Graduation Speeches

WORDS OF WISDOM

Senior Dinner Speech - Ananya Ganeriwalla

Senior Dinner Blessing - Grant Phillips

. . . The game of Monopoly (yup, that board game sprawled on your coffee table) is fundamentally the worst game to ever be invented. . . . But one day, amidst searching never ending pieces of Monopoly, I came across another game, one that didn’t mess with my already-determined retirement plan: the game of Life. But you see, if you’ve ever played Life, the beginning of the game asks you to choose between two paths: college or career. . . . It failed to account for the decisions and memories and experiences that shaped our journeys to this stage. The game of Life leaves out the years that teach us why life is worth living. . . . So, I ask that over the next years, we channel our youth: to find joy in the little things and to embrace uncertainty. I ask that we continue to ask questions and offer puzzled expressions. I ask that we maintain our high-school friendships and engage in meaningful conversation. I ask that we never disguise our authentic, childhood self. In the game of Life, a dice with six dots determines your fate. It asks you to choose between I would like to start by thanking: God for this incredible milestone that we as a class have reached this day; parents for their endless guidance and encouragement; and the admin and school for providing the necessary resources and knowledge to propel us toward the new beginnings. Without the endless support of the beforenamed, we would not be the grown men and women we are today. And, I believe I speak for all 113 seniors behind me in expressing our deepest gratitude for the sacrifices that everyone has made to get us here. Secondly, we ask for God’s blessing on this momentous transition in our lives from high-schoolers to young adults finding our foothold in our respective communities. Through our hardships in these trying times, we look to Him for protection over not just ourselves but all the people of the world. His power is grand. His knowledge is far more than we could ever comprehend. His plan is beyond our human perception and, college and career, and everything afterward. But in this life, our life, we pave our own path. So, let’s make good choices, honor what we’ve been taught, and simply live. We don’t need boardwalks in Miami to retire, class of 2020. Monopoly is and forever will be overrated. 1 parish.org SUMMER 2020 | | CLASS 2020 commencement edition therefore, we put our trust in Him to lead us to prosperity. Amen.

Graduation Invocation - Matthew White

Dear Lord, Thank you for this special day and the wonderful ceremony that is about to begin. As your children begin to leave Parish and start their new lives, watch over each and every one of them so they will never be alone, even in the darkest of times. Watch and care for everyone, that they may remain safe and cared for, for all of their lives. Also, Lord, bless them with hope so they may extend their arms to the future with eager and open hearts. Help them to acquire the knowledge and skills they have learned from Parish Episcopal School into their daily lives. Inspire them to live a life of passion and joy. And, Lord, please pervade in us the love of hard work and purpose over ephemeral gains. We also pray that our lives will be full of service, love, peace and happiness. Thank you for the guidance and care you have given us from birth until this very day as we begin our futures tomorrow, and may you be with us forever more. All of this we ask in your holy name we pray, Amen.

. . . These bundles of lumber would sink to the bottom of rivers, mold into the silt, and become lost in time. However, a hundred years later this lost wood is being rediscovered at the bottom of U.S. rivers. The time spent underwater has aged and refined the wood with a beautiful grain. It is now called sinker wood, and is incredibly valuable and used in luxury furniture, homes and guitars. What was once forgotten and considered expendable has turned into something precious. . . . right now our class of 2020 feels a little like this sinker wood. Life was vibrant and exciting as we were all getting ready for the fun that comes along with our final months at Parish. Then BAM! Life changes instantly before our eyes. Everything gets canceled. Our spirits sink to the bottom. We feel passed over. We feel forgotten. However, while we might feel this disappointment now, what I know about this class to be true is you can knock us down but we will always, always get back up. We came into this world during 9/11. We are headed off into the world during a worldwide pandemic. But in between we had Parish. We had us. We learned. We laughed. We cried. We won. We lost. This class of 2020 has been hardened and refined. We are a class of strength, resiliency and determination. If ever there was a class that was ready to go into the crazy world we see right now, it is us. So don’t feel forgotten. Don’t feel lost. Feel confident. Feel strong. Feel ready. Because we are!

Graduation Student Address – Chase Barclay

Four years ago, we embarked on our Upper School journeys, beginning what felt like a daunting freshman year where a trip to Bridgeport was the first step in uniting our class. As a freshman, I never would have thought that running around a carpeted gym and jumping on people’s backs, putting beads on strings and writing a letter to my senior self would become some of the most foundational moments of my Upper School experience. As we returned to campus, we knew that our class was prepared: ready to unify, ready to collaborate, ready to support one another, and ready to pour our blood, sweat and tears into creating a Parish legacy. Perhaps, we were also preparing for the possibility of bumps in the road. Little did we know, our Parish futures would be filled with unexpected pit stops: pilot and flimmersion schedules, two Spirit Week victories, online learning and even being kicked out of the Senior Lounge a couple of times – well, I guess we kinda saw that one coming. . . . my parting message for all of us is to make an impact: in the journey of a friend, family member or someone you do not know. Do something small. Do something big. Do something when no one is watching. Become a voice for hope. Become an advocate. It is impactful. It matters. We must all play a role in others’ journeys, whether as a role model, friend, travel companion or something else entirely. But, our goal should be the same: to make our adventures and those of others better. We must support one another as we move forward, taking the lessons we have learned in wisdom, honor and service, and applying them in our everyday lives. . . . Our Parish journey is complete and dare I say we have a legacy that will be second to none. We are strong. We are resilient. We are the Parish Episcopal School’s Class of 2020.

. . . For some students, an interesting curriculum and well-intentioned teachers are enough to keep them motivated. Though others, myself included, are a little less intrigued and need extra attention to stay on course. If you would have asked my parents during my first trimester as a freshman if I was going to graduate, their answer probably would have been "no" and that they were already looking into sending me to boot camp. Mrs. Shreve not only completely changed my parents' outlook on my situation, but my own feelings about my future . . . She always made sure that everyone was accounted for and taken care of, and hardly ever missed the chance to let us know that we were her “sunshines.” These simple but meaningful actions allowed us to blossom from greasy preteens to borderline young adults who at least know what the word responsibility means. . . . I think I speak for all of us when I say that Mrs. Shreve is one of the key people who have impacted us to become better and fuller versions of ourselves . . . We love you Mrs. Shreve and you will forever hold a special place in all of our hearts. It is my great pleasure to introduce, Mrs. Jill Shreve as the Faculty Speaker for the Class of 2020.

US Faculty Commencement Address – Jill Shreve

My Sunshines! I'm so thankful to finally get to celebrate you, Class of 2020! Each one of you is so special to me. . . .

[Students] have asked me for years, “What do you think, Mrs. Shreve?” . . . I’ve consistently told students, “I’m not here to teach you what to think. I’m here to teach you how to think.” And I won’t approach this final moment with you, class of 2020, any differently.

. . . in this moment, as we all pause together, considering and celebrating what every single person in this space has done over many years to create this moment, I’m going to offer this final lesson to you using the pedagogical method I always do. . . . I’m going to ask you to reflect on and come up with an answer to a final prompt. It’s a single-tasked prompt. No complicated instructions or rubric to accompany it. And there is no 7:45 a.m. due date on turnitin.com for your response.

How are you going to live?

Notice: the question isn’t asking, “What are you going to do with your life?” It’s also not asking, “Where are you going to go?” It’s not even asking, “Why do you want to go there?”

Notice the question’s looking for an adverb as an answer. . . . There’s lots to pick from, so take time to choose one. And, be sure to pick one – otherwise one will pick you. . . . As you form your answer, your conviction, your thesis – be clear and explicit when you state it. . . . what kind of evidence are you going to use to bolster this thesis you’re wanting to advance?. . . you have to anticipate counterarguments to your adverb, so don’t forget a concession and rebuttal. . . . you need a thoughtful, powerful conclusion to your argument. . . . You need to situate your argument in the greater discourse taking place, and prove that your assertion has merit and should be considered. . . . Finally, once you’ve got your answer rendered: don’t forget it. You’ll want to use it to govern every decision you make.

With that in mind, let’s revisit the question one more time: how are you going to live?