The Art of Showing Up

by Beth Creswell Wilson '96, PhD, Associate Head of School for Academics, Head of Upper School

As parents and educators, we share the same hopes for the GPS years: that our girls will thrive academically, develop skills for adulthood, and find fulfillment and belonging. One of the most powerful, but sometimes overlooked, ways to support all of these goals is the art of showing up.

Showing up is about being present, yes, but also about bringing energy, effort, and heart. Rivalry Week highlights this beautifully, with huge crowds cheering on our volleyball and soccer teams while the players themselves hustled, fought, and supported one another on the court and field. Students show up in quieter ways, too: attending a friend’s Terpsichord Original to celebrate her hard work and creativity, coming to morning help class to get individualized support, or pushing themselves at morning cross-country practice when they’d rather sleep a little longer. Even crafting costumes and sharing joy for this week’s themed days is a way of contributing to the life of the school. 

Since the pandemic, we’ve seen that some students find it harder to show up consistently. The national trend of increased absenteeism reflects how easy it became to miss school or skip activities during that time. For tweens and teens especially, academic or social stress can make it tempting to pull back. But showing up physically, emotionally, and socially is what allows students to build confidence and fully engage in their learning and community.

Creating shared experiences is key to the GPS approach. Collaboration and engagement are at the core of many lessons, participation in clubs and after-school activities is part of every student’s enrollment, and events from socials to performances to competitions fill the calendar each week. These opportunities give students countless ways to show up as friends, teammates, performers, and community members.

Ultimately, the art of showing up is a life skill. In college, careers, and relationships, success often comes from being present, engaged, and willing to contribute even on days when it would be easier to step back. The GPS years are the perfect time to practice this habit.

We appreciate parents for partnering with us in helping students show up in every sense of the word. When they do, they are preparing not only for success, but also for joy, connection, and meaningful growth in every part of life.