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Why the Grass is Greener at Avon

Stories, know-how, and guidance from the experts in educating boys.

Why the Grass is Greener at Avon
Adam Hushin

Why the Grass is Greener at Avon

As a four-year senior from Simsbury, Connecticut, I have been able to pick up some pretty great pieces of knowledge and life lessons that I've been able to apply in my own life throughout my four years at Avon. These lessons have been tremendously impactful on who I am today, and I'd like to share the one lesson that I consciously reflect on the most. 

Here at Avon Old Farms, we have a pretty strict ‘stay off the grass and follow the paths’ rule. This rule is certainly not new; many alumni might remember being reminded by teachers or administrators to stay on the path. As you walk around campus you'll see that some students abide by it more than others. When I started my freshman year at Avon, I followed this rule not because I necessarily believed in the values it represented, but because I was terrified of being yelled at by Head of School Mr. Detora or an upperclassman. As I progressed through my time here, some people in my peer group started to adhere to this rule less and less, but I seemed to appreciate and respect it more and more. I not only followed this rule on campus, but I adopted it into my everyday life. Everywhere I went, no matter who I was with, I refused to take a short cut and only followed the paved way. 

Let me share with you a quick story:

    Over the past two summers, I worked at a summer camp in Farmington alongside several other AOF guys. At the end of every camp day, we had a staff meeting that then released us to walk back to our cars. At this camp there are basically two lots the counselors would park in; an upper and lower lot. The upper lot was closer to the camp so it got full early in the morning. Therefore, me and my two siblings would always be forced to park in the lower lot. In order to walk from the lower lot to the camp area you had two options: 
        1. walk right across the grass and straight up the hill to where you had to go.
        2. follow the paved path but have to walk significantly longer around the grassy area, giving you a longer walk up the hill. 
 As you can imagine, the first option of cutting right across the grass was by far the most popular. So, the first day I showed up to work in the summer I was met with a dilemma. Do I take the easier and quicker path by following everyone else? Or do I walk the way the area was designed, leaving the group of counselors and giving myself a farther distance to travel? To make a long story short, I chose to walk the long way on the path every single day for two summers. Now, this act certainly did not go unnoticed—but not in the way I had hoped. In the minds of the other counselors, it seemed silly and foolish to not just walk right across the grass. But over time, it just became something I did, though every now and then, I'd catch some flak for it. Even through the criticism and the complaints, I never took the shortcut…I always followed the right path. 
 

Now this story, in the grand scheme of things, is pretty insignificant. But I share this with you to give you some context on how I feel about this lesson and that I really try to live it every single day. The lesson I'm sharing is about integrity and discipline: always follow the right path, even when it's difficult and short cuts are tempting. Success comes from respecting the system you operate in, persevering through challenges, and ensuring your actions leave a long-lasting positive impact. Now it seems silly to compare such a profound group of ideas to a summer camp story. But that's the thing, it all starts with the little things. In order to make a drastic change in your life, you must start with the little habits and things you do every day. These miniscule tasks like staying on the path …and not taking the shortcut…seem small, but they are laying the foundation for bigger and better things to come. This idea becomes even more important when the tasks are challenging or feel pointless. It can feel easy to just bypass the right way of doing a task, and try to find the shortcut. But in the end, by taking the easier path you've stalled your opportunity for growth and improvement. Instead of greener walkways, you have left yourself with trampled progress and potential. The shortcuts you took have left you worse off than before and you find yourself struggling to achieve your goals. 

Key Takeaways

Avon is a school that values the little things and doing things the right way. To succeed here, you must give attention to the little things, whether it's staying off the grass or showing up to morning meetings on time. People notice those details, and showing that you care can make a big difference in getting ahead.


About the Author

BEN BRESLAV, Class of 2025

Day Student from Simsbury, CT

Football & Lacrosse Player