Celebrating the angels and role models who make this world a better place.
Profiles En-Courage-ment
The Class of 2007
Posted in Angel on the Aug 9, 2007
I read daily about all these young kids doing the daffiest things so when I headed off to my nephew’s high school graduation in June I had no great expectations.
It was a hot, sunny June Sunday. The exercises were scheduled for 1pm. We arrived early and took our seats among the proud parents in the rear bleachers of the football field. As we waited we heard stories about previous graduation ceremonies and the various weather conditions.
Then the school band began to play the music to accompany the faculty and students’ procession onto the field. The kids swaggered through the gate as if they just accomplished a terrific feat and they had. They finished 12 years of school! Sadly, according to the Business Council of New York, “In New York 58 percent of the class of 2003 graduated within four years, far behind the national average of 70 percent, the study found. Only two states, Georgia (56 percent), and South Carolina (54 percent), graduated fewer students.” So when these kids took their seats, you could almost hear their parents sigh in relief.
Three of the students spoke, the class president, salutatorian and valedictorian. The class president’s speech was a witty and touching remembrance of their four years together. There were many inside jokes that got laughs and applause but also provoked some questions over dinner later. The salutatorian was tasked with talking about the lessons learned over their academic career and the valedictorian’s speech was inspirational to the students and parents alike. It was an encouraging message to the students that planned to go on to college and those that were putting the textbooks and notebooks behind them. Each of these student speakers were smart, poised and articulate.
The keynote address was delivered by the school’s social studies teacher, William Hennessy. What was remarkable about this man’s speech was that he talked about Alexander Hamilton not from the perspective that he was a great man but from the viewpoint that despite his early success and his many talents, he did not achieve his ultimate goal of becoming president. Mr. Hennessy concluded from his research that Hamilton did not react well to setbacks. He stressed to his students that rather than recoil in fear they should learn to face whatever failures they may experience as challenges to be overcome with more effort and determination.
He pointed out that failure is where some of the greatest lessons are learned. What a wonderful message to give kids today who are striving to do well in school, stay on top of their music lessons, be the best athlete they can be and create the art they can be proud of. He reassured them that perfection is worth striving for even if only few attain it because the real goal is learning the lessons that help us to lead fuller and happier lives.
After attending this graduation ceremony, I believe that these kids will bring us the brighter future we are hoping for! Congratulations Class of 2007!