Josh Cobb, Head of School
This school year is a significant for you and for me. It is your graduation year, celebrating for some of you more than ten years at the school. It is my Master Teacher year, celebrating my twentieth year at the school. With milestones, come many opportunities to reflect, and one way I have reflected is to look at the bookshelves in my office and acknowledge the books that have been with me for those twenty years. One such book is Theater Games for Rehearsals by Viola Spolin, a resource I used often as a teacher here and for the six years before I came to Graland.
Why did this book strike me now before your graduation? First, the author turned twelve at the beginning of the Spanish Flu in 1918, just as many of you turned twelve around the beginning of the latest pandemic. Second, she was an educator who dedicated herself to children, and these past two years have shown the importance of educators more than ever before. Finally, Viola Spolin is credited with originating improvisational theater, whose tenets are incredibly instructive.
The first principle of improv acting is “Yes and…”, which means to build on the ideas of the other scene partners and let the action unfold from there. Actors know not to judge each other, and this approach allows the scene to flow. Together they get to yes again and again. Both the “yes” and the “and” are important as improv is fundamentally collaborative and relies much on trust.
Trust has defined the pandemic. Who do we trust? Do we trust health authorities? Do we trust media? Do we trust our leaders? Those are significant questions, but I believe there is a more primary question: Am I trustworthy? Let’s not begin by thinking about other people. Let’s think about ourselves. Do I earn trust by being competent, responsible, reliable, and humble? We can’t fully control the trustworthiness of others, but we can develop our own integrity and thereby earn trust. Then, by seeing how our own behavior fosters trust, we will clearly see those trusted traits in our peers and gravitate to them.
Without shared trust, teamwork is impossible. I saw that type of collaboration in your performance of Annie, that impressive ensemble effort that gave rise to an exuberant and fun-filled performance. I hope that you find those trusted spaces in high school, be it an acting troupe, a sports team, or a Model UN club. Whatever the opportunity, search out a group where you can both earn and give trust because without trust, you cannot grow.
Which brings me to the second principle: “Change, change, change.” Improv is generally about transformation, the shifting scene and the developing character. Each person on stage must embrace their journey and discover themselves through a series of choices. This is not unlike what you will face in high school. Change will happen, and it will come with some discomfort, even anxiety, a feeling of losing control; still I encourage you to embrace the vulnerability with bravery, just like you have met the challenge of the past few years with fortitude.
Leading a school during a pandemic, I came to realize that perseverance relies on adaptability. We can’t endure challenging times without adapting, and we can’t adapt if we always act out of fear. When we do everything we can to avoid risking our reputation as smart, talented, or popular, that is the nature of a fixed mindset. However, risking your reputation is not the greatest risk, the greatest risk is becoming stagnant and never growing into your whole, authentic self. Adapting to change with creativity and courage helps us mature and develop. Remember how often during the pandemic we persevered and grew in ways we didn’t even imagine. It is because, like improv, we committed to change on our journey of growth.
The third principle is to “give gifts.” In improv, actors commit to giving their full attention, all of their senses, their heart and soul, to their fellow actors. They are utterly present with each other. By completely committing to the scene, they contribute so much to their ensemble and to the audience. Through their performance, they give the gifts of surprise, of humor, of playfulness, gifts you have also given to us here at Graland. It is their purpose to both bring and find joy.
As you move into high school, I ask you to remember the importance of discovering joy and meaning while contributing your unique gifts. During the purpose summit last year, you asked yourself, “What are my gifts and how can I share them with the world?” Please keep asking that question, refining your own personal purpose statement, and following it forward into the world.
I am not sure that Viola Spolin was as impacted by her era’s pandemic as you were by yours, but I like to believe she discovered these lessons about integrity, adaptability, and generosity when she was your age and wove them into her theater games, games that gave birth to improvisational theater, games that grew from the pandemic but also left it behind. When I reach for her book from my bookshelf, I like to think so, I like to think that if we come together to trust, to grow, and to give, we can go forth from this time, build on its lessons while finding joy and purpose not only as individuals but as communities.
Thank you.
Graduation Speech
Josh Cobb
June 8, 2022
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
