Dr. Volpitta speaks to students on the Upper Campus

Dr. Volpitta encouraged the students to hone their sense of self-awareness--"It is important for you to understand over time who you are and who you are as a learner," she said--and she stressed the importance of understanding how the brain functions and operates, which is a critical component of mindful leadership. "You are a leader, whether you're a leader of yourself, or a leader of other people," Dr. Volpitta told the students. She helped the students gain some understanding of the various components of the brain, and how those components help them overcome challenges. Dr. Volpitta also used Aesop's Fable of the grasshopper and the ant to help students understand two key characteristics of their brains. The ant--the conscientious, forward-thinking character in Aesop's Fable--represents the portion of the brain that focuses on long-term goals. The slightly more improvident grasshopper represents the portion of the brain that is focused on short-term survival. Both, she stressed, are important. The key is to find a balance between the two.

One of the purposes of Ripp Rally Day is to reinforce and celebrate the strong sense of community among the students at Rippowam Cisqua, and Dr. Volpitta encouraged the students to seek the support of others and work with each other to overcome any challenges that they may face. After all, she told the students, "Nobody climbs a mountain alone."