---
title: "The Pursuit of Happiness: Intentional Focus"
description: "On Wednesday evening students and faculty will return from a two week break and dive into a new year. As we each consider resolutions for the year ahead, we offer our resolution: pursue happiness."
image: https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/art.jpg
---

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## The Pursuit of Happiness: Intentional Focus

Posted by [Scott Allenby](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/author/scott-allenby)

12/31/2018

As the sun rose over the east side of campus on this final day of 2018, the simple joy of another day on this earth settled upon us. The peacefulness of quiet pathways, empty classrooms, and traces of late November snow storms clinging to shade cast on the north side of buildings is lovely, but leaves campus feeling incomplete. On Wednesday evening students and faculty will return from a two week break, filling the void we feel right now as we all dive into a new year. On this final day of 2018, we offer our New Year’s resolution for 2019: Pursue Happiness.

![Shirley](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/Shirley.jpg?width=5472&name=Shirley.jpg)

Time seems to stand still during this final week of the year leaving plenty of opportunities to reflect on our role as educators in a complicated world. In our quest to develop the most dynamic educational model for our students, we risk over-complicating our work. When we start to peel back the layers to Proctor’s programs, to the academic support we provide students through our Learning Skills Program, to the athletic and art programs that help define so many students’ lives, not to mention the classes and off-campus programs that drive our teachers to continually dream up new ways to engage and challenge our students, we realize at the heart of our mission is the simple goal of creating an environment where our students are engaged and happy. When we witness these traits in our students, we are confident learning is happening, we know growth is occurring, we see ‘aha’ moments spark discovery, and we, collectively, move forward in our journey as a learning community.

![art](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/art.jpg?width=6720&name=art.jpg)

During an icy run to nearby Bradley Lake on Saturday morning, I cued up an old Ted Radio Hour podcast from 2014 titled *[Simply Happy](https://www.npr.org/programs/ted-radio-hour/267185371/simply-happy)*. Throughout the episode, Guy Raz explored the age old question of whether or not there is a secret to happiness. Of the six speakers featured during the hour, Matt Killingsworth's talk on finding happiness in the moment sparked a flood of thoughts on how Proctor’s educational model is perfectly suited to develop happy, engaged students. Take time to listen to Killingesworth talk [HERE](https://www.npr.org/2014/02/14/267188672/are-we-happier-when-we-stay-in-the-moment).

![happy](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/happy.jpg?width=6720&name=happy.jpg)

Through extensive research at Harvard University, Killingsworth found people are often happiest when they are lost in the moment. While it may seem counterintuitive, even if that moment involves an activity you dislike, when you are fully engaged, you are happiest. We have all had those moments of intense focus where we lose track of time and became fully immersed in the activity before us. Regardless of whether our focus is on fixing a faucet, competing athletically, navigating a 135 foot schooner through a storm, or creating a piece of art, happiness and engagement are inextricably tied.

![ocean](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/ocean.jpg?width=6016&name=ocean.jpg)

Moments requiring intense focus abound at Proctor. So do distractions. We cannot demand our students’ attention, there are simply too many competing distractions that surround our classrooms in this era of mobile technology. Restrictions around technology use are effective in the short-term, but we know too well ourselves that the lure of that little red notification always wins. Instead of placing more and more restrictions on our students, the onus must be on us as educators to create experiences that entice our students to willingly set aside their phones and to immerse themselves in the learning opportunity before them. 

![engineer](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Pics/Community/2018-2019/Pursuit%20of%20Happiness/engineer.jpg?width=6720&name=engineer.jpg)

Listen to reports from [Ocean Classroom](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/ocean-classroom-2018-celebrating-25-years-at-sea) students this fall and [Mountain Classroom](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/mountain-classroom-the-okefenokee) students this winter and you can see just how ready our students are to set aside their technology in order to immerse themselves in the moment. Spend time in the wood shop, metal shop, or [Slocumb Hall](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/mikes-notes-the-soul-corner-of-slobumb)and you will see intense focus (and happiness) as a mere byproduct of the work asked of those who enter those spaces. Travel abroad with our students to Proctor en Segovia, Proctor en Costa Rica, and European Art Classroom and you will see students operate more independently and with more maturity than thought possible. Walk through Shirley Hall or Maxwell Savage and observe classes in action, where students are moving around, engaging with each other, laughing AND learning, and you will see that adolescents are desperate for an educational experience that engages them.

![33754930925_2cc7f54278_o](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/hs-fs/hubfs/33754930925_2cc7f54278_o.jpg?width=5472&name=33754930925_2cc7f54278_o.jpg)

Our New Year’s resolution is to pursue happiness in the Proctor community by doing what we do best: engaging students in their own learning. We will each approach this resolution in our own way - offering yoga, meditation, and fitness classes in the new Wellness space in the Farrell Field House, developing new projects and collaborations in our classes, implementing new activities for advisories and dormitories, carving out time for volunteer opportunities for our teams - but our hope is that as we create engagement opportunities, we will continue to see the smiles around campus that remind us why we believe so deeply in this school’s educational model.

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- [June 2018 (10)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2018/06)
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- [March 2018 (13)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (23)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (20)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (13)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (19)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (17)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (14)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (7)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (4)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (8)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (27)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (24)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (16)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (26)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (22)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (16)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (22)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (23)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (16)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (7)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (5)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (11)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/06)
- [May 2016 (25)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/05)
- [April 2016 (23)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/04)
- [March 2016 (16)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/03)
- [February 2016 (29)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/02)
- [January 2016 (18)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (17)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (17)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (22)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/10)
- [September 2015 (13)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/09)
- [August 2015 (6)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/08)
- [July 2015 (7)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (8)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/06)
- [May 2015 (27)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/05)
- [April 2015 (19)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (14)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (24)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (21)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (16)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (18)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (20)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (17)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2014/09)
- [August 2014 (6)](https://blogs.proctoracademy.org/archive/2014/08)

see all

### Recent Stories

### Telling the Proctor story

[READ CHUCK'S CORNER AND ACADEMIC LENS BLOG ARCHIVES HERE](http://chuckscorner.proctoracademy.org/chucks_corner/index.html).

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Located in  Andover, NH,  Proctor Academy is a private coeducational day and boarding school for grades 9–12. Students benefit from a rigorous academic program, experiential off-campus programs, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.

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(603) 735-6000

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