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SEE WHY THE DOGS SO, AND BRIGHT STARS FOR AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO, TO THE PODIUM NIT AND ALI AND SOPHIA VILLARD FOR THE PLEDGE OF
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FIGHT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANCE ONE NATION UNDERGONE INDIVISIBLE FOR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.CROW SEATED GOOD EVENING, PARENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FUTURE GRADUATE.
I SAY FUTURE GRADUATES BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY GRADUATES UNTIL WE MOVE YOUR TASSELS AT THE END OF THIS CEREMONY.
NOW, BEFORE I DIVE INTO MY BRIEF REMARKS, I NEED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE SURE TODAY WOULD HAPPEN AND BE THE SPECIAL DAY THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DESERVE.
RANDY SHAW AND ALLISON O'LEARY WORKED ABSOLUTE MAGIC BEHIND THE SCENES.
THIS EVENING IS SIMPLY A MONUMENTAL, LOGISTICAL UNDERTAKING.
EMILY KEHO AND AARON DOLAN ARE SENIOR CLASS ADVISORS WHO COORDINATED TO MAKE SURE OUR GRADUATES KNEW WHEN TO BE AWARE TODAY, WHICH ANYONE WHO KNOWS SECOND SEMESTER SENIORS AFTER EXAMS ARE OVER IS SORT OF LIKE HERDING CATS.
JOE MARTORANO, KEVIN MCCARTHY AND THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS CREW, THEY RODE THE WEATHER ROLLERCOASTER WITH US LEADING UP TO THIS EVENING AND THEY DID THE QUITE LITERAL HEAVY LIFTING TO PREPARE FOR OUR CEREMONY.
NOW OF COURSE, THIS CEREMONY IS THE CENTER BY THIS CEREMONY.
OF COURSE, THIS CEREMONY IS THE CENTERPIECE.
IT'S THE MOMENT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING TOWARD, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE ENTIRE TIRELESS HASTINGS K 12 FACULTY, YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR COUNSELORS, AND YOUR SUPPORT STAFF.
THEY WERE THERE TO SUPPORT, ENCOURAGE, AND SOMETIMES, LET'S BE HONEST, LOW KEY, THREATEN YOU TO GET YOU TO THE FINISH LINE AND PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE.
LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
AND ALSO PARENTS, GUARDIANS, FAMILIES LOVED ONES, THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY DAY YOU SENT YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY.
EVERY DAY, OKAY, YES, SORT OF.
YOU GOT, OH YEAH, I HEAR THAT.
HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THESE GOOD PARENTS, GUARDIANS, LOVED ONES FAMILIES? THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING US WITH YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
EVERY DAY THAT YOU SENT THEM TO SCHOOL, YOU BELIEVED IN US.
YOU BELIEVED THAT WE WOULD KEEP THEM SAFE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION TO PREPARE TO PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR NEXT STEPS.
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR STUDENTS WOULD NOT HAVE MADE IT TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY.
MELISSA SEMANSKI, MAUREEN CARAVALO, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND THE BOARD.
IT IS YOUR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP THAT CAN CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN, GROW, AND FLOURISH.
NOW, GRADUATION REMARKS ARE USUALLY DESIGNED TO TEACH YOU SOMETHING AS IF I AS AN ADULT WITH YEARS OF WISDOM, HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TEACH YOU.
THE TRUTH IS, OVER THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE BEEN SO HUMBLED AND FORTUNATE TO LEARN FROM YOU, AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO SHARE WITH WITH YOU SOME OF WHAT YOU'VE TAUGHT ME.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WALKING INTO A NEW SCHOOL AS THE NEW PRINCIPAL CAN BE A RATHER INTIMIDATING EXPERIENCE.
EVEN MORE SO WHEN MORE THAN HALF OF THE SENIORS HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE THEY WERE SIX YEARS OLD.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE ALL A PART OF HERE.
MANY COMMUNITIES DEFINE THEMSELVES THROUGH EXCLUSION, THROUGH OTHERING PEOPLE, AND BY IDENTIFYING WHO IS NOT PART OF THAT COMMUNITY.
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THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, DEFINES ITSELF BY ITS OPENNESS, BY INCLUSION, AND BY ITS COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY BELONG HERE.AND SO SINCE DAY ONE, YOU HAVE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO MAKE ME FEEL WELCOMED, SUPPORTED AND VALUED.
BUT THIS GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN HOW YOU'VE WELCOMED ME.
YOU HAVE CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOGNIZING OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
EACH OF US WITH OUR OWN HISTORIES AND OUR OWN NARRATIVES, OUR OWN IDENTITIES AND BELIEFS AND DESIRES AND LOVES AND FEARS.
EACH OF US ARE EQUALLY HUMAN, EQUALLY FLAWED AND EXQUISITELY IMPERFECT HUMANS.
YOU ALL SEE THAT AND YOU DO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL WITH IT.
YOU APPROACH OTHERS AND THEIR DIFFERENCES NOT AS IRRECONCILABLE STRANGERS WHO ARE FUNDAMENTALLY DISSIMILAR FROM YOU, BUT AS VARIATIONS IN THE SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW OF WAYS THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE HUMAN.
AND WHEN WE DO THAT, ARE PERSPECTIVE BROADENS AND WE BEGIN TO BEGIN TO APPRECIATE OTHERS FOR WHO THEY ARE IN THEIR ESSENCE, NOT FOR WHO WE WANT THEM TO BE IN RELATION TO US.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN PRACTICALLY? IT MEANS THAT YOU ALL DON'T JUDGE PEOPLE OR TRY TO CHANGE THEM, BUT YOU EMBRACE THEM FOR WHO THEY ARE.
WE NEED MORE OF THAT IN THIS WORLD.
YOU ARE EXITING HIGH SCHOOL INTO A WORLD THAT IS FILLED WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTY AND PAIN.
THIS WORLD THAT YOU ALL ARE INHERITING IS AT ITS VERY BEST, IMPERFECT AND AT WORST ON THE PRECIPICE OF BROKENNESS.
THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR MORAL CLARITY.
THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO FILL YOUR LIVES WITH DEEP AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITIES.
CLASS OF 2025, YOU WILL TAKE LOTS OF MEMORIES WITH YOU FROM YOUR TIME HERE, THE INSPIRING ACADEMICS, HOMECOMING CEREMONIES, SENIOR ASSASSINS, THE OLYMPICS, PROM AND YES PAD.
BUT I THINK THAT THE THING THAT WILL ENDURE IS THIS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR, YOU HAVE WELCOMED ME, TAUGHT ME, AND REAFFIRMED FOR ME THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO WITH THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE ON THIS PLANET IS TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN DEEP AND ENDURING COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS THE LEGACY YOU LEAVE BEHIND YOU AT HASTINGS AND IT IS THE SPIRIT I KNOW YOU WILL TAKE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOUR PATHS MAY LEAD.
WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP TO THE STAGE YOUR SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT, JACK MANNY.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, FRIENDS, FAMILY, FACULTY, HONORED GUESTS, AND OF COURSE, THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025.
LOOKING AT THE CLASS IN FRONT OF ME, I DO NOT SEE A MASSIVE WAVE OF GREEN CAPS AND GOWNS.
RATHER, I SEE THE INDIVIDUALS I SHARED CLASSROOMS WITH, LAUGHED AT JOKES WITH, LEANED ON DURING STRESSFUL TIMES AND LEARNED FROM OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THESE YEARS, WE HAVE WATCHED ONE ANOTHER.
WE HAVE WATCHED ONE ANOTHER GROW EMOTIONALLY IN WAYS THAT ARE EXCLUSIVE TO THE HASTINGS EXPERIENCE, WHETHER IT WAS THE INFAMOUS RABBIT COYOTES, THE COUNTLESS COMPLEX SURROUNDING THE HILLSIDE, WOODS, AND A WING OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDING FLOODING OUT.
WE GRADUATES HERE TODAY HAVE PROVEN TO BE ADAPTABLE AND NOT EASILY DETERRED.
THESE TRAITS EXPLAIN THE NUMEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY EARNED JUST NAME.
A FEW STUDENTS HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED FOR THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS.
ATHLETES HAVE EARNED RECOGNITION AT THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL, AND SOME HAVE BEEN HONORED BY THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE THE WINNERS OF THE HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL 2025 OLYMPICS.
BEHIND EACH OF THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LIES LATE NIGHT, STUDYING AFTERSCHOOL PRACTICES, ENDLESS REHEARSALS, AND A WHOLE LOT OF SELF-DOUBT TURNED INTO SELF-BELIEF.
WE WEREN'T JUST HANDED THESE HONORS, WE EARNED THEM THROUGH GRIT, CREATIVITY, AND SHOWING UP FOR ONE ANOTHER.
WHILE THIS LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE, IT DOES NOT SHOW THE MOST VALUABLE THING WE'VE OBTAINED DURING THIS TIME.
IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT THE END OF ONE'S LIFE, THEY WISH NOT TO BE SURROUNDED BY THEIR AWARDS TROPHIES OR DEGREES, BUT RATHER BY THE ONES THEY LOVED MOST.
NOW AT THE END OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT THE DIPLOMA I WILL BE RECEIVING TODAY WILL NOT
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MAT, WILL NOT MATTER NEARLY AS MUCH AS THE FRIENDS AND PEOPLE I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY.AS WE MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT CHAPTER, WE EACH TAKE SOMETHING WITH US THAT CANNOT BE PACKED IN A SUITCASE.
WE CARRY THE BEST OF ASICS, THE RESILIENCE WE BUILT WHEN THINGS DIDN'T GO OUR WAY.
THE LAUGHTER THAT FILLED OUR CLASSROOMS AND HALLS AND THE BONDS WE FORMED THROUGH SHARED STRESS, SUCCESS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.
NO MATTER HOW FAR WE GO OR HOW DIFFERENT OUR PALS MAY BE, WILL ALWAYS HAVE OUR ROOTS HERE.
AND GIVEN THE PEOPLE THE LESSONS AND THE MOMENTS THAT SHAPED US, OUR STORY START IN THIS VERY PLACE.
AND NO MATTER WHERE LIFE TAKES US, HASTINGS IS OUR HOME.
HOWEVER, WITHOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED US ALONG THE WAY, OUR TEACHERS, WHETHER IT'S THE ANALYSIS OF THE GREEN LIGHT AND THE GREAT BATH WITH MR. ABRAMS, THE CAREFUL CONSTRUCTION OF LIFE-SIZED RESEARCH POSTERS WITH MRS. SANDOFF OR THE PUPPET SHOW, BREAKING DOWN ANCIENT HISTORY OF MR. HUNT.
THE TEACHERS OF PACINGS HIGH SCHOOL CARE NOT ONLY ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE TEACHING, BUT ABOUT THE PEOPLE SINGING IN FRONT OF THEM EACH DAY.
THEY SEE US, NOT JUST STUDENTS, RATHER AS INDIVIDUALS WITH STORY STRUGGLES AND POTENTIAL.
THEY'VE GUIDED US THROUGH MORE THAN JUST CURRICULUM.
THEY'VE HELPED US THROUGH CONFUSION, UNCERTAINTY, AND ULTIMATELY LED US TO GROWTH.
THE CARE HAS SHAPED THE WAY WE SEE THE WORLD, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE WAY WE SEE OURSELVES.
AND OF COURSE, WE CANNOT FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHEERED US ON LONG BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT A GPA WAS.
OUR PARENTS AND FAMILIES THANK YOU FOR THE EARLY MORNING WAKE UP CALLS, UM, THE EARLY MORNING WAKE UP CALLS, THE RISE TO PRACTICE AND THE MORAL SUPPORT DISGUISES QUESTION STARTING WITH HAVE YOU STARTED, YOU'VE SEEN US AT OUR BEST AND AT OUR WORST, SLEEP DEPRIVED, ANXIETY RIDDEN AND ARGUING WITH PRINTERS AT MIDNIGHT.
YOU BELIEVED IN US EVEN WHEN SENIORITIS HIT HARD AND YOU HAD TO PRACTICALLY BEG US TO FINISH THAT ONE LAST ASSIGNMENT WE SAID, DIDN'T REALLY MATTER.
YOUR SUPPORT HAS BEEN THE STEADY BACKGROUND MUSIC TO OUR LIVES.
AND WITHOUT IT, WE WOULDN'T BE STANDING HERE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE, YOUR LOVE, AND YOUR UNWAVERING BELIEF IN WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE BECOMING.
THIS MOR THIS MOMENT IS YOURS TOO.
LASTLY TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2025, YOU'VE BEEN MORE THAN JUST CLASSMATES.
YOU ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THIS SCHOOL, WHETHER WE'RE SURVIVING WHAT A MRS. KELLER'S ALGEBRA SAYS, PLANTING VEGETABLES IN THE GARDEN OR WATCHING THE STUDENTY UNION FIND NEW WAYS TO MAKE OUR DAYS A LITTLE LESS PREDICTABLE EVERY MOMENT.
HASTINGS HAS NOT ONLY BEEN AN ADVENTURE BUT UNFORGETTABLE.
THE FRIENDSHIPS WE'VE BUILT, THE QUIET MOMENTS WE'VE SHARED AND THE WAYS WE'VE SHOWN UP TO EACH OTHER WILL STAY WITH ME LONG AFTER WE GRADUATE TODAY.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO GROW INTO ADULTS ALONGSIDE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
EASTERNS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2025.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO INVITE MS. LILY THOMAS, OUR GUEST SPEAKER TO THE STAGE.
LILY THOMAS IS A HASTINGS GRADUATE IN THE CLASS OF 2003 AND AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTOR MUSICIAN WHO HAS GRACED THE STAGE OF BROADWAY AND BEYOND A NATIVE OF NEW YORK CITY.
MS. THOMAS'S PASSION FOR PERFORMING ARTS BLOSSOMED EARLY LEADING HER TO PURSUE A A BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS IN MUSICAL THEATER.
FROM NYU TISH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS, MS. THOMAS'S TALENT AND DEDICATION QUICKLY PROPELLED HER ONTO THE NATIONAL STAGE LANDING ROLES IN REGIONAL AND OFF BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS NATASHA PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.
WE ARE GONNA DIE THE HELLO GIRLS AND OCTET.
HER CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCE AS CYNTHIA MURPHY IN THE US NATIONAL TOUR OF DEAR EVAN HANSEN, FURTHER SOLIDIFIED HER REPUTATION AS A RISING STAR.
IN 2022, MS. THOMAS MADE HER BROADWAY DEBUT AS IN THE ICONIC ROLE OF MATRON MAMA MORTON IN THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED REVIVAL OF CHICAGO.
HER COMMANDING PRESENCE AND POWERFUL VOCALS GARNERED RAVE REVIEWS ESTABLISHING HER AS A LEADING FORCE IN THE BROADWAY COMMUNITY.
BEYOND HER THEATRICAL ACHIEVEMENTS, MS. THOMAS IS AN ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN, PROFICIENT IN TRUMPET, EUPHONIUM, TUBA, PIANO, PERCUSSION AND GUITAR.
SHE HAS SHOWCASED HER MUSICAL TALENTS IN SOLO PERFORMANCES AT RENOWNED VENUES SUCH AS THE GREEN ROOM 42, JOE'S PUB AND FEINSTEIN'S 54 BELOW.
MS. THOMAS'S COMMITMENT TO HER CRAFT IS EVIDENT IN HER DEDICATION TO CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND GROWTH.
SHE REGULARLY PARTICIPATES IN WORKSHOPS AND MASTERCLASSES, EXPANDING HER REPERTOIRE AND HONING HER SKILLS.
HER VERSATILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES HAVE MADE HER A SOUGHT AFTER PERFORMER IN THE INDUSTRY.
PLEASE WELCOME MS. LILY THOMAS.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2025.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FRIENDS, FAMILIES, MENTORS, AND
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EDUCATORS WHO HAVE HELPED YOU ALONG THE WAY.I KNOW THEY HELPED ME WHEN I WAS IN YOUR POSITION AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE STAFF BOARD AND FACULTY OF HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL OF YOU WHO ASKED ME TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT'S SUCH AN HONOR, I HAVE TO SAY.
UM,
THIS IS A VERY THEATER AND ARTS HEAVY SCHOOL COMPARED TO MOST, BUT STILL.
OH, THEY MUST HAVE ASKED ME BECAUSE I CURRENTLY SPEND EIGHT SHOWS A WEEK ON BROADWAY IN GYPSY WITH AUDREY MCDONALD AS A TRUMPET, TOOTIN, STRIPPER,
UM, NO, BECAUSE IN CHICAGO I WAS AN IMMORAL, MANIPULATIVE CELL BLOCK WARDEN.
UM, OH, THE SELF-CENTERED, DISASSOCIATED, GRIEVING MOTHER AND DEAR VAN HANSEN, THAT'S WHO SHOULD TALK TO YOU AT YOUR GRADUATION.
UM, MAYBE IT WAS MY EARLY PROMISE, YET RATHER DELAYED SUCCESS THAT HAD ME ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION OVER A DECADE, LATE EVEN.
SO WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY HAVE TO SAY TO OF ANY IMPORTANCE TO THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF TALENTED AND PROMISING YOUNG ADULTS, THIS GROUP OF GRADS WHO HAVE REALLY CULTIVATED EXPERIENCE IN RESILIENCE, PERSEVERANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, INTENTION, AWARENESS AND KINDNESS IN A FAR SUPERIOR WAY THAN SO MANY PREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAVE.
THIS GROUP WHO HAS OVERCOME UNFATHOMABLE HURDLES AT PIVOTAL DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES, THIS GROUP WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF REDEFINING SOCIAL ADOLESCENCE AND THE TEMPERATURE OF EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE NEW RULE MAKERS.
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO BE ASKED TO COME AND SPEAK TO YOU AT THIS MILESTONE IN YOUR LIVES.
AND I AM HUMBLED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE A THOUGHT WITH YOU TODAY.
I CAN REMEMBER SITTING RIGHT WHERE YOU WERE.
WELL ACTUALLY IT WAS AT REYNOLDS FIELD
I DIDN'T KNOW A PERFORMER LIKE ME, SOMEONE WHO ACTED LIKE ME, SOUNDED LIKE ME, AND SOMEONE WHO LOOKED LIKE ME.
I KNEW THAT I HAD THIS DRIVE INSIDE OF ME, BUT I COULDN'T FIND A PATH TO FOLLOW THAT FELT GENUINELY ALIGNED WITH THE PERSON THAT I KNEW MYSELF TO BE.
I KEPT TRYING TO FOLLOW THE FORMULA I'D SEEN MY IDOLS AND INSPIRATIONAL PERFORMERS USE.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I KEPT GETTING SO CLOSE, BUT WAS ALWAYS MET WITH DISAPPOINTMENT.
I TRIED TO FOLLOW THESE PATHS THAT HAD BROUGHT SO MANY OF MY CLASSMATES, MY MENTORS AND HERO SUCCESS.
I EVEN TRIED TO BE MORE LIKE THEM SO THAT THIS FORMULA MIGHT WORK.
LOSING SIGHT OF THE ORIGIN AND THE DEPTH OF MY TRUE PASSION.
MY CAREER GOALS DIDN'T STRAY MUCH OVER THE PAST 22 YEARS.
BUT IF SOMEONE WERE TO TELL ME THAT MY PATH TO SOME HISTORY MAKING SUCCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS, I WOULD'VE LOOKED AT THEM LIKE A TRUMPET AND STRIPPER.
IT'S AN INTERESTING CONCEPT, A ROAD, A PATH.
WE HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME, THE PATH TO SUCCESS, THE ROAD TO THE TOP.
AS A TEACHER, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TRY TO CREATE A VISUAL FOR STRUCTURE OR FOR THAT WHICH IS INTANGIBLE.
BUT AS SOMEONE OF AMBITION, A DREAMER, IT CAN FEEL A LITTLE LIMITING.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE ISN'T SUCCESS TO BE FOUND BY FOLLOWING A STEADY PATH THAT SOMEONE ELSE SMOOTHLY LAID OUT AND THAT YOU CAN EASILY TROT UPON IN YOUR THREE INCH HEELS WITHOUT EVEN A GLIMMER OF A STUMBLE.
BUT WHAT I AM SAYING IS WHAT KIND OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT COULD YOU ACHIEVE AND EARN IF YOU WERE THE ONE WHO CARVED IT OUT, THE ONE WHO DECIDED WHAT SHAPE AND FORM IT WOULD HAVE AND WHY? THE ONE WHO HAD TO HAND MAKE THE CLEARING AND EVEN OUT THE GROUND AND HEAVY BRICK BY HEAVY BRICK LAY OUT YOUR OWN PATH.
THE ONE WHO LEARNED HOW TO OVERCOME, HOW TO WELCOME DISCOMFORT, TRULY SIT IN IT AND FACE IT SO THAT THEY COULD LEARN FROM IT AND GROW FROM IT.
THE ONE WHO STOOD UP TO DISAPPOINTMENT, TO THE UNKNOWN, TO ALL OF THE UNEXPECTED OBSTACLES THAT POPPED UP AND STILL CHOSE TO PERSEVERE.
YES, SOMETIMES REDIRECT, REASSESS, BUT CONTINUE ON WITH A NEW WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
THE GREATS THAT WE ALL LEARN ABOUT AND HEAR ABOUT, WE'RE ALL PATH MAKERS.
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SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE PATH YOU WANT TO MAKE FOR THE UNIQUE PERSON THAT YOU ARE.YOURS MUST BE CUSTOM MADE TO TRY TO FIND TRUE PRIDE AND HAPPINESS IN YOUR EFFORTS.
KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE EXCELLING IN ONE AREA, YOU WILL FEEL THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF DROPPING THE BALL AND FAILING IN ANOTHER FAILURE.
WHAT IS FAILURE? IT'S ONLY FAILURE IF YOU GIVE UP, IF YOU LET IT BE THE PERIOD TO THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR BOOK OR THE LAST BRICK THAT YOU LAY.
IT'S JUST THE MOMENT, AN UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENT.
THOSE UNCOMFORTABLE MOMENTS, THE ONES THAT FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BREAKING YOU A LITTLE, DON'T LET THAT BE THE END OF THE ROAD.
WELCOME THE REALITY THAT IN ORDER TO BE TRULY GREAT AND TO EARN YOUR BESPOKE SUCCESS, YOU WILL HAVE SOME SCRAPES AND BRUISES ALONG THE WAY.
YOUR ABILITY TO HEAL THE WOUNDS IS WHAT WILL GIVE YOU THE SKILL TO FINISH THAT PATH AND WALK IN IT IN YOUR OWN SKIN AND WITH PRIDE ALONG IT.
AND JUST BECAUSE IT MIGHT TAKE YOU LONGER TO CREATE YOUR OWN FROM SCRATCH THAN IT WOULD FOR SOMEONE TO WALK ALONG ANOTHER, IT DOESN'T WEAKEN THE VALUE IN IT.
SO CLASS OF 2025, THE TIME HAS COME TO ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET READY TO USE ALL OF THOSE SKILLS YOU HONE SO EARLY ON.
BE RESILIENT, PERSEVERE, HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE, WORK AND LEAD WITH INTENTION, WITH AWARENESS.
AND WHILE YOU'RE BEING KIND TO OTHERS, REMEMBER TO BE KIND TO YOURSELVES BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE STAGE YOUR SALUTATORIAN, ADAM GREENWALD.
SO I KNOW WE'RE NOT IN SCHOOL ANYMORE, BUT I THOUGHT I'D START WITH THE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY.
WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE HAVE IN COMMON? CATHERINE JOHNSON, A MATHEMATICIAN.
WALTER CRONKITE, A NEWS ANCHOR.
AND JULIUS STEWART, A FOOD SCIENTIST.
SOUNDS LIKE A LIST OF RANDOM PEOPLE, RIGHT? WELL BY THEMSELVES MAYBE.
BUT WHEN THEY ALL BROUGHT THEIR VERY EXPERTISE TOGETHER, THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MOMENTS IN HISTORY LANDING HUMANS ON THE MOON FOR THE FIRST TIME.
SO HOW DOES THIS LUNAR STORY OF COLLABORATION FIT INTO HER HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE? WELL, I'M REMINDED OF THAT DREADED COMMUNITY ESSAY.
MANY OF US HAD TO WRITE FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS.
SORRY, FOR POSSIBLY BRING BACK OLD TRAUMA FROM THAT THOUGH
THE PROMPT GOES SOMETHING LIKE CHOOSE ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES TO WHICH YOU BELONG AND EXPLAIN WHY IT IS MEANINGFUL TO YOU.
WHOEVER YOU WROTE AN ESSAY ON THIS TOPIC OR NOT, WE CAN ALL THINK OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN MEANINGFUL TO US.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE REFLECTING ON MEMORIES OF COWORKERS AT THE RESTAURANTS YOU WORK AT YOUR CODE CELLISTS IN THE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA, YOUR TEAMMATES ON THE FIELD HOCKEY TEAM OR YOUR FRIENDS IN GARDENING CLUB, AND WHO CAN FORGET ABOUT THE MANY HELPING HANDS THAT GO INTO THE PROJECT SHARE THANKSGIVING DINNER.
I KNOW I ONLY HIT A HANDFUL OF EVERYONE'S COMMUNITIES, BUT YOU CAN SEE HOW INVOLVED THE CLASS OF 2025 HAS BEEN WITH THE WORLD AROUND US.
AND THEN THERE ARE THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE LESS APPARENT, LIKE THE INSTAGRAM REEL SCROLLERS OR THOSE THAT TAKE CARE OF THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS OR THE ONE I WROTE ABOUT FOR MY ESSAY, THE COMMUNITY OF QUESTIONERS.
SHOCKING, RIGHT? IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME ASK OUR TEACHERS QUESTIONS NONSTOP FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, MY QUESTIONS HAVE SPANNED FROM PASSIONATE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AT THE HOLIDAY DINNER TABLE WITH MY FAMILY TO ASKING THE MOST RANDOM QUESTIONS AT OUR LUNCH NOOK.
WITH FRIENDS, I'VE ENGAGED IN A MIXTURE OF DEEP AND COMICAL CONVERSATIONS ON LONG RUNS WITH MY TRACK TEAM, AND I'VE GOTTEN TEACHERS TO GO ON INTERESTING TANGENTS PERHAPS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL LIFE.
YES, MR. CON WEISER, WE KNOW YOU THINK YOU'RE HAN SOLO
MOST IMPORTANTLY, THESE QUESTIONS AND THE DISCUSSIONS THAT FOLLOW HAVE ALLOWED ME AND ANYONE THAT ENGAGED IN THEM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OURSELVES AND OTHERS.
WHILE WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE, I HAVE LEARNED IN THESE QUESTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS THE VALUE OF GAINING INSIGHT FROM EACH OTHER THROUGH ACCEPTANCE OF VARYING BACKGROUNDS AND VIEWPOINTS.
WITHIN MY COMMUNITY OF QUESTIONERS, I'VE LEARNED A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT VALUES FROM HARD WORK AND HUMILITY TO OPEN-MINDEDNESS
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BY SPEAKING TO MY FRIENDS, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, IN THE THEATER PROGRAM, OR WORKING AS A CAMP COUNSELOR, I REALIZED THEY WERE LEARNING SIMILAR LESSONS AND VALUES FROM THE COMMUNITIES THAT RESONATED WITH THEM.THE SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITIES RELIES ON THESE SHARED VALUES, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO PRESERVE THEM IN ANY GROUP WE JOIN.
FURTHERMORE, WE ALL BOND THROUGH OUR EXPER SHARED EXPERIENCES, WHICH IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
FURTHERMORE, WE ALL BOND THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHARED EXPERIENCES.
WHEN WE SEE EACH OTHER'S STRUGGLE, WE REALIZE WE AREN'T THE ONLY ONES FACING ADVERSITY, INSPIRING US TO WORK HARDER AND HELP EACH OTHER TO ACCOMPLISH A SHARED GOAL.
THIS DESIRE TO COLLABORATE BOTH WITHIN COMMUNITIES AND ALSO BETWEEN COMMUNITIES IS SO VALUABLE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES US WITH A SENSE.
'CAUSE IT ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE WITH EACH OTHER, LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, AND ESPECIALLY GROW FOR EACH OTHER.
IT PROVIDES US WITH A SENSE OF BELONGING, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERYONE'S WELLBEING.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2025, OUR OWN SPECIAL COMMUNITY, I THINK OF THESE SHARED EXPERIENCES AND THEIR IMPACT ON OUR CHARACTER.
HOWEVER, YOU'VE BEEN HERE SINCE KINDERGARTEN OR STARTED IN HASTINGS FOUR YEARS AGO.
WE EACH HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES THAT WE CAN SAY IMPACTED US.
WE STAYED HOURS AFTER SCHOOL IN SIXTH GRADE WAITING FOR OUR PARENTS TO PICK US UP SO WE WOULDN'T BE ATTACKED BY COYOTES ON OUR WALK HOME.
WE STRUGGLED LEARNING TOGETHER WHILE WATCHING TIGER KING OR OTHER TV SHOWS.
INSTEAD OF DOING OUR WORK ON THOSE 2020 MATH ZOOM CLASSES, WE COUGHED EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE SKY WENT ORANGE FROM THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES, MAKING US HAVE TO RELIVE A MASS WORLD.
AND WE FAILED AS JUNIORS LAST YEAR TO WIN OUR SCHOOL'S OLYMPICS.
DESPITE PUTTING IN A LOT OF EFFORT.
HOWEVER, DID WE LET THESE ADVERSITIES DEFINE US? NO.
AFTER ANY OF THESE OBSTACLES, WE CAME BACK FIGHTING STRONGER THAN EVER.
I MEAN, NONE OF US GOT ATTACKED BY COYOTE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO I THINK WE WON THAT BATTLE.
AND AFTER COVID, WE RETAUGHT OURSELVES HOW TO LEARN, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS ENABLING US TO TO SUCCEED IN HIGH SCHOOL.
OUR CLASSES ALSO HELPED START ENVIRONMENTALLY BASED CLUBS BECOME INVOLVED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM AND WON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY TO BE USED ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.
AND BREATHING THE NON-TOXIC AIR AGAIN DEFINITELY REMINDED US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS WORK.
AND MORE RECENTLY, WE LEARNED FROM OUR MISTAKES OF LAST YEAR'S DEFEAT AND BROUGHT TOGETHER A TALENTED ARTIST, COMPETITIVE GAMERS AND ATHLETES, INSANE SCHOOL PRIDE IN OUR AMAZING LIP-SYNCING DANCE TRIP TO WIN OUR SCHOOL'S 2025 OLYMPICS.
WE WERE ABLE TO FLOURISH BECAUSE AS A GRADE WE SHARED OUR DIVERSE SKILLS WITH EACH OTHER.
AND WHILE THESE SKILLS WERE IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING OUR GRADE WIDE GOALS, WHAT WAS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WAS THE CHARACTER WE DEMONSTRATED AS A CLASS.
WE BROUGHT OUR DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES, PASSIONS, AND IDEAS TOGETHER TO DO THE BEST WE COULD IN EVERYTHING WE PUT OUR MINDS TO.
WHEN WE JOINED TOGETHER, NOT ONLY DO WE PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN ACHIEVE, BUT WE ALSO CAPTURE BITS OF EACH OTHER'S GOOD QUALITIES.
THROUGH THIS, WE'VE BECOME MORE WELL-ROUNDED, ENABLING US TO SEE OURSELVES IN THE WORLD MORE CLEARLY.
THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THOSE THAT CHALLENGE YOU, THOSE THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WELL, THOSE FROM COMMUNITIES OTHER THAN YOUR OWN, AND THOSE THAT SEEM TO BE QUIET, BUT UNDERNEATH OF A PLETHORA OF WISDOM, THE LEAST LIKELY PERSON COULD ADD SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY.
SOMETIMES WE NEED TO PUT OURSELVES IN MESSY OR COMPLICATED SITUATIONS IN ORDER TO BECOME MORE KIND, CREATIVE, HARDWORKING, AND PASSIONATE.
AND THE WORDS OF MY RESEARCH MENTOR, DR. BARKER, JUST REMEMBER THE MOST EXCITING BREAKTHROUGHS OFTEN HAPPEN AT THE INTERSECTION OF DISCIPLINES.
SO GET OFF YOUR SILOS AND MAKE A NEW FRIEND DURING YOUR NEXT INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION.
SO THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMUNITIES, TEACHER COMMUNITIES, AND OTHER SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AT HASTINGS FOR GIVING US THE SPACE TO GROW SAFELY AND POSITIVELY.
THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS, MANY WHO ARE HERE TODAY THAT ENCOURAGE US TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HELPED SHAPED WHO WE ARE TODAY AND ARE CONTINUING TO BECOME.
AND ESPECIALLY THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING COMMUNITY THAT IS THE CLASS OF 2025.
I'LL CHERISH ALL OUR TIMES TOGETHER.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AND CONGRATS CLASS OF 2025.
AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE STAGE YOUR VALEDICTORIAN, NATALIE GARON.
ISN'T IT TOTALLY INSANE THAT WE'VE COME THIS FAR? WE OWE SO MUCH OF THIS TO THE PEOPLE AROUND US.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO START BY EXTENDING A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THIS COMMUNITY AS STRONG AS IT IS TODAY.
THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, THE CLASS OF 25, MY PEERS AND MY FRIENDS WHO INSPIRE
[00:35:01]
ME EVERY DAY WITH YOUR KINDNESS AND PASSION.THANK YOU TO OUR TEACHERS WHO HAVE SERVED AS POSITIVE ROLE MODELS AND HELPED US TEACH AND HELP TEACH US HOW TO LEARN.
THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHO HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE THROUGHOUT THIS HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY AND WHO HAVE HELPED MAKE HHS SUCH AN AWESOME ENVIRONMENT.
AND THANK YOU TO OUR FAMILIES WHO HAVE STOOD BESIDE US DURING ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS OF ADOLESCENTS.
I'D LIKE TO SHOUT OUT MY FAMILY, IN PARTICULAR, MY PARENTS AND MY SISTER, MIRIAM WHO'VE BEEN AT MY SIDE AND HELPED ME GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY.
I'M HONORED TO BE UP HERE SPEAKING TO YOU ALL TODAY, BUT I'VE GOTTA SAY I FOUND THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHAT TO SAY REALLY DIFFICULT.
I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT MY EARLIEST MEMORIES IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE I'VE GONE TO HASTING SCHOOL SINCE KINDERGARTEN, SO I HAVE A LOT OF THEM AND ONE IN PARTICULAR STUCK OUT TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THE BUDDY BENCH AT HILLSIDE, THE PLACE WHERE KIDS SAT IF THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH THEM.
BUT I DO BECAUSE ONE DAY I DID SIT ON IT.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A TYPE OF THING THAT WAS ONLY GOOD IN THEORY BECAUSE ADMITTING THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO PLAY WITH SEEMED ALL KINDS OF DEPRESSING.
BUT ONE DAY I DID NEED A FRIEND AND I GOT PICKED OFF THE BED, PICKED UP, PICKED UP OFF THE BENCH BY A GROUP OF ATHLETIC BOYS REALLY FAR OUTSIDE OF MY QUIET, NERDY COMFORT ZONE.
AND I ENDED UP PLAYING AN INTENSE GAME OF TAG WITH THEM RUNNING FROM ONE END OF THE FRONT PLAYGROUND TO THE OTHER.
AND WHEN RECESS ENDED, I REMEMBER THAT I HAD A HUGE SMILE ON MY FACE.
I'M TELLING YOU THE STORY TODAY BECAUSE I THINK THAT HASTINGS IS A REALLY SPECIAL PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WHO NEED A FRIEND ARE WELCOMED INTO GAMES OF TAG.
AND ON A BROADER LEVEL, ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE CAN COEXIST, WORK TOGETHER AND CONNECT.
FOR MY SENIOR INTERNSHIP, I STARTED TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL TO GET INSPIRED.
I WATCHED A LOT OF CLASSIC HIGH SCHOOL MOVIES FROM HEATHER'S TO BOOK SMART.
AND ONE CONSTANT OF THESE MOVIES IS THE EVER PRESENT CLIQUES THAT ALL THE CHARACTERS OBSESS OVER.
I'M SURE MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE SCENE IN MEAN GIRLS WHERE JANICE AND DAMIEN WALK KATIE THROUGH ALL OF THE GROUPS IN THEIR SCHOOL.
AND I'M NOT SAYING HASTINGS DOESN'T HAVE CLIQUES BECAUSE THAT JUST ISN'T TRUE.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S UNIQUE IN THAT YOU DO HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PLASTIC TO SUCCEED.
MY EVIDENCE IS I'M UP HERE DELIVERING THE SPEECH TO YOU ALL TODAY.
PRETTY HAPPY ABOUT MY TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL, EVEN AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME ON THE BUDDY BENCH AT HILLSIDE.
AND AS I THINK ABOUT HOW SOME PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY HAVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED EXCLUSION LATELY, I THINK IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO LIFT UP PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS AND IDENTITIES.
AND I HOPE THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO DO THIS.
HASTINGS IS KNOWN FOR BEING A PARTICULARLY ARTY AND QUIRKY TOWN, BUT I THINK IT'S SO MUCH MORE THAN THIS.
SURE, MAYBE MORE OF US HAVE DYED HAIR THAN AVERAGE AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF FAMILIES MOVED HERE FROM THE SAME PART OF BROOKLYN
BUT THIS COMMUNITY ALLOWS EVERYONE TO SUCCEED EVEN IF THEY AREN'T INTO INDIE ROCK.
I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE PEOPLE HERE, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT GROWING UP IN HASTINGS HAS SHAPED ME BY THIS TIME OF LIFE THE END OF SENIOR YEAR, A LOT OF PEOPLE MY AGE HAVE GOTTEN UNDERSTANDABLY A LITTLE TIRED OF THIS PLACE ACHING TO SEE MORE OF THE WORLD.
FOR MOST OF US, THESE NEXT YEARS ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME THAT WE GET TO LIVE ON OUR OWN AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT WE HAVEN'T KNOWN SINCE KINDERGARTEN.
IT'S A REALLY EXCITING OPPORTUNITY, BUT I ASK YOU ALL TO REMEMBER THE HASTINGS COMMUNITY AND WHAT IT'S MEANT TO YOU.
FOR ME, HASTING SCHOOLS ARE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, HANGING OUT WITH MY FRIENDS IN MS. CRUZ'S CLASSROOM AFTER SCHOOL, BEFORE MODIFIED VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE.
THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, COMING TO EARLY MORNING BAND PRACTICES WITH MR. DAY, LISTENING TO HIM TALK ABOUT SPORTS GAMES THAT I DIDN'T WATCH, AND BAND COMPOSERS THAT HE MET AT MICHIGAN.
GETTING TO MR. HILL'S PHYSICS CLASS REALLY EARLY TO UPDATE HIM ON SCHOOL DRAMA THAT HE'S ALWAYS DESPERATE TO KNOW
WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SO GREAT IS OUR STRENGTHS IN SO MANY DIFFERENT FIELDS AND THE SUPPORT INGRAINED IN OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT NO ONE FEELS UNABLE TO TRY SOMETHING NEW.
WE HAVE LEAD ACTORS WHO RUN TRACK AND VIOLIN PLAYERS WHO BUILD ROBOTS.
EVERY HASTING STUDENT CONTAINS SO MUCH COMPLEXITY AND SO MUCH KINDNESS.
AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SO STRONG.
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE GROWN UP ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU, AMAZING SPECIAL PEOPLE, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ALL REMEMBER YOUR TIME IN HASTINGS.
AS FONDLY AS I KNOW, I'LL CONGRATS.
WE DID IT AT THIS POINT FOR OUR FINAL SPEECH OF THE EVENING.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE TO THE PODIUM, DR. WILLIAM MCKERTY.
[00:40:01]
EVENING.SO ANDY CLAIMING BRILLIANT AT KEEPING THE RAIN AWAY.
WELL DONE SIR, IN YOUR FIRST YEAR.
SO MY TASK IS TO SHARE WISDOM.
SO I PUT ON A WISDOM CAP FOR WISDOM ROBE AND NATALIE, YES, HASTINGS IS QUIRKY.
SO I PUT ON A CORCORAN JERSEY NOW MY TRADITION TO SHOW YOU THAT THE CORCORANS ARE CRAZY, THE GYM AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND I GREATLY, DEEPLY VALUE THAT SPIRIT.
SO MY JOB THOUGH IS TO GIVE YOU TWO PIECES OF WISDOM.
SO NOW I WILL BE A LITTLE SERIOUS.
MY SECOND PIECE OF WISDOM IS MY TRADITION BEYOND THIS T-SHIRT.
BUT FIRST I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHO YOU HAVE BEEN, WHO YOU ARE, AND WHO YOU WILL BE.
TONIGHT IS NOT JUST ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S ABOUT THE 10 TO 12 YEARS MOST OF YOU HAVE SPENT TOGETHER.
THAT'S WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS VILLAGE, THIS COMMUNITY, THIS DISTRICT.
IT'S HOW YOU HAVE WORKED SO WELL TOGETHER FOR SO LONG.
PUT UP WITH EACH OTHER, GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH OTHER AT HILLSIDE.
WHEN I SEE THE WE ONES, I WONDER WHAT THEY WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE SITTING IN THESE SEATS.
AND WHEN I SEE ALL OF YOU, I WONDER, WHAT WERE YOU LIKE IN THOSE DAYS? WHENEVER YOU JOIN THE HILLSIDE COMMUNITY, I THINK ABOUT THAT AND I WONDER WHAT IS THE SAME IN YOU? WHAT HAS CHANGED? BUT I THINK ABOUT IT FROM THE INSIDE FOR YOUR HEAD, YOUR HEART.
WHAT HAS CHANGED? AND NOW I ASK YOU, WHO WILL YOU BE? WHO WILL YOU BE IN YOUR HEAD, YOUR MIND, YOUR INTELLECT, YOUR CRITICAL INQUIRY IN YOUR HEART, YOUR COMPASSION, YOUR CARING, YOUR DEVOTION.
WHO WILL YOU BE IN YOUR HAND? YOUR TAKING ACTION, YOUR STEPPING UP.
WHO WILL YOU BE? WILL YOU WEAVE ALL THAT TOGETHER? YOUR HEAD, YOUR HEART, AND YOUR MIND, YOUR HAND TO HELP US STRIVE TOWARDS A MUCH BETTER AND CARING PLACE.
SOME OF US CALL THIS GETTING TO THE WE, BRINGING THE US AND THE THEM TOGETHER TO BE A WE.
YESTERDAY IN HASTINGS, A HISTORIC MOMENT HAPPENED.
WE PASSED A BADLY NEEDED PATHBREAKING CAPITAL BOND.
AFTER MANY MONTHS OF DISCUSSION, DEBATE, SHARING OF DIFFERENCES IN ADVOCACY.
THE CAPITAL BOND WAS ADOPTED YESTERDAY.
AND A BRILLIANT EXAMPLE OF A DEMOCRACY WORKING AS IT'S DESIGNED AND HOPED.
FOR MANY OF YOU HERE, ALL OF YOU ON THOSE WONDERFUL GREEN OUTFITS, YOU PARTICIPATED, YOU PROMPTED INPUT, YOU PROMPTED QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU WERE OLD ENOUGH, YOU DID VOTE.
NOW WHO WILL YOU BE AS YOU GO FORWARD? THINK BACK ON.
YESTERDAY IS AN EXAMPLE WHERE EACH ONE OF YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT.
SO AS YOU GO FORWARD, THINK ABOUT THAT HEAD, THE HAND, THE HEART.
'CAUSE EACH ONE OF THOSE MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO WHO YOU WILL BE.
THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, WHAT IT'S GONNA MEAN, PAYING IT FORWARD FOR MANY, MANY STUDENTS AND GENERATIONS.
MY SECOND PIECE OF WISDOM, FOR 14 YEARS I'VE DONE THIS AT COMMENCEMENTS AND GRADUATIONS.
I WANT TO CONNECT TO WHO YOU WILL BE TO WHAT WE REALLY NEED FROM YOU.
IT'S MY TRADITION, LIKE THIS CAP, THIS ROBE.
AND NOW FOR HASTINGS, THIS SHIRT.
LEAD FOR PEACE, LEAD FOR PLEA PEACE.
CLASS OF 20, 25, PLEASE, PLEASE LEAD FOR PEACE.
OUR NATION, OUR WORLD NEEDS IT.
AND AS THEY SAY IN SOUTH AFRICA, GO.
WE'RE READY FOR THE MOMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO THE PODIUM, YOUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS. TARA WARE, AND YOUR DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING, MS. LORI ARO.
UH, THE MOMENT YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.
HOPEFULLY I MAKE YOU PROUD LIKE YOU'VE MADE US ALL PROUD.
JOE AIZIK, JACKSON A ACRE, JOSHUA AMSTER.
[00:45:04]
KAYLEE ARA.JUST GIVING A PAUSE FOR PICTURES, GUYS.
SOPHIA DUFOUR, NORA ELMAN, SOPHIA ELSI.
IT'S NOT HERE, BUT JUST LETTING SHOUT HER OUT.
[00:50:10]
AIDEN FROMM.CHRIS, ARE YOU READY? CHRISTOPHER GORE.
COLLAGE LUCA ATE LARS KASARSKIS.
[00:55:04]
TYLER LEVAN.[01:00:07]
MACY ZEN.[01:05:06]
PEDRO TOLEDO, SHANE, MATHIAS TORO, SAMANTHA TORRES, KYLIEAVA YOUNG GARBER, ANGELINA E LILIANA YOUNG AND JASPER ZIMMERMAN.
PLEASE RISE, CHECK YOUR TASSELS.
ALEX BY THE POWER VESTED IN THE BY THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF REGENTS, I NOW ANNOUNCE YOU GRADUATES OF HASTINGS HIGH SCHOOL.