Previously a space for classroom sharing in the morning, Morning Exs are now a battle to catch students’ attention as advisors monitor the constant chatter of their advisees, and many students slump in their seats. Still, certain aspects of MXs seem to catch the attention of a usually inattentive student body. MXs that are engaging, student-led presentations leave the student body captivated, yearning to see and learn more.
In years past, Affinity Group MXs have blended with other MXs struggling to stand out or be remembered fondly by the student body. Frequently featuring a slideshow about the event being celebrated with video clips that attempt to engage the student body, Affinity Group MXs were often dreaded. Many felt that reforms needed to be made: something had to change about the MXs that would help the Parker community better appreciate diversity. Cookie-cutter MXs with little engagement didn’t reflect Parker’s initiative of encouraging diversity in the learning community; they only encouraged students to neglect the importance of Affinity Groups and diversity around the school. After years of presentations that seemed to have little impact on the student body, Affinity Groups and their heads have shifted, and today, the MXs are presentations that show Parker students of all ages the beautiful diversity of the Parker community and the importance of Affinity Groups at the school.
Recent Affinity Group MXs check every box of what makes a good Morning Ex. The impact that they have on the student body isn’t just a temporary 45-minute assembly: it’s a true learning experience. Parker’s learning by doing philosophy is directly reflected in the many Affinity Group MXs that occur throughout the school year. It’s one thing to learn about different cultures in history class – it’s another to see them. Watching the Walter Payton Masti Dance group on stage is one way students interact with cultures and expand their knowledge and worldview.
Parker constantly talks about world citizenship. It’s written in our mission statement, on our walls, and it’s certainly ingrained in our minds. Affinity Group MXs provide another way students from eleven to eighteen can experience a new perspective. The “Parker bubble” can only reach so far in its understanding. No matter the age, learning about other cultures is pivotal to understanding that the world stretches far beyond the Parker bubble. Affinity Group MXs are undoubtedly one of the most important ways to achieve Parker’s goal of making its students well-rounded citizens. We must learn that it isn’t just Parker, Chicago, or America, and so we must use the 45 minutes we spend together as a community to uplift the voices, cultures, and history of every citizen.
From beautiful poems by senior Chris Cedillo to lively dances that keep the audience on the edge of their seats, Affinity Group MXs highlight diversity at Parker during a time of societal chaos. By embracing the cultures that make up our lively community, the Parker bubble turns into something more: a glimmer of hope. We should channel the adorable curiosity of lower school students who ask such thoughtful questions during Affinity Group MXs into how we carry ourselves through the halls and outside the school. Some may say that Affinity Group MXs are a sweet escape from academically rigorous days – but in reality, they are presenting and amplifying the beauty that is all around us.