Superintendent D’Angelo, Honored Members of the School Board, VALUED Teachers, HAPPY Parents and Friends, and FUTURE LEADERS of this country

STUDENTS: As every High School Principal across America will say at this occasion, your High School Graduation marks a beginning and an ending. And, as with every other beginning and ending, it’s bittersweet. Now, some of you are probably wondering exactly what that means. How can something be bitter and yet sweet at the same time? It sounds like one of those oxymorons, doesn’t it…and it is. C’mon, you all remember Mrs. Traudt telling you about those, right? Phrases formed by seemingly contradictory words placed side by side…like “jumbo shrimp,” “near miss,” “paid volunteer, “and” original copy.” Your graduation *is* bittersweet. It’s bitter for your parents, who realize that your years in their house and under their roof are coming to an end (well, they are HOPING SO, at any rate). It’s bitter for your friends, who know that soon you will go your way, they will go theirs, and the path that each of you takes may never cross again. And it’s bitter for those of us who have had the privilege of teaching you and coaching you at Millbrook High School, because we are reluctant to let you step into a world where there is still so much more for you to learn. Like anything bitter, it’s hard to swallow; the sweet part is so much easier to take.

And there is so much that is sweet! Ever since you were born, your parents have waited for this moment, society’s recognition of an educational milestone and their own chance to be openly proud of you. Their long years of packing lunches, and helping with homework, and picking you up from practices – it’s over now. For them, it’s time to celebrate! For you and your friends, graduation is sweet. As the official line of demarcation into adulthood, your graduation is your entry into what you consider freedom. The world is your oyster, and the pearl lies within, just waiting for you to discover it! For your teachers and coaches here at Millbrook, your graduation is also sweet.

Today marks the culmination of everything that you have been taught by the many very caring people in Millbrook Schools who have called you “student.” It’s years of their dedication reminding you about things like your parking pass, internship papers and scholarship applications which have helped you get to this moment today. And they celebrate this graduation with you!

All of you who have walked into these front doors and through these halls and classrooms for the last four years feel as if you have left an impression upon this school, and yet your marks are not readily visible when you look at the building. As with footprints in the sand, where the next wave comes and washes the shore clean of any traces of them, next year there will be new students who will eagerly cross that threshold and who will take your places in the classroom seats. (And they already can’t wait!) They will ride the same buses that you took, and play the same positions in sports that you had…and their artwork will hang where yours does now. What, if anything, then, do you leave behind? How do we know you were here? What is your legacy?

If there is one thing I want you to remember today, it is this: For me, the real legacy of this class is LEADERSHIP. Over the last three years, I have watched you grow and mature immensely. I have witnessed your transition from youthful and inexperienced Freshman into mature and thoughtful Seniors. I have watched you rise up to set the general positive tone in the building from the very start of the year. Your class has led two extremely successful Big Blue Days. You have produced an outstanding, award-winning yearbook and shown your impressive artwork around the county. Under your leadership, we have gone to the sectional playoffs in almost every sport. The seniors in the band helped break in our new Band Director, Mr. Dunninger, and also were strong main characters who led the cast in an extremely creative production of Sweeney Todd. Your efforts also commenced the handing over of the “legacy key” which opened every locker in the school. And just recently, four members of this class (Jake Higgins, Kevin Sheehan, Denny Tyner, and Reggie Colley) and one member of the Freshman Class were recognized for their extraordinary heroism in saving one of our fellow Blazers from near death. For this, you will forever be MY HERO’S. And finally, your class conducted the biggest and best Spirit Week in MHS history! The memory of you sitting out in the front lobby for the Hawaiin Day Luau as students came into the building in the morning will never be forgotten.

These are events which will leave indelible marks on those who follow and which will forever brand your class with a legacy of leadership. For that, I could not be prouder of you. This is why, *you*, the Class of 2015, have been given the honor to be the first class to have their graduation ceremony on the new turf field.

 So, as you head toward college, the military, a job, or wherever your life now leads you, I hope you look back fondly on your high school experience. I hope that you look back at Millbrook High School with as much love as I do as you embrace a lifetime of adventures. Become someone. Become someone great. Become a leader in all that you do, never take the easy road, and always, always leave that which you do today…a LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP. Congratulations, Graduates!

 

(Special thanks to Carol Sapienza for speech writing tips and edits!)