At Gulliver Prep, the newest addition to campus isn’t just a garden—it’s a symbol of perseverance, community, and healthy living. “Resilience in Bloom,” created by junior Maximus Taylor ’27, is more than rows of herbs and plants. It’s a living reminder that small choices can grow into lasting change.
Max was inspired by both responsibility and gratitude. Caring for plants, he explained, requires consistency and patience: showing up each day, tending to their needs, and learning that growth takes time. He also wanted to give back to the community that has supported him, saying, “Gulliver gives students room to grow, room to try and then to fail, but then to try again. Resilience in Bloom is my way of giving back in the form of something healthy for everyone.”
The project is also deeply personal for Max, who has been courageously managing childhood cancer since the age of three. His journey has required strength, perseverance, and the ability to keep showing up despite setbacks. “Just as plants must withstand unpredictable conditions, I’ve had to show up every day, no matter the challenges. The garden stands for resilience—both mine and the plants’.”
The focus on herbs was a deliberate choice. “I believe what you put in your body matters because it impacts your lifestyle. For me personally, I have this enemy that I need to fight with traditional treatments. But also you need to keep in mind your lifestyle choices. So fast food and sugar and all of those… not the best options… could, in my case, be more harmful than I think them to be. The garden has herbs because herbs can be applied to many different things like drinks or food.”
His goal is to show that wellness doesn’t require drastic changes. “Healthy choices can be easy and also tasty. It can be just maybe once a week you add more greens to your plate, or once a week you go to the gym or get more sleep when you can. The point is, those small choices may seem insignificant in the moment, but if you keep doing that—repetition is the key here—that will eventually change how you approach things and how you live your life.”
Thanks to a partnership with Sage Dining Services, the garden’s herbs will soon be incorporated into campus meals and refreshments. Imagine a mint lemonade made with mint grown just steps away from the classroom. For Max, seeing this idea come full circle is especially rewarding: “Knowing that what you’re enjoying came from your own school—it’s special.”
Etched on the garden’s plaque is a message Max holds close: “Small choices can bloom into lasting, meaningful change.” For him, that might mean reaching for mint water instead of soda, or simply pausing to notice the garden and feel inspired.
Resilience in Bloom is more than a green space. It’s a reflection of one student’s courage, a community’s support, and the power of small choices to create lasting impact.
