I’ve mentioned many times how much I love all teaching stories, koans, parables, aphorisms, maxims, epigrams, proverbs, and the like — anything that crams a big idea into a small space. And for that reason, I’ve always been intrigued by school mottoes. Recently, my older daughter graduated, which was a huge moment for her — and for me too. Her school’s motto is “Go forth unafraid.” It’s part of the school song: “We go forth unafraid/Strong with love and strong with learning…” It’s deeply embedded in the school culture. During the graduation ceremony, that motto was projected on a giant screen above the students’ heads. And as I sat in the audience and watched all the seniors receive their diplomas, I thought, “That’s what I want for my daughter, and it’s what I want for myself too. Go forth unafraid.”

What was your school motto? Did it make a serious impression on you?