Insight: Purpose Beyond Self

By Sam Uzwack, Head of School

Each year on November 11, we observe Veterans Day, a time to recognize and thank those who have served in the armed forces. My father is a veteran and his story is a complicated one. He served in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart, but the aftermath of his service was challenging. Many years later, when I was a child, he joined the Connecticut National Guard, and years later, retired from the military, taking great pride in having served his country and his community. His story, and those of other veterans, remind us that responsible action often begins with a willingness to care for others and to act with clarity, even in complex circumstances.

At Eastside Prep, our annual theme, “Responsible Action: Care through Clarity,” invites us to consider how we can approach our own decisions with thoughtfulness and purpose. Veterans embody this ideal in many ways: through discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and a deep sense of responsibility toward their communities and country. Their service challenges us to think about how our own choices can help lift and support the people around us.

Caring through clarity means seeing the humanity in others, understanding before judging, and choosing actions that uphold the greater good. Veterans Day offers us a moment to pause and reflect on how we might translate gratitude into everyday responsibility—whether that means supporting a classmate, engaging respectfully in conversation, or taking initiative to improve our school and world.

For students especially, this reflection is not about distant history but about present possibility. Service can take many forms—listening, learning, volunteering, leading, or simply showing kindness. When we act with both care and clarity, we honor the spirit of those who have served by carrying forward the values that strengthen communities.

As we observe Veterans Day, I hope we do so with gratitude, respect, and a renewed commitment to act responsibly—for one another and for the world we share.