Community Life Meeting: Practical Bonding Moment Or Idealistic Experiment?

Reflecting on the polarized view on the April 23rd Community Life Meeting

At 7:00 PM, on a windy but pleasant Tuesday evening, the entire student body

gathered in their respective boarding dorms and day houses. At 7:08 PM, every single student

handed in their phones. At 7:10 PM sharp, the circle was full. With the purpose of strengthening the student connections and appreciating the beauty of the Middlesex campus, the student body ambled—or for those gifted with the legs of Hercules, swiftly paced—along the Circle, and headed to separate activities for each class after. The freshman class walked to the front gates towards Lowell Road and returned. The sophomore class headed to the turf were instructed by Karlyn McNall to stay completely in silence and observe the picturesque sunset. The junior class also meditated in silence, but on the Circle. The senior class, likewise, were on the fields and gazed at the sunset. Opinions among students regarding the community life meeting were polarized, with some remaining unimpressed while others expressed satisfaction.

Many students are critical of the hour-long meeting, claiming that the meeting felt “forced” as the school year approached an end, an exceptionally poor timing for a bonding experience. Despite admitting that the meeting aided them to relax and gain better mindfulness, some students complained that the time could be better utilized to prepare for the numerous tests in the following days. Two students I interviewed claimed that the meeting was unsuccessful entirely, as they did not find the experience beneficial for “cross-grade connections” or authentic connections in general. One of these two individuals thought that Class IV Choices and Class III Connections at the beginning of the school year were more helpful in fostering stronger relationships. The strict policy of no phones was also extremely controversial, as many argued that students would congregate without the policy anyway. Indeed, the community life meeting caused wide confusion among the student body, as they failed to understand the intent of the meeting.

By contrast, a large number of students nonetheless appreciated the efforts of this meeting. Many took full advantage of the mindfulness aspect of the meeting, utilizing the hour as an outlet to relax and meditate. Aaron Calle ‘26 found the meeting a great opportunity to catch up with friends, agreeing that the sophomore class bonded over the beautiful dusk. Tim Zhao ‘27 likewise cherished the moments with friends on the circle, and his roommate Ian King ‘26 further added that the spring weather was also very enjoyable. In fact, several students advocated for the meeting to continue next year, though believing that it could be scheduled at a better time. 

Despite numerous critiques, most students ultimately benefited from the hour away from the internet and an escape from the buildup of academic rigor in the spring. Regardless of student debates about the recent community life meeting, as Middlesex prepares itself for one of the busiest times of the year–with students of all grades preparing for AP exams and finals–this breezy, pleasant Tuesday evening was undeniably a rare hour for the entire community to gather together, meditate in silence, have each other’s company, and soak in all there is to offer in the spring nature.

Sixing Wang