The Spirit and Service Speaker Series continued into late March and early April with a focus on “Spirit and Health,” inviting students to explore the connection between well-being, learning and community.
Dr. Ryan Lee ’95, a pediatric neurologist and director of the neurodevelopmental clinic and medical research at Shriners Hospitals for Children, spoke with students across multiple grade levels, tailoring his presentations to each age group. Psychiatrist Dr. Chad Koyanagi also participated in the series, connecting with additional grades.
At a K – 1 chapel in Thurston Memorial Chapel, Lee introduced students to the basics of how the brain works. Using simple analogies, he described the brain as a network of pathways – like trails in a forest – that grow stronger with practice and repetition. He encouraged students to build healthy pathways through learning, sleep and new experiences.
Lee also emphasized the connection between brain health and emotional well-being, sharing how activities like singing can create feelings of joy, peace and love. The chapel included songs and reflections centered on caring for oneself, others and the environment, reinforcing themes of mālama ʻāina and community connection.
The Spirit and Service Speaker Series continues to encourage students to reflect on how they can care for both their minds and their communities.