We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Fabienne Polycarpe

The most important lesson I learned didn’t come from a textbook, it came from living, from the stops, the starts, and the pivots that shaped me. For a long time, I thought stability meant having a steady paycheck and a clear path. What I know now is that stability comes from trusting yourself and showing up fully for every season of your life. Read more>>

Aaron Coney

One of the most impactful lessons I learned in college came from my Consumer Behavior class — Professor Robert Harrison. I was fascinated by what drives people to buy — the psychology behind habits and brand loyalty. I still remember the day we discussed the power of nostalgia and how marketing trends tend to cycle. We listed Power Rangers, Ninja Turtles, Dragon Ball Z, and predicted they’d all come back around in 10 to 20 years. Read more>>

Dan Brown

I was in 3rd grade. It was a normal day, playing soccer in the school yard during recess. All of a sudden my glasses were somehow knocked off my face as I braced myself before picking them up off the ground. Sure enough, they were broken. I was instantly heartbroke, scared and nervous, thinking about the look on my parents face when I returned home to give them the bad news. They had repeatedly told me to take my glasses off before playing any sports, and I had disobeyed. When the school bell rang, I sheepishly walked back to the classroom as my friends raced past me to take enter the building. Once entering the building, a teacher noticed my dejected demeanor and asked what happened. As I told her the horror story, she tried to ease my pain with kind words, but to no avail. I took my seat and class began. Read more>>