Below is a portion of my remarks at our Closing Exercises for our 8th Grade:
Life has beginnings and endings,
just like the one you are facing today. Moments like these are bitter sweet;
you say goodbye to moments and people you have loved and step into an unknown
new chapter. Today you have a sense of accomplishment and uncertainty, and I
want you to embrace both. There is a lot you have accomplished and there are
many questions you have about next year. “How will I feel in the Upper School?
Will I be able to do the work? Who will my friends be? Will I like my teachers?”
Because I know you as individuals and
as a class, I know you will do well and rise to the new challenges. Life for
women as courageous and dedicated as you, will always have new opportunities
and with them new challenges. You face a life of possibilities and with it a
life of decision making. In my own life, I have discovered 3 guiding principles
that have helped me build a life I love and I want to share those with you
today:
1) Ask
lots of questions, ask hard questions, and don’t expect the answers
immediately. Ask yourself “Who do I want to be? What do I have to give? What do
I love?” Answers will lead to more questions, but this process brings you ever closer
to better understanding what you care about and what makes you happy.
2) Forge
your own path, dare to be different and follow your heart. This will not always
be easy but I can guarantee that in the end your hard work will be worth it.
Let your life be an expression of who you truly are, you will not only be
happier but you will inspire others to do the same.
3) Don’t
be afraid of facing fear, failure or uncertainty. Most importantly, don’t let
these emotions stop you. It is in confronting fear that we become courageous,
in experiencing failure that we gain the strength for success, and in embracing
uncertainty that we discover what is possible.
I have no
doubts that you have what it takes to do well and more importantly to
contribute positively to the world. You have an army of people that care for
you deeply and who work hard every day to give you their best so that in
turn you can be your best. As you sit before your parents, grandparents
and teachers today don’t forget to be grateful for all that you have received. We
are all proud of you. Be well, go far,
and always follow your heart.
