Last week I announced my lifelong love of all things Olympic. Throughout the last couple weeks, I have had the good fortune to watch the broadcast of many different events. From the last minute victory of the women’s rugby team to the scores of individual stories of triumph, tragedy and everything in between, I was hooked, and my love of the modern Olympic games have only grown that much stronger. I am already looking forward to the Los Angeles games – especially because it will include women’s lacrosse.

While watching the games this year, I was forced to watch all the advertisements and for the most part tried not to succumb to the powerful messages of ad agencies. There was one ad, however, that really struck a chord with me. It was for Toyota, and it starts with a runner getting set in the blocks, then a host of people come out behind the runner, indicating all the support behind that runner. The ad goes on to repeat the same theme, with different events like judo and weightlifting. I love the sentiment behind this ad and find it remarkable to think of all the people that are responsible for helping these incredible athletes to achieve their dreams.

I believe deeply that an individual’s will and effort can allow people to achieve extraordinary things. But I also know, through lived experience and through a career in education – no one can do it alone. No matter what the goal, no matter what the accomplishment, support from parents, siblings, mentors, peers, and so on are what enables it all to happen.

One of my favorite traditions at The Beech Hill School is when 8th Graders give their speech at the end of the year. For over a decade, I have had the chance to hear about all the people that have helped our graduates to successfully complete BHS. My heart swells when I hear these stories, and wish that, like the Toyota commercial, all those individuals that helped our graduates could be on stage with them as they receive their certificates. What a powerful sight that would be.