for you on the first day, and it’s not totally perfect.

Has that ever happened to you? You had an ambitious goal or plan, and it didn’t go exactly right? Maybe you had a plan for how you wanted to be ready for this first day of school, and maybe not everything is in place. You don’t have every school supply. The backpack you really wanted was sold out. Your locker is not organized yet. You are still finishing the last chapters of your summer reading. Or maybe it’s something bigger, like something really tough happened to you or your family, and you are still recovering.

In big and small ways, life is definitely not perfect. And none of us is perfect either. You are not perfect. I am CERTAINLY not perfect. We are, like the Cor Coris project, beautiful WIPs – works in progress. And as I have gotten older, I’ve learned to embrace being a WIP.

Seniors, if I asked you whether everything worked out in your life exactly like you planned, what would you say?

Each one of our seniors has had goals and dreams for their lives. They have had a bunch of successes but also some moments of disappointment, doubt, and struggle. Through their years of growing up, they made space for new goals and dreams and kept taking steps forward toward their true, powerful selves within THIS community, among the friends, faculty, and staff, parents, and all community members who truly care about them. None of them are perfect, and no one is asking them to be. They are beautiful WIPs!

This year’s theme is Step Into Your Power! I’m not asking you to feel perfectly powerful and strong every day. That’s impossible for any human being. Instead, what I’m asking for you to do is take good care of yourself: go to bed early, eat healthy foods, let yourself laugh big and loud, talk to people about the important stuff on your mind, make your bed, forgive yourself for mistakes you make, do your homework and home chores, and drink lots of water. And then, with a healthy mind, heart, and vision, take one step forward each day toward your goals and dreams.

How many of you have watched The Wizard of Oz? Remember Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Lion from the Wizard of Oz? They traveled down that long and bumpy yellow brick road in search of the all-powerful one, only to find that all the power they needed was right inside them the whole time!

So, be great, my beautiful WIPs! We believe in you, your teachers believe in you, and God believes in you. Let’s have a great year Stepping into our power!

A Closing Blessing - by Dr. Thema Bryant, from Homecoming 2022

May you find ease within yourself.

May your body be safe to relax, your mind be safe to flourish, and your spirit be safe to soar.

May you reclaim your breath, voice, gifts, and fire.

May you glory in the sound of your laughter and delight in the beauty of your dance.

May you forgive, accept, and love yourself fully and courageously.

May you recognize and remember yourself no matter what is happening around you.

May you give yourself permission to always come home and find the welcome mat in place.

May you connect with kindred spirits for mutual care along the way.

May the sacredness of your being always take priority over the busyness of your doing.

May you know deep down in your bones that you are lovable and worthy of respect.

May the values of compassion and liberation guide your feet in purposeful living.