Good morning.
It is a privilege to be with you today, as we celebrate the outstanding achievements of our 8th-grade students and this important step forward, beginning a new chapter in life as high school students.
Our students should feel proud, and I am certain that each of you, their parents and caretakers, shares in that pride…In fact, I ask all of our soon to be 9th graders to take a look at just who is present today. Your friends, your families, your teachers—we are all here for you.
Palmer Trinity is about community — we pride ourselves on this belief and claim it as a hallmark of our School. As such, note the wide range of individuals who are here for you! You are surrounded by:
People who love you.
People who care for you.
People who want only the best for you.
What an incredible gift, and a moment for you to remember.
Soak it in!
Please also note the name of this ceremony---
This is simply a “Closing Exercise”.
This is NOT a Graduation. It is Not an Ending…
Rather, it is a Beginning…
A step, on your greater path to development.
Of the many gifts you receive today, perhaps it is the simple remembrance that today, you are taking with you the sacred memories of your Palmer Trinity Middle School experience and with that, the relationships formed, the struggles overcome, accomplishments achieved, and ALL the good--and Challenging moments...All of these things will be a part of you forever.
Your class has completed most successfully your “Mission”, and collectively, you have left your impression upon our School, and for that I say “thank you”.
Now, before you walk off the stage today, and take that first step on this exciting new path, I would like to encourage you to do a few things for me.
Number 1
Relax. Make time for Rest, and to unplug.
The Ancient Greek Philosopher and Teacher, Plato himself, urges us to find time to recharge, stating:
“The bow that’s always bent will quickly break, but if unstrung will serve you at your need. So let the mind some relaxation take, to come back to its task with fresher heed…”
While I know that many of you have a jam-packed summer planned, with activities, camps, travel experiences, and wonderful things happening, I truly encourage you to find time to “disconnect”----to “unplug” and simply “be”.
And yes, that means to turn off your electronics, your cell phone…Disconnect! Try it for a full day, or even longer…Challenge yourself to establish a routine that includes “quiet time”...Legendary thinker and author Henry David Thoreau furthers this notion, adding,
I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.
Whatever the scenario, make time to get away from distractions and set aside a moment for solitude.
Silence really is golden, and, as you will soon discover, is often where the best creative thought lies…
How you discover that “quiet” will be part of your challenge this summer. Noted “Positive Attitude” guru, Norman Vincent Peale, advises us to also,
Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body.
Maybe it’s an early morning jog, or a quiet stroll in the evening…
Maybe it’s sitting on the beach, watching the waves roll by…
Maybe it’s curling up on the couch with a good book…
Maybe it’s painting, or creating a new work of art…
Maybe it’s a simple moment on vacation, just letting your mind drift...
Whatever the case may be, spending part of your day in contemplation will be well worth it, I promise.
As Carl Sandburg, the great American writer, once claimed,
Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln never saw a movie, heard a radio, or looked at t.v. They had “loneliness” and knew what to do with it. They were not afraid of being lonely because they knew that was when the creative mood in them would work.
Disconnect…Unplug…Relax. Learn to use that quiet time to the fullest, harnessing the genuine, real, and staying power it can provide.
Number 2
Crossing the stage today, you are encountering an exciting new part of your life. A time in which you might be feeling a little anxious about…Understandably so…But, I encourage you not to be afraid…Use those nerves, that adrenaline, and that energy and channel it into active and positive participation in the world around you… Or, in more simple terms, as Walt Disney so directly stated:
The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Accordingly, I encourage each of you to take the time this summer to try something new---
Maybe it’s as simple as tackling a tough read that you have been putting off…
Maybe it’s signing up for a new activity at camp…
Maybe it’s introducing yourself to someone you don’t know.
Whatever it is, take that leap and remember that whatever you choose, real growth and development occur when you are being truly challenged, and might feel a bit uncomfortable at times.
Finally,
Number 3.
Be Grateful.
Say “thank you” to anyone and everyone who has made this opportunity possible for you.
Maybe it’s Mom and Dad. Maybe it’s a grandparent or an Aunt or Uncle. Maybe it’s a Godparent or a dear Friend of your Family.
Whoever has supported you along your journey, I am asking that you find that individual and make sure they know just how grateful you are. Famous author Alice Walker furthers this point, claiming that
'Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say…’Thank you’ expresses extreme gratitude, humility, and understanding.
So, please take a moment in the coming weeks and write a note of thanks, or even better, tell those folks who have supported you in person just how much you appreciate them and love them. In that same spirit of gratitude, I say “thank you”.
Know that I am very grateful for your hard work, and your dedicated efforts to complete your studies and various tasks, which have served you well, and gotten you to this point.
Know that I am very grateful for your overall Leadership as a Class…Your efforts to “set the tone” in Middle School, and serve as good Role Models for our younger students.
Know that I am also most grateful for your Ambassadorship—your commitment to representing what Palmer Trinity is all about—being compassionate, kind, servant leaders…Persons of character who care about others, and who recognize the importance of working within a greater Community…Persons who LEAD WITH LOVE.
As you prepare to take this step, please also know that I am cheering for you, and I extend my heartiest “Congratulations” to each of you today for completing the “first leg” of this exciting journey…Remember
Make Time for solitude;
Try some new activities, and, always,
Be Grateful.
In good Episcopal Tradition, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite Celtic Blessings:
May dawn find you awake and alert,
Approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities, and promises;
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console, and renew you.
All the very best for a relaxing, “disconnected”, healthy, and happy Summer Break!
