[Updated] The Harker Speaker Series returns in 2009 with Rick Steves, renowned travel book writer. He will discuss his recent book, “Travel as a Political Act,” on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. in the Harker Gymnasium on the Harker Upper School campus, 500 Saratoga Avenue, San Jose. RSVP is required (HSSRSVP@harker.org), admission is free, and parking is at our Blackford campus with a shuttle service to the event (see note below). The talk will be followed by a Q & A and and a book signing — Kepler’s Books of Menlo Park will have books for sale at the event.
About Rick Steves A piano teacher in his early career, Steves necessarily traveled on a tight budget, and eventually changed from music to traveling and giving seminars on budget travel. He now hosts an hour-long travel program weekly on public radio nationwide, and is in his fifth season on public television.
In his book, Steves talks about the ordinary people he has come across in his travels across Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East, where he has learned about tolerance and cultural diversity, always seeking a fresh perspective as an American and a citizen of the world.
Note: Due to the volume of RSVPs we’ve received, guests will be shuttled from our Blackford campus (a few blocks away at 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose) to the Saratoga campus beginning at 10:00 a.m. and continuing through the start of the program. Return shuttles to Blackford will begin at the end of the program, and the last shuttle will leave Saratoga for Blackford at approximately 1:15 p.m. (This is a regular school day at our Saratoga campus and all parking spots on that campus are assigned and will be in use).
The Harker School Blackford Campus
3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose
Shuttle pick-up at Blackford will be in the front loading zone near the main campus entry. A security officer will be present to monitor the vehicles parked there.
Buddhist abbot Jian Hu Shi made his fifth annual visit to Harker Oct. 21, bringing his message on how to cope with life. The robed, tonsured, quiet, humorous monk, the first speaker in the Cum Laude Society Lecture Series, told a crowd of about 30 students and faculty members of the four noble truths and how suffering can be traced back to greed, ignorance and anger.
Jian Hu, who has a doctorate in computer science and worked in the aerospace industry before making the spread of Buddhism his life’s work, told a few stories of how Buddhist thinking, seeking the source of the conflict, had helped people resolve important issues. Jian Hu, abbot at the Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale, noted even an issue as large as global warming, caused by greed and ignorance – greed for personal possessions and ignorance of the long term pollution from them – can be addressed with Buddhist logic.
In response to questions from the audience, Jian Hu addressed perceptions about Buddhist doctrine, including respect for animals while understanding that killing an animal is not as bad as killing a human, and that it is hypothetically permissible to kill a human to save a village. He told of a couple methods of meditating and recommended meditation as a way to deal with anger, along with finding the source of the anger and examining its rationality. Jian Hu noted that nothing has real value except one’s mind.
The Harker Speaker Series (HSS), an exciting program bringing leaders and visionaries from a variety of fields to share expertise or unique experiences with our community, will begin its third year with a pair of audience-friendly refinements: complimentary child care and a social hour. With a 7 p.m. start time for most HSS events, the child care, refreshments and social time will help families make the most of attending these very special events.
This year’s first speaker will be announced soon, so watch the Harker e-Weekly, portal and HNO for more information. Questions can be directed to communications@harker.org.
On March 12, the Harker Speaker Series brought revered photojournalist Rick Smolan to Nichols Hall to discuss the increasing scarcity of clean drinking water around the world. His work as a photojournalist has appeared in publications such as Time and National Geographic, and he created the “A Day in the Life” series of photo books.
Smolan was “completely stunned at how interesting and troubling and in some ways inspiring the water problem is.” The difficulty, Smolan found, was worldwide. “It isn’t a problem; it’s a whole series of interrelated problems, and depending on where you are in the world, it’s a different problem.” Smolan then began working with Blue Planet Run, a water advocacy group, to create a photo book of the same name. The photojournalist, and now writer, seeks to change the perception the clean water crisis was only affecting the populations of poorer countries. Humans are now consuming water four times more quickly than nature is able to replenish it, and “Blue Planet Run features photos from Africa, where villagers must travel long distances to obtain gallons of filthy water, to West Virginia, where one family must deal with tap water so contaminated it runs blood red.” For the full story on this wonderful speaker’s visit to Harker, see the Harker Speaker Series page.
The new Harker Speaker Series kicked off with a bang March 7 with over 100 parents, students and faculty in attendance to hear the inaugural series presentation, “What Happens When E.T. Calls?” by Dr. Seth Shostak of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute.
Shostak presented a lively and very entertaining exploration about the scientific hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence – which is now into its fifth decade – and how a timely convergence of extremely powerful computers, sensitive arrays of radio telescopes, and sophisticated software positions us in a unique place in human history where success in the search may not be that far off.
Watch the next Harker News for a recap of the presentation, and for news of future speakers. We hope to see you at the next one!
Harvard professor, author and leading scholar of “Positive Psychology,” Tal Ben Shahar, Ph.D. presented a lecture titled “Learning to Be Happy: The Science of Happiness” at Nichols Hall on Oct. 16. Shahar’s appearance was part of the Common Ground Speaker Series, organized by a coalition of Bay Area schools to provide communities the opportunity to hear opinions from experts in the fields of education and parenting.
Shahar segmented his talk into four topics. The first, “Giving Ourselves Permission to be Human,” discussed how people are expected to be happy, and that happiness is equated to not having negative or painful feelings. Suppressing negative feelings, he said, also suppresses a person’s ability to have positive feelings. Feelings both positive and negative must be accepted in order to have more control and feel happier.
He then talked about how people can deal with the stress, saying that people are often stressed from trying to accomplish too much. To deal with stress, Shahar recommended taking breaks, of which there are three kinds: “micro breaks” lasting a few minutes to a few hours per day, “mezzo breaks” that include getting the right amount of sleep per night and taking the occasional day off, and “macro breaks” that consist of a week or more of time off.
Shahar championed the value of exercise, citing studies that indicate exercise could help the formation of new neurons in the brain, and improve memory and creativity. He also advocated the practice of meditation – focusing on a single thing to keep the mind from wandering, while breathing deeply and regularly. Studies have shown that “professional mediators” such as Buddhist monks are better able to deal with negative experiences.
The final part of Shahar’s lecture, “Focusing on the Positive,” dealt with how people can learn to recognize the positive aspects of their lives. He offered the idea of making a “gratitude journal” in which people would write down five things that they are grateful for each day. A podcast of Shahar’s presentation is posted on the Harker Parent Portal.
The second event in the Harker Speaker Series took place on May 16 at the Blackford campus with an engaged audience of parents, students and faculty in attendance to hear Dahr Jamail recount his experiences as one of only a very few unembedded journalists in war-torn Iraq.
Jamail, whose work now regularly appears in leading newspapers and magazines mostly in Europe and Asia, described how his outrage with the mainstream media led him to leave a comfortable life in Alaska to travel to Baghdad in the early months of the war in 2003.
Equipped with only an inexpensive laptop computer, a small digital camera, meager savings and the e-mail addresses of 130 friends and acquaintances back in Alaska, Jamail described how a fortuitous combination of Internet research and an early string of opportune encounters not only got him into Baghdad safely, but also helped him secure his first driver and interpreter.
Once in Iraq, Jamail was able to talk directly to the people most affected by the conflict, both citizens and soldiers. Jamail explained how this immediacy, along with his ability to bypass military censorship, enabled him to report on events that went either unseen or were falsely reported by mainstream observers offering, for example, a firsthand account of the actual events inside Fallujah following the now-famous siege.
Jamail spoke directly to the dozen or more middle school and younger children present when he stressed that the most important precept of journalism was to simply get out and tell the story.
Following the 45-minute presentation, the audience enthusiastically engaged Jamail with detailed questions, some of the most enlightening coming from the students. Jamail noted afterward that it was the response of the students, in particular, that gave him the most hope, saying that the intelligent comments and questions made his work that much more worthwhile.
Jamail’s upcoming work focuses on a quiet resistance movement that has been gradually spreading amongst deployed soldiers, and its impact on the war.
by John Jerney (John Nicolas, Gr. 4; Cristina, Gr. 7)
The second event in the Harker Speaker Series took place May 16 attended by parents, students and faculty, who came to hear Dahr Jamail recount his experiences as one of only a very few unembedded journalists in war-torn Iraq.
Jamail, whose work now regularly appears in leading newspapers and magazines mostly in Europe and Asia, described how his outrage with the mainstream media led him to leave a comfortable life in Alaska to travel to Baghdad in the early months of the war in 2003. Equipped with only an inexpensive laptop computer, a small digital camera, meager savings and the e-mail addresses of 130 friends and acquaintances back in Alaska, Jamail described how a fortuitous combination of Internet research and an early string of opportune encounters not only got him into Baghdad safely, but also helped him secure his first driver and interpreter. Once in Iraq, Jamail was able to talk directly to the people most affected by the conflict, both citizens and soldiers. Jamail explained how this immediacy, along with his ability to bypass military censorship, enabled him to report on events that went either unseen or were falsely reported by mainstream observers offering, for example, a firsthand account of the actual events inside Fallujah following the now-famous siege.
Jamail noted afterward his presentation that it was the response of the students, in particular, that gave him the most hope, saying that the intelligent comments and questions made his work that much more worthwhile. Jamail’s upcoming work focuses on a quiet resistance movement that has been gradually spreading amongst deployed soldiers, and its impact on the war.
The new Harker Speaker Series kicked off with a bang in early March. Over 100 parents, students and faculty attended the inaugural presentation, “What Happens When E.T. Calls?” by Dr. Seth Shostak of the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute.
Shostak, senior astronomer at the Mountain View-based organization, presented a lively and entertaining exploration of the scientific hunt for extraterrestrial intelligence that captured the imagination.
Using the needle-in-a-haystack analogy, Shostak noted the visible portion of the universe is home to over ten thousand billion stars. With between 50 to 75 percent of these likely to be capable of supporting life-bearing planets, the problem is no longer one of finding a single needle, but perhaps finding one of many.
Shostak highlighted the importance of searching close to home. Even the discovery of single-celled organisms would prove revolutionary, Shostak said, almost guaranteeing the existence of higher life forms elsewhere.
Outside our solar system, our best chance of finding E.T. is simply by listening very carefully. Using computer animation, Shostak gave the audience a bird’s-eye view of the amazing new Allen Telescope Array currently being built in Northern California, near Redding. Shostak thinks it’s likely this antenna array could provide at least a preliminary answer to the question of E.T.’s existence within the next 20 years.
Shostak suggested some type of machine intelligence was as least as likely to turn up as an organic life form, but made a compelling argument that any organic alien is likely to have some of our physical characteristics as opposed to the giant insects and other monsters so popular in Hollywood films.
After observing the Q&A after the speech, Harker parent Mariko Creasman(Adam’07; Alexander, Gr. 10) noted, “I was so proud of our Harker students; they asked excellent questions!”
Editor’s note: Harker parent John Jerney(John Nicolas, Gr. 4; Cristina, Gr. 7) was instrumental in arranging for Seth Shostak’s visit, and kindly provided this recap of the event for Harker News.
An enthusiastic audience of over 200 students, parents and guests warmly welcomed Kyle Maynard to the first event in this year’s Harker Speaker Series, held in the atrium of Nichols Hall on the Saratoga campus. In an introductory video, the audience was introduced to a young child, smiling, bounding through the house, playing football, writing on a computer. Normal things, the kind of moments and events that often pass without recognition. But not for the little boy on the screen.
For Kyle Maynard, even the simplest actions involved monumental amounts of patience, will, frustration and courage. Born on March 24, 1986, with a condition known as congenital amputation that left him with arms that end at the elbows and legs that end near his knees, Maynard discovered earlier than most the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity.
“Everybody here has a disability,” explained Maynard. “And we all have to accept it. We all have challenges that we don’t think we can overcome. And even if we don’t share them with others, we recognize them in ourselves.” From seating himself in the speaker’s chair without assistance, to demonstrating his favorite wrestling moves on stage following his presentation, Maynard is clearly the kind of person who refuses to let his disabilities get in the way.
“It’s easy to look at the challenges and use them as an excuse to quit,” noted Maynard. “Instead, be thankful of the challenges in your life. Instead of having them hold you back, think of them as a way to make you a stronger and better person.” This is clearly what Maynard did when he decided that he wanted to be a champion wrestler.
“It was very tough when I started in grade six,” recalled Maynard. “My dad videotaped me and made me watch every match.” Losing his first 35 straight matches over the course of a year and a half was hard on Maynard. “At the time, I didn’t understand what he was doing. But down the road, my dad made me who I am today.”
His hard work and faith in God propelled Maynard to reach an unimaginable height, winning 36 varsity matches during his senior year in high school, as part of one of the best teams in the Southeast.
Maynard recounted key moments in his life, some painful, some comical, all critical to his growth as a person. Maynard told of how one day his father simply stopped helping him eat and told him to figure it out himself or starve. Or how his grandmother would take him to the market to encourage him to interact with others. These and other moments helped Maynard realize that he wanted to be accepted as just another person, not as a person with disabilities.
Maynard now uses his special insight to help others. Particularly moving was Maynard’s recounting of a young corporal whom he met shortly after the soldier returned from Iraq, very badly injured. Seeing a story of Maynard on television was what got the young man up and ready to continue with his life, notwithstanding the unexpected new challenges.
“Things happen,” Maynard noted. “Stock markets crash, grades fall, and things happen that are outside of our control. Yet it’s up to us to decide how to react.” Today Maynard continues to work with injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, teaching them about hope and opportunity.
In addition, Maynard continues to drive towards new goals, which include training in the sport of mixed martial arts, also known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, scheduled to be introduced at the London 2012 Olympics. In characteristic Maynard fashion, he has an eye on making it on to the U.S. Olympic team.
Even Maynard was quick to admit that the likelihood of making the team is small, but then he quickly countered himself by advising everyone to set the bar higher than they think is possible. “Every excuse you make sets you further back,” noted Maynard. Instead, use adversity to improve yourself and take every challenge as an opportunity.
Privately, Maynard told me after the event that his real dream is to climb Mount Everest. I think the smart money is on Maynard conquering this dream as well.
by John Jerney (John Nicolas, Gr. 4; Cristina, Gr. 7)
Ed. Note:Many thanks to those who contributed to the more than $100 that was raised for the Special Olympics at this event.