Practicing Virtue at Viz

At Viz, we believe virtue isn’t something you’re simply born with. No, no, no - you practice it. Like playing an instrument. Or training for a marathon. Or trying to assemble Ikea furniture without ripping the instructions to shreds.

 

Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas—two men who never once had to deal with Wi-Fi—said that virtue is a habit. And yes, I realize quoting medieval theologians in 2025 is a bold move. It’s a hot take that will likely make most teenagers roll their eyes so hard they will see their own brain.

 

But they were right! You become courageous by doing courageous things, patient by practicing patience, and generous by actually giving. Virtue grows in action, not in words. If it grew in the talking, social media channels would be the holiest places on earth.

 

And the beauty of Viz is that it’s small enough for these moments to happen all the time. A kindergartener zipping another child’s coat. A middle-schooler navigating friendship drama like a United Nations delegate. An Upper School student leading with integrity—on Student Council, on the field, in life—all while running on caffeine and moral fiber.

 

And of course, sometimes they fail. Because that’s how you learn virtue! You stumble, you reflect, you try again. Fortunately, they’ve got teachers and mentors around who know when to say, “That’s all right, let’s fix it,” and not, “Well, guess you’re doomed.”

 

That’s what makes Viz special. We’re not just preparing students to be clever. We’re preparing them to be good. Which, let’s be honest, is far more impressive - and infinitely rarer.

 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the kind of miracle you can see every day - right after carpool.