The Importance of Community at Sage
Coming from a background in cultural anthropology, I have studied communities all around the world, each of which has its own traditions, rituals, and kinship networks. Humans are, by nature, social creatures, and a community is a group of humans that come together over some perceived commonality. Every community is held together by the social glue that is common ground, be it rituals, kin, or even literal earth beneath its feet. Sage as a community is no different.
The individuals that comprise a community give it meaning and cultural significance. In the case of Sage, we are lucky to have so many amazing tutors from different backgrounds, both in terms of education and ethnicity. In enriching our environment with a variety of perspectives, we can come together to create something greater than the sum of its parts: a community. Together in our journey for self-improvement, we can work with our students to contribute to their personal growth, and consequently, to the growth of our community.
Every community has a “temple,” or a gathering place where the community can practice its rituals as a group. Locality is extremely important in forming a community in that it grants its members a place to meet, socialize, and exchange ideas. For Sage, our offices are places of learning and experience. Our community members gather in these temples for the sole sake of expanding their knowledge, which speaks volumes about Sage’s place in the greater community of Marin. Places of learning have always been central in any community, even dating back to tool-making circles in the time of Homo Erectus. Just as in ancient times, the areas around our offices bloom vibrantly and vivaciously. Our temples are not silent, looming, ivory towers, but are more akin to Greek and Roman forums where people come from all over to improve their critical thinking and reasoning skills.
Kin are those we consider close to us: our family, friends, and confidants. In our society of global connections and fleeting interactions, the close-knit bonds between tutor and student are invaluable. Sage tutors look out for their students and inquire into their lives. We make an effort to not only educate academically, but to also set an example for our students to follow in life. Sessions spent with students are bonding times that are crucial to expanding our kinship networks and widening circles of trust, all the while encouraging students to connect with the world around them and expand their kinship circles in turn.
The rituals of Sage are ones of cooperation, constructive criticism, and celebration. Tutors don’t simply lecture; they work hand in hand with their students to help them overcome perceived academic weaknesses and to highlight their strengths. The hour students spend with their tutor every week becomes habitual; it becomes ritual. Those sessions going over algebra homework or preparing for the SAT take on a greater cultural meaning that give value to self-improvement and contribute to the sense of community that is the lifeblood of Sage.
Sage is a cornerstone of our local community in that it stands for the power of education above all. Through its three “temples,” rituals, and kinship networks, Sage continuously encourages its students to climb to higher peaks and reach their goals in whatever field they pursue. As members of the Marin community, we must do our part to assure the continued success of our kin. It is our duty to do so, and that is what makes a community greater than the sum of its parts. Each individual accomplishment means so much more when put into the context of the group that helped produce it. In the case of Sage, we all work together to bring new ideas to the table and to constantly push our students toward academic excellence. Together, we are brilliant. We are a community. We are Sage.
Learn more about article author, Adam, and our other incredible educators by visiting our Team page!
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