Class of 2020 Commencement

In a year when our eighth graders witnessed much change, one of their favorite experiences was a CDS tradition—being able to walk off campus for lunch on Fridays. The Class of 2021 chose to paint themselves at the corner of King and Calhoun Streets in their class portrait., another special CDS tradition.

“Even though Covid may have pushed us further apart, figuratively speaking, it only brought us closer together. ” ~ Jack Josey ’21

Hours Spent Painting Class Mural 25

Closer Together

2021 Commencement Speech by Jack Josey

Good morning students, faculty, family and friends. First of all, I wish to give an enormous thank you to the amazing CDS faculty and staff for making this year possible. Secondly, I would like to thank all of the students, faculty, family and friends who have come to congratulate the Charleston Day School class of 2021 on their graduation. These past couple of years have been extremely challenging and strenuous, but my hope is that soon we will be able to get back to our normal lives.

When the pandemic hit the U.S. early last March and nearly the entire country had to shut down, most of us were shocked. The virus came out of nowhere and left the nation in shambles, forcing schools across the country to go virtual. Zoom was an interesting experience, to say the least, given the fact that most of us had no idea of what to expect.

It was hard staring at a screen for seven hours a day and not being able to see our friends, but that didn’t stop us from adapting to the tough situation that we were faced with. Zoom taught us many valuable life lessons: it taught us grit, perseverance, and the ability to adapt to tough situations. Even though Covid may have pushed us further apart, figuratively speaking, it only brought us closer together.

Over the past eight years at CDS, my classmates and I have spent a countless amount of time with one another. In fact, if my calculations are correct, our class has spent approximately 9,000 hours with each other over the course of our time at CDS. On that note, I think it is safe to say that my classmates and I know each other pretty well. For instance, we don’t just know each other’s names and basic character traits. We know each other’s passions, likes, dislikes, as well as each other’s favorite foods and activities, such as Ben’s passion for fishing and hunting, Barry’s obsession with Wisconsin, and Jonah’s love of spicy foods. We know each other’s parents, siblings, and even grandparents.

Since the very first day of school, it seems our class has not only just known each other, but we’ve befriended each other. And the friendships that we made eight years ago have only continued to grow. Over the past eight years our class has witnessed the arrival of a number of new students. Talmage came in second; MacKenzie in fourth; Danny, Barry and Mac in fifth; as well as Ben and Henry along with Jonah, Reagan and Fletcher in sixth. Even though we’ve only known some of our classmates for two years, it feels as if we’ve known them since we were babies. Over the course of our eight years

“I truly believe that at CDS, our class has been through a lot together. All of the activities nowhere else could have and field trips to Barrier Island, better prepared us for Williamsburg, Space Camp, and Kanuga strengthened our bonds and the next few years than friendships. Since the first grade, my

Charleston Day. CDS classmates and I have overcome a has created a community countless amount of challenges and obstacles over our eight-year journey that fosters all of the most here at CDS. We’ve made it through quintessential qualities to Zoom and all of the inconvenience that Covid brought with it, such as not prepare us for not only high being able to see our friends as often, school and college, but for a having to stay six feet apart, and last successful life and career.” but certainly not least, having to wear a mask all day, every day. We made it through the hours upon hours of homework and studying, the constant stress and anxiety over assignments, and we finally finished our high school applications. I believe that we’ve all grown a great deal. Not just mentally, but also physically—well, almost all of us… I truly believe that nowhere else could have better prepared us for the next few years than Charleston Day. CDS has created a community that fosters all of the most quintessential qualities to prepare us for not only high school and college, but for a successful life and career. Now as this speech comes to a close, I would like to thank each and every person who helped us along this journey: the CDS faculty and staff, who helped teach and guide us during our time at CDS; our friends and family, who have helped support and comfort us through our ups and downs; and my own classmates, whom we’ve always been able to talk to and rely on. And as I stated

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earlier, even though Covid may have literally pushed us further apart, I truly believe that figuratively speaking, it only brought us closer together. It is with tremendous pride that I would like to congratulate the members of the Charleston Day School class of 2021 on their graduation; and I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in this next chapter.

Jack Josey delivers his 2021 Commencement speech at the Sottile Theatre.

Class of 2021 High School Acceptances

Academic Magnet High School* Asheville School Ashley Hall* Baylor School Bishop England High School* Christ School* Episcopal High School* First Baptist Church School Foxcroft School James Island Charter - IB Lucy Garrett Beckham High School* McCallie School* Oceanside Collegiate Academy Palmetto Christian Academy Philip Simmons High School* Porter-Gaud School* St. Andrew’s St. George’s School Taft School* Woodberry Forest School*

*Matricultion

Number of New Alumni

32