EPISODE 15 | 27 min | Jun 13, 2024
Our culture’s relentless emphasis on achievement is leaving many young people feeling socially disconnected. As a result, they question their significance and importance to others—in other words, how they matter. Dr. Sarah Bennison, a longtime educator and the founder of Trinity School's Office of Public Service in New York, is on a mission to change that.
Two years ago in Manhattan, a group of parents discussed the struggles their children faced to succeed. Among them were Sarah and Jennifer Breheny Wallace, author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic.
Sharing similar concerns, they launched The Mattering Movement, an organization that provides teachers and youth with toolkits, and soon a curriculum, offering tangible steps to build a sense of purpose through community ties.
“It’s nonstop pressure,” says Sarah. “Grind culture teaches us to buckle down and drill down.” Her words reflect our vernacular for communicating achievement. But think about it: "grind," "buckle," and "drill"—these are terms typically used to describe machinery. And yet, this is how we talk to kids.
Sarah’s initiative is shifting this narrative. By promoting self-worth and mattering, her work aims to create communities where people are not just achieving but thriving.
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