Graduation Remarks 2022

As many of your know, the Lower Court is where we play hockey almost every day, from 12:20 to 12:40. Many students from Grade 5 participate in the game. The others are not playing, collecting bugs, building structures on the Nature Path, exploring the Art Studio, exploring books in the Library, or tinkering with things in the Maker Space.

 

There is this moment that happens almost every day on the Lower Court. The puck goes off the ice. Off the court. It goes out of bounds. The student picks up the puck and places it on the ground. While everyone is waiting for the puck to be put back into play, the student takes their hockey stick and bends it. Everyone else is waiting for the students to put the puck back into play; they put their sticks in a defensive position hoping to deflect the puck when it is put into play.

 

The student bends the stick because they want the puck to soar, reach an elevated height, to clear the obstacle sticks.

 

And I often think that stick is going to break. And I say be careful; that stick will break. But the stick doesn't break. And you hit the puck, and the game resumes. You're not sure what will happen in the game, but the critical point is that the game continues.

 

This is kind of like all of you 5th graders at Trinity School. Over this year, over the past two years, you bent, but you didn't break. And you continued. And you thrived. How have you been bent, even if you don't know it?

 

Over the past year, there have been two events. One that you felt daily and one you felt from far away. There is Covid and the pandemic. Then, there is the War in Ukraine. I don't know how these events will impact you years from now. But I can guarantee you this; you'll remember these days.

 

You're going to pick up books and read about these times. Or you're going to have conversations that recall these times. Or there will be another event that will remind you of these times. But, and you may not realize it, but everyone on this stage does; you were tested this year because of those events. You bent, but you did not break. In fact, like the puck, you soared.

 

I even think the last year's events gave rise to your voice inside of you. There's a little voice inside you saying to pay attention to what's happening. When people are tested, it makes them dig deep to gather their thoughts. And help them develop their voice. So you're going to feel the voice rise inside of you.

 

Here's what I asked of you today. Please don't leave your voice unheard. All of you will give speeches, but you have many more speeches, much more voice, that will rise inside of you. So please don't leave it here on stage.

 

But how do you do that? Here's what we're after when it comes to voice at Trinity.  

 

First, you're educated. You have to know what you're talking about. Your voice has to be informed.

 

Second, you have to act. You have to do something with that knowledge. Your informed voice needs to lead to action.

 

Third, where you need your voice the most, you must organize others. This is the most crucial step – managing others. Your voice is informed; it leads to your action, and, most importantly, your voice leads to collective action for the good of others.

 

That takes voice. It's not easy, and sometimes you must amplify your voice, just like today on stage. And on your table is a reminder. It's a microphone. Not a play one, but a real one. Go ahead, open the bag. And that's to tell you, to remind you, that your voice is authentic and for you to use your voice. You've been tested this year. You've bent, but you did not break. In fact, like the puck, you've soared.

 

I'm not going to tell you how you've soared because you're going to say to us in your speeches. Just remember, your voice has meaning beyond this stage. Find your bigger stage. Use your voice to make a difference.  

 

Congratulations to the Class of 2022.