On the Path to Purpose
The Ethical Education Committee has developed a student-centered plan that fosters both knowledge and action and reflects the Jackson Academy mission. On the Path to Purpose poses the questions: Who am I?, Who are we?, and What is my purpose? Through self-awareness activities, students are guided to recognize how physical habits, emotions, strengths, interests, and stress affect behavior. Each student is also helped to develop self-management techniques to handle emotions, achieve goals, develop courage, and gain resilience in the face of failure. On the Path to Purpose provides students tools and practice for relating to others effectively, including showing respect, increasing cultural awareness, and honing listening skills. To work toward discerning purpose, students are asked to write a reflection at the end of each grade that will ultimately become a portfolio they will employ in their junior and senior years to write and act upon an individual statement of purpose.