Boys and Adaptability in a Changing World

Adaptable people possess a capacity to respond to uncertainty, change, and novelty, often with a positive attitude. They are further characterized by their creativity, resilience, and flexibility. In a competitive, high-achieving learning environment, our boys face many pressures, often dedicating time outside of school for extra tutors and coaches in an attempt to improve academic or athletic performance. There is little time left for the development of skills that foster adaptability. This year’s research projects prompted teachers to incorporate concepts such as mindfulness and reflection, academic resilience, curiosity, and creative and flexible thinking into lessons in order to qualitatively measure how these skills affected adaptability in our boys.