I realize that I am not the first to write or speak about Daniel Nayeri’s period of residence at Taft, but there is a great reason for that: it was truly impactful. Admittedly, I have written a couple articles for The Papyrus critiquing school policy and events, but I have only praise for the immersive experience that was the visit of our first speaker of the year. When it comes to the speaker series, Mrs. Becker has a very well-developed vision for the cultivation of values like empathy, respect, and courage – all of which define humanity.
Mr. Nayeri’s visit this year was exceptional in its organization, its execution, and its comfortable intimacy – and the Taft community interacted with him and all the events of that week in a way we haven’t done with a speaker before. To remind you all, his visit was structured in several prongs: he met with all Lower Mid English classes to teach them how to write effective one-page memoirs in the form of a workshop; he sat in Rhino Lobby during lunch blocks to sign students’ books and meet them one-on-one; he met with student publications like The Papyrus and The Global Journal to provide insight into the business of publishing, as he himself was a literary agent and publisher affiliated with prolific publishing houses for many years; he met with Human Geography classes in Laube Auditorium to discuss immigration from the perspective of a former refugee; he delivered the School Meeting talk and Q&A session; and, finally, he held another writing workshop for seniors writing their college essays or senior speeches.
Mr. Nayeri had a host of wisdom to impart during his speech and eloquently answered all kinds of questions from the audience following it, but I would argue that his sessions with smaller, more personal groups were the best part of his stay and an indication of a program done right. Aspiring authors, journalists, and even just curious publication staff members were fortunate to hear him tell hilarious stories about quirky authors and agents he encountered during his career in publishing, and to ask for advice about how to pursue their literary and journalistic passions. Everyone in the room began their questions by introducing themselves briefly, and by the end of the meeting, Mr. Nayeri was referring to the most gregarious of them by name. It is rare that we are given the opportunity to appreciate a visitor so much, and it is perhaps even less common for a speaker to integrate so tactfully and seamlessly into our school community.
My favorite part of these three days, however, was being invited – along with the other student members of the summer reading committee – to the Beckers’ home to cook and share a Persian meal with Mr. Nayeri. I can’t even begin to describe the gratitude of learning about someone else’s culture in the kitchen. Mr. Nayeri served as a teacher, a mentor, and an inspiration to various groups of students and faculty. We, in turn, were more than just entertained: we were intellectually and emotionally stimulated by a very holistic program and a very versatile speaker. I’m eager to see how the rest of the speakers in this year’s series will continue to challenge and inspire us!
