Staff, students work to ‘row the boat’
By Lynsi Musselman
Albany Junior Senior High principal Glenn Hill has adopted ‘Row the Boat’ as the 2020-2021 school year’s ‘never give up’ mantra.
“This year is a year of uncertainty for everyone,” Hill said. “I wanted to use something with the staff and students to help us face any adversity that may come our way.”
Hill added that just like in rowing the boat, the staff and students do not know what the future of the year will look like. Even if all they see is what they have done in the past, they can make changes based on what they have learned from the past.
“We are facing the future not knowing exactly what it may hold, but I want us to always look forward in an energetic manner,” Hill said.
He explained that ‘Row the Boat’ is a culture developed by the University of Minnesota head football coach P.J. Fleck, designed to help build life principles in youth today.
Hill said when the method of ‘Row the Boat’ is broken down, there are three parts.
The ‘oar’ is the energy and the only thing that moves the boat.
The ‘boat’ is the sacrifice. The more sacrifice, the bigger the boat, making the boat sturdier and able to hold more people.
The ‘compass’ is the direction the occupant is traveling.
“When someone rows a boat, their back is to the future, which cannot be seen or controlled,” Hill explained. “It is important to trust the compass and the other people in the boat.
Hill added that all the rower sees is behind him (the past), which cannot be changed, but the experience can teach a lesson that changes one’s path.
“No one knows what calm seas or storms are ahead, but it is important to keep the oars in the water,” Hill said. “The rowing itself is the only thing that can be controlled. When the oar comes out of the water, the boat stops and fails. But a lesson can be learned from the failure, and the occupants can continue to row the boat and move forward.”
Hill concluded that everyone has to be rowing in the same direction, at the same speed, and with the same efficiency to get from point A to point B in the most effective way possible.
