Weekly Reflections: The Magic of Serendipity

We live in an age of instant sharing and constant connection. But Rosen raises a powerful point: while we may be documenting and posting more than ever, we are not always experiencing life as fully as we could. Instead, we’re often distracted— curating and editing moments for others, rather than immersing ourselves in them for ourselves. She calls this quiet shift “the extinction of experience.”

As a school, we encourage students to be present, curious, and open to the unexpected. We know that meaningful growth doesn’t always come from a screen—it comes from real interaction, real conversation, and real moments of discovery. Moments that are often spontaneous, unplanned, and, more than anything, unfiltered. This is the magic of serendipity. 

Enjoying the random, joyful moments that can’t be scheduled or predicted and in order to notice them, we have to be looking up.

Studies show that when people are on their devices in public spaces, they are significantly less likely to help strangers or interact spontaneously. The more we edit and filter our lives online, the more distant we can become from those physically around us. If we perform life rather than participate in it, what then are we conveying about them authenticity, resilience, and real connection? With increasingly sophisticated AI and algorithm-driven content shaping what we see and how we see it, I feel the challenge becomes even greater. It is exactly these discussions and conversations that we are having at Royal High to ensure all members of our community are aware, remain connected and value connections in order to create a sense of belonging.

Therefore, as we begin this new term—with a little more sun in the sky and a sense of renewal—I have a set a gentle challenge to our school community: to create space for real experiences. Moments without phones.

Here is what I asked of the Senior School students on Tuesday in assembly:  

• Put the phone away—even for short, intentional breaks.
• Embrace boredom—it’s the beginning of imagination.
• Go outside—engage in something physical and unplugged.

It’s this kind of presence that leads to empathy, creativity, and connection—in our children, and in ourselves.

Ms Heidi-Jayne Boyes, Head