Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1315612
Dave Eggers Takes Trevor by Storm In February 2019, Trevor was honored to host acclaimed author Dave Eggers at Trevor East for the entire day. His visit began with a group of parents who—weeks earlier—had participated in a parent-faculty-alumni book discussion group, led by Jay Tarbath, Grades 9–12 English Teacher and Department Chair. e group had read and discussed Zeitoun, Mr. Eggers' harrowing story about a Muslim family in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. An assembly brought all Upper School students, faculty, and staff together for a talk on technology, digital rights, and literature and in an interview masterfully moderated by then 10th graders Abigail B. and Simone S. Mr. Eggers spoke about balance—asking the audience to consider if anyone has achieved a perfect balance regarding their use of technology. (ere was universal consensus that such balance is unattainable.) He also spoke passionately about one's obligation to be aware, protective, and vocal about data collection and surveillance, and the monetization of our participation in the digital world. Posing questions submitted earlier by Trevor students, Abigail and Simone asked Mr. Eggers where the writing process starts for him. He told the audience that, as a journalist, he self-educates. A topic often intrigues him precisely because he knows little about it. Writing about yourself, Mr. Eggers suggested, is far less interesting. When asked, "How do you separate your opinions from the story?" he reiterated that he is—first and foremost—a trained journalist. He listens, does not take sides, or anything, for granted. "It's a relief to disappear," he noted. Asked what makes a story worth telling, Mr. Eggers responded, "A place of outrage." He is also interested in protagonists who don't have a set road map and who are willing and courageous enough to reinvent themselves. After the assembly, Mr. Eggers signed books for students, faculty, and staff. He then led a writing workshop for 16 9th–12th graders, who had met outside of class over the winter to read and discuss Mr. Eggers' memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, and his novels What Is the What and Heroes of the Frontier. Several students even read some of their own work aloud; Mr. Eggers provided notes and suggestions, and he shared some of his writing techniques with the students. Perhaps Mr. Tarbath's introduction of Mr. Eggers best summarized his importance as an author: "Ultimately, Dave Eggers shows us that it is the quest to hold on to this moral core—the essence of goodness that we cannot afford to lose—that defines the modern American, whatever that may be." Could there be a more relevant lesson in these times? What You May Have Missed 1 2 T R E V O R D AY S C H O O L n W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 – 2 0 2 0