MOVING ON CEREMONY
Cherishing the Past and Embracing the Future by David Kirkland
EACH YEAR WHEN I SIT DOWN to write this speech, I think about the kids who are moving on. What are their passions? What are their hopes for the future? What are their fears? How did their time at Valley School shape the people they will be as adults? What words of encouragement can I share with them as they begin their new adventures? As I look at you as 8th-graders today, I have come to know each of you in a special way. I have learned from you the many passions and interests that you have shared with us. Most importantly, I have come to understand that, implicitly, you love to learn. You are inquisitive. You want to learn more about the world and what it has to offer you, and you never have stopped asking questions about the variety of topics and stories that you have learned and heard over the years. You are determined to persevere, and you take great care in your learning so as to produce quality work that means something. Even recently, as you finished your 8th-grade English and Language Arts final exam, you worked tirelessly and with such great effort to put together quality responses and essays. These characteristics that are unique to each of you are remarkable, and I am confident that they will lead you to have fascinating and outstanding futures. Today, I challenge each of you to remain inquisitive. Keep learning and searching for more… as learning is lifelong. Make mistakes so that you may grow from them. Continue to
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be fascinated by the world around you. Travel, explore new lands, visit great cities, interact with new cultures, taste new foods, and meet and help new and interesting people. Never stop and never lose the thirst for knowledge that you always have shared with us. Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” I’m sure that many of you, our students who are moving on to other schools, will think back on your years at Valley and see them as happy, challenging, and carefree times. Others will certainly follow Dr. Seuss’ words and not truly value your time with us until it becomes a memory. Either way, know that your time with us has affected all of us and made us all better people. You have taught us to be better educators, to be better friends, and better coaches. Our hope is that you also believe that we have affected your life in the same way for the better, and you take the knowledge, the experience, and the friendships with you, and cherish these moments always. What will the future look like for you? What remains in store for you as you continue to grow? I am not sure what your future will look like, or what you will be when you grow up. I do know that if you work hard, develop your passions, and continue to learn and question while finding out what you enjoy doing, your future will be more clear to you. My hope is that your futures are bright and memorable. I challenge
