Real Island, Real Choices

Princeton, MA

The banal pursuits of so-called “reality television” include voting people off various islands. Well, Outward Bound demonstrates the power of remaining on an island – Thompson Island, in this case. Outward Bound’s five-day Choices program uses the singular environment of an urban island to help Boston middle-schoolers learn self-reliance and teamwork and to engage in demanding character and leadership development.

I was privileged yesterday to observe the Choices graduation ceremony on the island as these wonderful kids spoke about conquering the 64-foot Alpine Tower and participating in other physical challenges. The most powerful stories conveyed at graduation, however, concerned their insights about social justice and the perils of alcohol, drug, tobacco and junk-food abuse, gangs, misogyny and homophobia. “Take yourself seriously,” they told each other at the graduation ceremony.

One is thankful for the business leaders who take these astonishing young people seriously, by investing in their futures, as we are for the young people who serve as their counselors and role models.