The Thomas Jefferson School
Graduation Remarks
Class of 2011
Saludos, los estudiantes, profesores, padres,
parientes, e invitados. Es mi gran honor estar en la graduación de la
clase de 2011 la Thomas Jefferson School.
To the 22 students in the senior class, it is
a great personal honor to be invited to share this evening with you. On behalf of the students, teachers,
and families of The Miami Valley School in Dayton, Ohio, I bring congratulations
on your accomplishments in graduating from The Thomas
Jefferson School.
There is something very special about a
graduations that brings to mind advice and words of wisdom. When we contemplate transitional
moments, such as this graduation, we often focus on the past (our beginnings,
from where we have come; your accomplishments as students at one of Chile’s best
schools) or the future (our expectations, where we are headed; your
preparedness for college and future careers). Strangely, we often overlook the present, (the right here
and now, this moment, this instant) which is, in truth, perhaps the most
accurate reflection of who we are and where we are heading.
I stand before you as high school principal,
English teacher, honored guest, and most importantly, as parent of two
children, including Jackson, who is a senior at MVS. Graduates, you must understand, it is not so much that us
“so-called adults” can offer guaranteed volumes of wisdom in the advice
that we generously bestow upon you.
In truth, we are jealous of your relative places in time, are
envious of the vast potential that extends out before you. Your perspective, in graduating and
setting out, is certainly as valuable as ours, in reflecting and looking back.
So in honor of this moment, let’s slow down,
stop the clocks, suspend time for just an instant, for right now, to celebrate
the present, this moment; your graduation from TJS.
Seniors, look to the person on your left;
look to the person on your right. Soak
in the positive support of your classmates. Savor the relationships,
friendly encouragement, and experiences you have shared with this remarkable
Class of 2011. As much as college,
careers, and life after TJS is destined to foster new relationships, forget not
the fellowship and bonds that unite your class.
Now close your eyes
for a moment; recall your “all-time most challenging or worst-moment” in high
school. OK? Nod if you have a clear image. Now, take a deep breath; fill your
lungs, and smile. Remember how you
made it through; who provided the stable shoulder of support and hopeful words
of encouragement. Recall what you
have learned leading up to this moment, today; how you will be better prepared
should a similar situation arise in the future. Delight in the friendships and shared experiences that have
gotten you to where you are now, today, in this present moment.
Think now of the
younger students, those who have looked up to you as role models, observed your
examples of what it means to succeed at TJS. You have proven to be excellent students, have scored well
on your PSU and National SIMCE tests.
You have also worked together on community service projects, like “Un
Techo por Chile,” showing your commitment to helping others. As a class, your teachers mention the
qualities of respect, honesty, commitment, and good humor in describing you, very
important traits to model for the younger students of your beloved TJS. This is your legacy; the reputation you
have built leading up to this moment.
Now look out at the faces of the faculty,
your teachers, those from the lower, middle, and upper schools. Realize that “teaching” is indeed a
two-way street; they have benefited from your wisdom, as they hope you have
from theirs. Understand that a
diploma is not a “good-bye,” but rather a “hope to see you soon.” Remember to return and visit. TJS is missing you already, waiting
expectantly to hear the news of your future successes. They look forward to hearing,
first-hand from you, up-dates during your journey.
Now look out into the audience; make
eye-contact with your parents and siblings, family and friends. Give them a wink or a wave; acknowledge
the love and support that binds you together. Know that they too are juggling a mixture of emotions: great
pride, yet profound nervousness at what this transition means. While they unconditionally hope
for your future success, they also are not fully ready to see you leave. Help us today to better understand how
to provide the best support for you in the future; so in setting out, we also
keep you close.
Now return to you, today, this hour, this
moment; your graduation. Take time
to have fun, to savor what you have accomplished, to dream about and plan for
the exciting future still ahead of you.
Take risks, challenge yourselves, listen to your reliable “gut instinct;”
know that our future is in your hands.
Remember from where you have come: don’t
forget the support that contributed to your success; likely it is available
still, should you need it again.
In the present, keep a clear view of where you are going; consider that
there are more than one path to arrive at your destination safely and
successfully.
At the Miami Valley School, I begin each
school year by reading a poetry section from Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. With your permission, I would like to
read a selection by renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, specifically his poem:
“Oda al Presente.” With respect to
Mr. Neruda, I will attempt to read the final section of his poem en Español. While my
Spanish is certainly not as strong as your English, please know that even if my
pronunciation is questionable, my goal in honoring you, here on this day, is
sincere.
Este This
presente moment
liso as
smooth
como una tabla, as
a board,
fresco, and
fresh,
esta hora, this
hour,
este día this
day
limpio as
clean
como una copa nueva as
an untouched glass
—del pasado --
not a single
no hay una spiderweb
telaraña—, from
the past:
tocamos we
touch
con los dedos with
our fingers
el presente, the
moment,
cortamos we
cut it
su medida, to
size,
dirigimos we
direct
su brote, its
blooming.
está viviente, It’s
living,
vivo, it’s
alive:
nada tiene it
brings nothing
de ayer irremediable, from yesterday that
can’t be
redeemed,
de pasado perdido, nothing from the lost past.
es nuestra This
is our
criatura, creation,
está creciendo it’s
growing
en este this
very
momento, está llevando instant,
kicking up
arena, está comiendo sand
or eating
en nuestras manos, out
of our hands.
cógelo, Catch
it,
que no resbale, don’t
let it slip away!
que no se pierda en Keep it from vanishing into
sueños dreams
ni palabras, or
words!
agárralo, Grab
it,
sujétalo pin
it down,
y ordénalo and
make it
hasta que te obedezca, obey!
hazlo camino, Make
it a road
campana, or
a bell,
máquina, a
machine,
beso, libro, a
kiss, a book,
caricia, or
a caress.
corta su deliciosa Slice
into its sweet
fragancia de madera scent
of wood,
y de
ella and
from it
hazte una silla, make
yourself a chair,
trenza then
weave yourself
su respaldo, a
seat.
pruébala, Try
it out--
o bien or,
better,
escalera! try
a ladder!
Si, Yes,
escalera, a
ladder,
sube rise
en el presente, out
of the moment
peldaño step
tras peldaño, by
step,
firmes feet
firmly
los pies en la madera planted
on the wood
del presente, of
the moment.
hacia arriba, Up
and
hacia arriba, up
no muy alto, not too much--
tan sólo just
high
hasta que puedas enough
to
reparar patch
las goteras the
holes
del techo, in
the roof.
no muy alto, Not
too far;
no te vayas al you
don’t want to reach
cielo, heaven.
alcanza Climb
up
las manzanas, to
the apples
no las nubes, but
not as far as the clouds
ésas (let
déjalas them
ir por el cielo, irse cruise
the sky, drifting
hacia el pasado. towards
the past).
Tú You
eres are
tu presente, your
own moment,
tu manzana: your
own apple:
tómala pluck
it
de tu árbol, from
your apple tree,
levántala hold
it up
en tu in
your
mano, hand:
brilla it
shines
como una estrella, like
a star.
tócala, Stroke
it,
híncale el diente sink your teeth into it,
y ándate now
off you go
silbando en el camino. whistling
on your way.
Gracias.
Samuel Wagner, V
Upper School Principal
The Miami Valley School
2011 Graduation for The Thomas Jefferson
School
Concepcion, Chile Friday, 18 November, 2011
