Certainly this weekend wouldn't even exist without the focal point of the football team under the lights tonight. So much of what MBA aims to instill in our students happens on that team and on all kinds of teams across campus. Before the boys enter the larger world to which they will contribute, they learn how to contribute to the smaller worlds of their MBA teams. An offensive lineman offers skills to the team that a wideout can't, and vice a versa. The geometrician (surprisingly a real word) tackles triangle proofs for the Mathletes while someone else crunches the numbers to bring home a medal in statistics. The expert researchers on the debate team hit the books, and the expert speakers weave their words into a winning argument. Everyone can find a way to contribute within a healthy team dynamic.
Some of the teams on campus aren't even teams of students. One such team that deserves immense credit for their Minervan efforts this week is the MBA Mothers Club. The Spaghetti Supper, Bake Sale, and so many other traditions that go along with this week could never happen without the tireless work of these moms. We won't pretend for one second that the work of this team ends after this weekend; they make countless contributions to MBA throughout the year.
The academic departments are another key example of teamwork on The Hill. Under the leadership of the department chairs, each discipline carves a clear course for the boys. By the time they leave, the boys have a great shot at contributing something meaningful to the world thanks to the teamwork and collegiality of the teachers.
Perhaps most importantly, we learn how to be valuable members of multiple teams at the same time. Sometimes we even find ways for teams to collaborate and cross pollinate as ideas travel from one team to another. A picture captured yesterday on Patriotic Day of Spirit Week brings this kind of teamwork into focus:
Here we see people who belong to multiple teams. They probably agree that some of their teams are more important than others, but their membership in each one enriches their contribution to the others. We'll leave you to ponder this inequality:
Avengers fan < MBA department member < MBA employee < Nashvillian < American < Human