April 21, 2022
from Mark Segal, Upper School Director
Over the course of the past year, the other two division directors and I have committed to writing an article for the Panther Post every other week. Even though I enjoy writing as a way to express my thoughts and know there is so much to share with families of upper school students, I often find myself waiting until the last moment to write my bi-weekly article. It would be easy to come up with valid and justifiable excuses (spending time with students, responding to emails and voicemails, meetings, etc.), but in reality it is pure and simple procrastination – the act of delaying or postponing something. Now in my twenty-seventh or twenty-eighth year of working with adolescents, I understand that the art of procrastination is real and that it impacts most of us in some way. We may avoid something that is challenging, find alternative things to do, or fear not doing the task “well enough.”
Psychologist and author Alice Boyes published a study in The Harvard Business Review that shared some findings and assumptions of procrastination, and made suggestions to counteract them. The first assumption is that those who procrastinate are undisciplined and do not have the self-control to do what is necessary. Although there may be some truth to procrastinators being headstrong and set in their ways, Boyes suggests that habits and systems be established by setting up a consistent schedule for completing the assigned work or task. The author also found that, “We tend to avoid tasks that stir up negative emotions.” Additionally, the belief is that when experiencing feelings of uncertainty or anxiousness negative emotions are brought to the surface and we are more apt to procrastinate. In this case, the suggestion is to disentangle our emotions from the task, and find a way to make it fun and reward yourself when it’s done. Lastly, the HBR article shares that we often find ourselves stuck in a pattern of unhelpful thoughts that occupies all we think of. The researcher suggests to break this cycle that we, initially, limit ourselves to short work periods and slowly built upon them, like training for a marathon.
Thankfully, I do not fall within the twenty percent of the population who are defined as habitual procrastinators (Psychology Today). Instead, I fall within the eighty percent of the population who for one reason or another choses to wait, sometimes until the last minute, to complete a task or assignment. Hopefully, writing this Panther Post article and understanding some of the reasons behind my own procrastination will allow me to reverse this pattern. I will wait until my next article to see if this is the case.
I look forward to seeing you on campus soon.
Important Information
Save The Date!
We’re excited for the 2022 MPA Spring Auction: Let’s Dream, tomorrow night, Friday, April 22 at A’bulae in Lowertown. This is an opportunity for our entire community to gather safely together and celebrate the year. The event will feature an amazing meal, fun games and prizes, and the chance to bid on and win wonderful auction items, all in support of the MPA community. The event raises more than $200,000 in support MPA students, staff, and teachers.
We are excited to offer the return to our in-person celebration of the special relationships between our students and their grandparents and special friends. Join us Wednesday, April 27 to watch a special performance and join them in their classrooms.
Upper School grandparents and special friends are invited to join us 12:30-2:30 PM. Details and registration for the day can be found here.
Anne of Green Gables follows the misadventures of a wildly independent orphan with fiery red hair and a temper to match. Cherished by generations, L.M. Montgomery’s timeless classic comes to life in a new musical commissioned by Theatreworks USA.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via the MPA show page. Prices are $5 for students and seniors and $10 for adults. Don’t miss the return of live theatre at MPA!
If your student will be absent, late, or needs to be excused early from school, please reach out to Rachel Westmoreland by email at rwestmoreland@moundsparkacademy.org or phone on 651-748-5544.
Looking Ahead
- Friday, 4/22: MPA Spring Auction: Let’s Dream, 6:30-10:30 PM, A’bulae
- Wednesday, 4/27: Grandparents and Special Friends Day, 12:30-2:30 PM
- Thursday, 4/28: Spring Musical – Anne of Green Gables, 7 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, 4/29: No Classes, Professional Development
- Friday, 4/29: Spring Musical –Anne of Green Gables, 7 PM, Nicholson Center
- Saturday, 4/30: Spring Musical – Anne of Green Gables, 7 PM, Nicholson Center
- Tuesday, 5/3: MPA Town Hall, 7 PM, Family Commons
- Friday, 5/6: New Family Panther Party, 4-5:30 PM, MPA Campus
- Saturday, 5/7: Grade 10-12 Prom, 8-11 PM, Off Campus
- Thursday, 5/12: Middle & Upper School Orchestra Concert, 7 PM, Nicholson Center
- Thursday, 5/19: Middle & Upper School Band Concert, 7 PM, Nicholson Center
- Friday, 5/20: Last Day of Classes for the Class of 2022
