Dare to Dream
by Toby Theiding ‘24
Tobey Theiding showing off his (barefoot!) skills on the soccer field
Hello!
Wherever you happen to be, I hope you are doing well.
My name is Tobey Theiding, and I’m a senior this year. I’ve definitely given that quite a bit of thought over the past few weeks. I graduate in just over four months, leave home for the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia an even shorter four months after, and will quickly be forced to face “real life” head on. However, right now, I am fortunate enough to simply be where I am with the opportunity to slow down and turn around before everything cascades.
My experience at Maybeck has been characterized largely by our Climate Club. Back in sophomore year, I joined the steering committee of an East Bay climate action group (the Climate Positive Student Network). Part of this position included founding a satellite club at Maybeck. With the tremendous help of a classmate and friend, Arlo, we brought what is now Maybeck’s Climate Club to life. (Shoutout to Sadie, too. She joined us in leadership the second year, and I don’t know where we’d be without her.)
Inspired by Maybeck’s academic flexibility, we devised a plan to get traditional classes canceled in favor of student-led, environmental workshops for Earth Day. Our first year of the club, I remember feeling so anxious to ask Bill if we could make the workshop day happen—after all, we were disrupting the regular flow of school. To me, a student who had been in public school for 10 years, this felt like a massive no-no to propose. Yet, we tread on, Bill gave us his unwavering support, and we began to forge our imaginations into reality.
The day is split into three parts: morning workshops, midday speaker, and afternoon workshops. Pretty simple, though curiously complex to organize. As students have come and gone, so too have the types of workshops and speakers that we host. From deconstructing the controversy of nuclear energy (y’all should take a look into this if you have the time) to picking up trash to use for art, we’ve explored so many tremendously nuanced subjects. These days provide students with the opportunity to delve deeper into their own environmental interests, to cultivate their leadership skills, and to leave a mark on the Maybeck community.
In the midst of planning this year’s workshop day, I am enjoying every little bit of my Maybeck swan song. The club has members from each grade, leading and learning side by side, in an amazingly collaborative and supportive atmosphere (even though we meet on Fridays). They have continuously challenged themselves and one another, establishing the pillars upon which those that follow them will do the same. As Climate Club chugs along, fueled by the curiosity and ingenuity of our members, I am proud of what we have accomplished. Never underestimate the capacity of angsty and empowered teenagers.
As I am about to become a has-been, I am excited to see where Climate Club will lead, who will assume the reins, and what magnificent aspirations will fuse with reality. The best part is that, like Maybeck has always done, the club will evolve and grow in curious, unanticipated ways.
Dare to dream.
Tobey Theiding ‘24 (tobeyt@maybeckhs.org)