Aware of these challenges, the school brought together several experts, alumni and teachers, who answered the question: why educate? Among many other interviewees, the businessman José Alejandro Cortés, a 1948 alumnus, spoke to us about the importance of educating to “enrich life”. Rodolfo Llinás, scientist, about the commitment to teach “in a context”, that is, for the solution of specific problems. Mauricio Nieto and Mauricio Álvarez, the first speaking from history and the second speaking from biology, spoke to us about “teaching for autonomy”. Sergio de Zubiría, philosopher, of an “education for freedom”. Carlos Cardona, from physics, spoke to us of “teaching to solve the problems that threaten the survival of the species.” Carlos Alberto Casas, renowned educator, “for the construction of a happy life”. Leopoldo González, former rector of the Moderno, “for an integral formation that includes rectitude, respect and responsibility.”

Almost all the guests agreed on two positions: teaching for an integral life, framed by the particularities of each person, and teaching for the service of the community. Both agree on the main purpose of the Gimnasio Moderno, which is leadership. A leadership that today we must understand as the formation of his own character, self-discovery and the feeling of personal well-being, aspects that allow him to work together with others to defend innovation and democracy, freedom and honesty. According to research carried out at Harvard University in 2007, leadership emerges from the history of each person. For this reason, our day-to-day duty within the Gimnasio is to invite our young people to continually test themselves through real-world experiences and thus, help them understand who they are in the essentials. In doing so, they discover the purpose of their leadership and learn that being authentic makes them effective and necessary within their community.

Likewise, Gimnasio Moderno students must be fully educated to be good citizens and develop character, take on their difficulties with effort and reveal their talents as a source of happiness. None of this would make sense if it does not translate into an unavoidable commitment to understanding and transforming society, both in its immediate surroundings and in the global reality that demands the best of our efforts and talents.