X is the Missing Variable Aris Raj Agarwala

Throughout life, we are constantly learning and applying our knowledge to our world. In second grade, we matured from sneakers with Velcro to laces and learned the lifelong skill of tying our shoes. In seventh grade, we devoutly began pursuing our own interests, practicing sports, art, and computer science in what many consider to be the critical development point in children’s lives. In eleventh grade, we graduated from passenger to driver, taking on the responsibilities of operating a vehicle and running our own errands.. These are only a few milestones of students in our senior year, learning all of these things while building upon fundamental concepts like Algebra and Creative Writing to truly craft our livelihoods. Yet, as a student at a Catholic high school who was rigorously trained in the humanities, I feel as though there is an inherent flaw in contemporary curricula: the neglecting of the human aspect of life.

So, what is “x” and what does it do?

To me, “x” symbolizes a missing variable in our lives, reflecting an inherent gap in our philosophical essence and being that many schools have not addressed. A grave fault, this hole leaves many feeling empty, unable to experience the theological metanoia of the heart and...