LANDON LOWDOWN
Landon... In Your Words
The Bear Blog on our website gives alumni, students, teacher-coach-mentors and parents a platform to share their perspectives on Landon. The following are excerpts from three recent posts. To read the full posts, as well as many more from members of the community, please visit landon.net/bearblog.
ETHAN FREED ’11 SHOWED WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A BEAR The following blog is an excerpt from the ethics speech that Spanish teacher Jeremy Norman ’92 delivered to Middle School students and faculty in September. In it, Norman spoke about how Ethan Freed ’11, who passed away in 2006, embodied what it truly means
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to be a Landon Bear.
ometimes teachers and coaches can inspire their students and their athletes in myriad ways — passion for acting, art, math, language, music, community service, wrestling,
water polo, and so on and so on. I see it [at Landon] every day, and it is what makes this place special. The relationships, the development and the lessons.
What you boys may not realize is that often
you equally inspire your teachers, your coaches,
and the members of the Landon community. You inspire your peers, both young and old, with your
Ethan ‘made it cool to be kind.’ – Jeremy Norman ’92, Spanish Teacher
himself. He was always fair. Ethan had a magnetic personality.
Always with a smile and a friendly hello. He was a natural leader,
intellect, your thoughtfulness, your altruism, your athletic
and his positive attitude would rub off on his classmates and peers.
persevere.
School... Former Middle School head Doug Norry used to speak
prowess and your artistic talent. You boys succeed, you fail and you Ethan Freed was a young man who routinely inspired his peers,
his teachers, his coaches, and all of those who were fortunate to have known him. He did so by his daily approach to his academic and
He had groups of friends, but he rose above the cliques of the Middle about Ethan’s positive impact on the Middle School, and of how Ethan “made it cool to be kind.”
I want to stress that it was not easy for Ethan to always be caring
athletic challenges, but even more importantly by how he treated
and considerate, to work to the fullest of his potential, to practice his
loved his parents, Jeffrey and Susan. He loved his brothers — Adam,
purpose. It was not easy for him to treat all of those around him with
everyone with respect, attention and care. Ethan Freed loved life. He who graduated from Landon in 2013, and Alex, who is currently a
Form IV student and is the varsity soccer goalkeeper. Ethan loved his friends and he supported all of his classmates. He exuded a positive
attitude, and it was infectious. He always demonstrated the courage to rise to challenges again and again. He had the courage to always give his best effort.
For Ethan, giving his best extended well beyond the classrooms and
athletics fields. Ethan Freed gave his attention. He gave advice. He
offered friendship, a smile and a shoulder to lean on. He recognized his weaknesses, he heeded advice, and he always strived to do better. He was always kind to all. He was respectful of his peers, his school and
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hardest, and to turn his weaknesses into strengths. He did so with
respect. It was intentional. It was not easy for Ethan Freed to be a great listener, and to always be inclusive of everyone, yet he did so day in and day out. He did so with humility and a smile.
Ethan Freed made a point out of living his life as he did, and that is
why I am making a point of sharing some of his story and legacy with you today. I am making the point of sharing the example that he set...
with the hope that you can, in your own way, make his example a point in your own life... with your family, friends, peers, and everyone in this
community. If you have the courage to follow Ethan’s example, you too can accomplish great things, and you can make yourself, Landon and the world a better place.
LANDON SCHOOL | SPRING 2016