As the school year kicked off, a surprising sight awaited students at the lost and found: a growing pile of misplaced items within just one month. From water bottles to jackets, the collection serves as a reminder of how easily our personal belongings slip from our minds. This raises questions about our relationship with our possessions and accountability as students. Do we genuinely value our belongings, or have they become disposable, destined to be retrieved by others? Why do we so easily lose track of items we’ve spent hard-earned money on? As we navigate our daily lives, it’s worth considering how our actions—or inactions—affect not only us but also our environment and those around us.
At Parker, we pride ourselves on the freedom to express ourselves, pursue passions, and explore new ideas, all grounded in respect and responsibility. This freedom includes small daily acts: managing our belongings with care and remembering that accountability goes hand-in-hand with true independence. To have personal autonomy is to value what we own and understand its worth. Accountability at Parker means taking ownership of our actions and responsibilities, showing integrity, and making positive contributions to our community. When water bottles, jackets, and books accumulate in the lost and found, it reveals a disconnect between ownership and responsibility. Embracing this accountability not only makes us more intentional stewards of our environment but also more mindful of our lives and the impact we have on others.
Autonomy over our belongings isn’t just about tracking our Lululemon water bottles or Brandy hoodies—it’s about valuing the things that support us daily and define us as Parker students. Managing our possessions fosters a mindset of care and mindfulness, translating to how we handle larger tasks, from managing schoolwork to honoring commitments. Our behavior also models for younger students the importance of valuing their belongings and reducing waste. By setting this example, we contribute to a culture of responsibility, reminding ourselves and others that even small efforts, like retrieving a lost jacket, can ripple across our community and inspire future generations to do the same.
The ease with which we replace lost items today might underlie our detachment. In a world where nearly anything can be easily reordered, it’s easy to see possessions as temporary, disposable, or endlessly replaceable. Losing something doesn’t feel as significant when we know we can get a new one tomorrow without lasting consequence. But this raises a bigger question about value: if we don’t care enough to keep track of what we own, how much care do we bring to other parts of our lives?
As Parker students, our freedom comes with responsibility. Real autonomy isn’t about the convenience of replacing lost items; it’s about respecting the things we already have, each of which serves a purpose. If we don’t care enough to hold onto a jacket or a water bottle, how can we value things that are more important and irreplaceable? Embracing accountability, even in small ways, encourages a more thoughtful approach, reminding us that every item, every commitment, deserves our attention and care.
