Remarks from Senior Dinner 2022

One special aspect of the yearbook is the opportunity for each graduating student to design and personalize their own page in the yearbook. Each page takes on the personality of the student, pulling back the curtain on some of the important moments from their high school career.

 

This year, I was struck by many of the quotes that were shared by students:

 

“You belong among the wildflowers, you belong in a boat out at sea, sail away, kill off the hours, you belong somewhere you feel free”

 

“I’d rather be happy than right any day.”

 

“It’s about the journey, not the destination.”

 

“Where you are doesn’t matter as much as who you are with”

 

“The difference between an adventure and ordeal is attitude.”

 

I was struck by the theme of the quotes, giving more weight to the process and not just the outcome. Actually, Brian Barrera literally wrote “trust the process” on his page. As educators, this is what we are hoping to cultivate in students, a joy of learning and a desire to grow as a person. While grades in school are a reality, teachers regularly discussed with each other the vibrancy of this class as learners, artists, athletes, and activists. Even as senioritis kicked in, students shared with me their desire to do well on their final projects, taking pride in what they’ve accomplished, and wanting to finish the year on a strong note.

 

It has been such a pleasure watching each of you grow as an individual and find ways to make an impact.

 

Anthropologist Jane Goodall said, “Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world.” “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world [and people] around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Class of 2022, as your time concludes at Brimmer, I leave you one final set of questions. What do you want your story to be? I hope you let your story be one where you choose your path, listen to and feel for those around you, and make choices that will better our community and thus our world. That you continue to focus on the process and learn for the sake of learning.

 

As we get ready to move forward, I leave you with one more quote by Bill Waterson used on Jackson’s page in the yearbook. It comes from the final strip from the iconic comic Calvin and Hobbes, where Calvin and Hobbes are sledding down a hill into a world of possibility: “It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…Let’s go exploring.” Class of 2022, it’s time for you to take sail and start your next adventure.

Watch Sophia Spring's Senior video that was aired at the Senior Dinner!