Last week was ‘M’ Week at Moapa Valley High School. On Thursday evening, as part of the week of festivities, this year’s senior class put on its annual talent show. Students, faculty and parents gatheredin to the Ron Dalley Theatre and took their seats to watch their beloved members of the class of 2011 play, sing, dance, laugh and just enjoy being together.

The show was a delight.

It was noticeably brief, the whole thing concluding inside of an hour. But the brevity of the evening should not be used to assert that this class is, in any way, short on talent. Many of the acts showed remarkable abilities, innovation and inventiveness; not to mention a good deal of initiative and hard work. The crowd in the audience was fully entertained and enjoyed a lively and engaging show. And while a few of the performances may have been a bit rough around the edges, it was clear that this class is brimming with raw talent and infinite potential.

It should also be remembered that, as rich as this show was, the majority of the talent in the class of 2011 was not even on display there. As in the real world, most of the best talent is not necessarily suited for the big stage. For example, in members of this class there has been remarkable aptitude shown in the areas of athletics, oratory and debate, agriculture and livestock, photography and graphic arts, culinary arts, creative writing, mathematics, science, computer skills and much more that are not easily exhibited within the walls of the school auditorium. As with the performances in the talent show, this staggering array of abilities may not be fully formed right now, but they will continue to grow and eventually become wholly manifest as the members of the class go out into the world and make their marks.

Interestingly, though, the greatest student abilities exhibited at Thursday’s show were not even any of these things. The fact is, the best talent in the show didn’t come from the stage. It wasn’t in any of the dance routines. It wasn’t in the songs or the lip synchs or anything going on in the limelight of the stage. Rather it took place from the dark auditorium where the audience was seated. It was performed by the students listening from audience. It was exhibited in their courteous attention and enthusiastic response to each and every one of the talent show acts.

Throughout the show; even during the, for lack of better words, less refined of acts; not a whisper of negativity or hint of criticism or scorn came from the students in the audience. In every case, the students of Moapa Valley High School showed a tremendous talent for kindness, respect and generosity in their responses to every single student performer, no matter what their ability, skill or hierarchy in the high school society. It was refreshing to see teens so invested in enthusiastically building each other up and cultivating confidence in their friends and peers. This kind of common support and enthusiastic backing is all too rare in the modern world and, certainly, even more difficult to find in the realm of high school-age society out there.

For all the gifts and talents that are ever flowing from Moapa Valley High School, this penchant for kindness, consideration, respect and love will, no doubt, prove most valuable and influential to the future of an increasingly perilous and cynical world.