‘Listen to your heart' The following are excerpts from the commencement address given by Kingswood Oxford Middle School Sports Coordinator Matt Kocay Friday, May 27, 2011.
commencement 2011
We share many common bonds. … We both love our Wyvern Nation: our community, our sports and our school. My smiles and excitement are met by yours day after day, and that’s why your class is so special to me. I’ve had the unique experience of working with you and watching you grow from the Middle School all the way till now – your day of graduation. …
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In talking about our connection of school spirit and your accomplishments, I must of course talk about your time in athletics. I might even go as far as to say that there is nowhere else that love of school and of school spirit manifests itself more than the realm of athletics. It has been an amazing run for you as athletes, Class of 2011. You dominated during your years in the Middle School and took your lessons learned and your drive to excel to the next level in the Upper School. Victory has been your constant companion, Class of 2011, and you have culminated your run with an unprecedented number of championships. In winning all these championships you have in fact made all Wyverns champions this year, and we should applaud you for this. I would like to take a moment to recognize these teams for their amazing work. Girls’ soccer: New England champions. Boys’ basketball: New England champions. Girls’ squash: New England champions. Boys’ lacrosse: league champions. Girls’ tennis: league champions. Boys’ golf: league champions and New England champions. And many other teams have had great seasons as well. It has been a true pleasure to work with you and to watch you achieve these impressive accomplishments.
Along with remembering these great triumphs, I expect you to utilize the character traits you developed in order to attain these victories: teamwork, self-sacrifice, sportsmanship, determination and, above all, confidence. It is without a doubt these character traits that have brought you victory as much as innate ability. More often than not we see teams and individuals fail because of a lack of character or inability to make the most of their talents. This was not the case for you, Class of 2011, and I hope our younger Wyverns will remember this about you. What I do know for a fact is that they will remember you as champions – and so will I. Class of 2011, take with you the lessons learned in athletics and a thirst to excel as you move forward, and I can promise you will meet with success in whatever endeavors you pursue. I have come to believe as an adult that no matter what you are doing, you must do it to the best of your ability, and you, Class of 2011, embody that notion – and not just in sports. Your drive to excel has led you to become accomplished in every aspect of the student experience. … Of all your many accomplishments, one stands out above all the rest and is incredibly important to me and for you in your lives moving forward. When it came time to write this speech, one theme jumped out at me more than any other. Class of 2011, your greatest accomplishment by far has been your journey of self-discovery. During your time at KO, you have come to know who you are and what you’re about, and in doing so, you’ve garnered the confidence to be who you want to be. … As you move forward, Class of 2011, keep your expectations high, for you have accomplished so many great things while at KO, and in so have garnered here at KO all the tools necessary to do great things in life. Though some of you may still not believe that you know who you are,