Head of School Graduation 2022 Remarks

Graduation Remarks
May 14.2022
 
Good morning...So, Class of 2022---this is it.

The moment you have worked so diligently for---
The moment you have patiently waited for---
The moment that will be a stepping stone for you in the years to come---
This moment---it has finally arrived…

Congratulations!

As we gather to celebrate you today, I recognize the simple fact that I am the only one standing between you, the ringing of the Victory Bell,  and your newfound status as a Graduate of Palmer Trinity School. 
 
I also recognize that today,  you’re going to leave us...Your Palmer Trinity Family. 

Today, you head off into the “great unknown”...Or, at least, the “next step” on your educational journey...College, study abroad, summer travels...Who knows? 

And, so, with that in mind, I’ll take “full advantage” of having this podium and microphone, for just a few minutes, and offer you a few—hopefully helpful—observations and pieces of advice…

#1
Don’t oversleep.

Whether you realize it or not, you are about to have more free time than you may ever have experienced before. Depending upon your class schedule, and what you decide to do in terms of extracurricular activity, you will be completely on your own, left to your own devices. For most of you, this will be the very first time in which you must be in charge of getting yourself up and ready for the day, and setting the schedule for those 24 hours, 7 days a week...10,080 minutes to be exact!

10,080 minutes…What a wonderful gift---and a real responsibility...Guard those precious 10, 080 minutes wisely…

Don’t waste your time! Learn to use the hours of the day to your advantage...As the great author Leo Tolstoy once claimed,

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”

You will be “armed” with plenty of time in your day to accomplish much…

Your self-discipline will be paramount, and it will be critical for you to be organized and to be a master planner if you are truly committed to getting the most out of every day.

And one more thought here—
Please do NOT choose a course of study based on the time of day it is offered...Find something you are truly interested in pursuing, and jump in!

#2
Find a Mentor.

Mentors are everywhere around you. Your teachers, your coaches, your Advisor, maybe a family friend, a rabbi, or church leader... Many of you have already developed strong relationships with folks whom you chat with and discuss things with regularly. Just remember, finding the right person who truly cares about you and your future is a wonderful gift, and it behooves you to cultivate that relationship. 

And while certainly we all have family who care about us, I will argue that as wonderful as family are, they are inherently biased! My own father gave this piece of advice to me many years ago, and that advice was very simple: 

Go find someone in the teaching profession whom I could learn from, and whom I could ask all the questions I needed to know. 

Once I knew that I wanted to pursue education and possibly be a Head of School, my efforts led me to a most distinguished gentleman, and Head of School, Mr. Harvey Sperling…

Harvey and I now have a 25 year friendship...I have learned much from Harvey over the years, and I am most grateful for his love, support and his unique ability to push me to think “outside the box”, always answering my questions with more questions---which, I might add, is quite frustrating, but very effective! 

Yes, seek someone whom you can trust, and who will be completely honest with you. Invest the time and energy to nurture that relationship, and wonderful things can–and will–happen.

#3
Choose to be Positive.

You choose your Attitude every day, plain and simple. Your outlook can be either positive or negative.
Choose to be Positive.

Take that positive attitude of yours, and remind yourself that, as you well know by now, life isn’t always fair. Things won’t always go your way. 

My fellow Tennessean, famed entertainer Dolly Parton reminds us, that
“...if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”

In your own quest to reach your desired level of success, you will fail….You won’t always succeed.

How you respond to that failure, however, is critical, and will ultimately pay dividends for you…In fact, I would argue, that’s where the opportunity for real accomplishment lies.

For it is in those valleys---those downard moments in which we are truly tested.

Those times in which an easy answer is NOT an option and a straightforward route is NOT possible...Moments “in the crucible”...Those are the times in which we learn, grow and evolve.

Consider the following “Failures”...

Oprah Winfrey was fired from an early job as a television news anchor…

Elvis Presley was let go from the Grand Ole Opry and was told to go back to truck driving…

Lady Gaga was dropped from Island Def Records after only 3 months…

Sir James Dyson suffered through 5,126 failed prototypes before he landed the first working Dyson vacuum…

Michael Jordan did not make the Varsity Basketball team as a High School Sophomore, and went on to lead the North Carolina Tar Heels to a National Championship, and the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships…

Failure is a powerful teacher, if we allow ourselves to learn from its effects...As we all know, it’s how we respond to defeat that truly defines us…How we rise after falling---how we “get up and go”, taking the first step forward and ultimately seizing the opportunity that lies before us…

It is up to you how you will go about your daily work. It is up to you just what your attitude will be.

Within this amazing Class of 2022, we have an outstanding collection of individuals who have big plans and who will make a difference in our greater world... Future politicians, scientists, sports stars, researchers, community leaders, educators, writers, doctors, lawyers, movie producers, artists, and the list goes on….

I am guessing we also have folks in this Class who don’t know exactly yet what that greater Plan may be...College and “life beyond” may seem a little foggy, and, if we are really being honest--we do have an Honor Code here, I’ll remind you--I am guessing that none of us can say exactly what the Future holds…And that’s just fine. That’s okay. 

Remember, you are on a journey with twists and turns…ups and downs…successes and failures…Stay positive!

#4
Be a lifelong learner.

By concentrating your efforts on the genuine desire to gain new knowledge and outside perspectives, you will find great joy, and the habits you gain, coupled with the skills you hone,  will ultimately serve you in powerful, life changing ways.

Find something that excites you—something you are passionate about—something that forces you to think, stretch your mind, and grow, for, as Edna Ferber, noted playwright and novelist claims,

“A closed mind is a dying mind.”

I am NOT saying that you should not aspire to achieve a high GPA…That is a wonderful Goal to have; rather, I encourage you to focus on the learning process, and approach your work with zeal, with integrity, and without getting too caught up in the outcome, as measured quantitatively.

Your growth resides within that process, and, I would argue, so does your overall happiness.

In his recent remarks upon this very topic, author and historian David McCullough, Jr. speaks so eloquently on this very concept---much better than me, I might add:

“Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifying byproduct. It’s what happens when you’re thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, NOT so the world can see you.”

#5
Be Grateful.

In Japan, there is an ancient folk tale telling of a mountainous area that for centuries has been called something that translates roughly to: “The Place Where You Leave Your Mother”.

It was named so because of the ancient custom of taking the very old and feeble to the top of the mountain and leaving them there for their eternal resting place.

A thick forest grows up the mountainside, and had you been there a few centuries ago, you might have spotted the young, strong man carrying the aged, wisp of a woman on his back through that dense forest.

As they made their way upward, the young man noticed that the feeble old woman was reaching out, and breaking small branches, scattering them along the path...

“Why are you doing that, mother?”, he asked.

She looked at him with eyes dimmed by everything except love, and simply replied,

“So that you will not become lost on the way back, my son.”

Thank the ones who have given everything for you at this point, in this moment, today. 

Remember their sacrifices, and just how they have “cleared the branches on the way” for you, on YOUR journey…Be Grateful.

And, in that same spirit, I say “thank you” wholeheartedly,

For, 
 
You have established yourselves, as leaders in the Classroom. You have set the bar high, for all to follow.

You have used your time well here, contributing beyond that Classroom.

Your Positive Spirit and your Genuine Commitment to the Ideals of our School are of the highest order…Our entire Community owes you a great debt of thanks for leading us so capably. 

I say “thank you” for setting the tone, and being such effective leaders and influences for our School. You have been good mentors, role models, and Spirit Guides for our younger students.

You have “jumped in” and spoken out respectfully and powerfully, supporting causes to help others and our greater World.

You have helped lead our artistic efforts, sharing your creative talents for all to enjoy, and you have done so enthusiastically and generously, mentoring our younger musicians, thespians, and artists so capably.

You have competed at the highest level, with the most noble ideals, and, most importantly, with true sportsmanship on display.

You have accrued 24,508  hours of volunteer service as a Class, living our Mission so well and so visibly.

You have Led with Love, and the ripple effect of such beautiful and thoughtful acts cannot be measured.

In short, you have served faithfully as a Palmer Trinity Student, and all that such a privilege and responsibility require.

Finally, in good Episcopal tradition, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite Missives, from Mother Teresa:  

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
 
And so, Class of 2022, as you take this next step, I hope you’ll remember these few pieces of advice...There is no “road map” here…

Remember, as you, go forth today, with diplomas in hand:

Know that you are loved.

Know that you are supported.

Know that we are always cheering for you.

Know that you will be missed.

Know that we are waiting, and hoping you will return in due time to share your stories with us…

And, 

Always remember,

You may leave Palmer Trinity, but Palmer Trinity will never leave you.
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