Eighth Grade Commencement Address
by Aby J.
MyLife 24-7 Ambassador
Delivered June 4, 2009
Wow! Can you believe we are saying good-bye to the middle school?
And can you honestly believe that they are allowing ME to speak to you?
Fellow classmates, parents, other relatives and friends, and any sad or lonely people who don’t know anyone graduating today but just came for a good time I would really like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming today to celebrate with us some of the most memorable years of our lives.
As I look back on the years we’ve all had at this school and I look around at the beautiful facilities we’ve occupied, this question comes to my mind: who shrunk the school?!
Seriously, I remember walking in the first day of sixth grade, — thinking “Geese Louise- this is bigger than that three-story Bed Bath and Beyond on Olympic!!”
Walking though out the halls the first week of school I had the nagging fear that I would get lost in some strange corridor and not be found for days.
But now, the school hardly seems big enough.
And when I saw the incoming sixth graders this year I realized how much we’ve grown.
Did anyone else think that we were being invaded by the citizens of Munchkinland?
I guess this is what the eighth graders thought of us when we entered the school.
But, everyone has first impressions. Do you remember what you first thought of your teachers?
Truly, I love the teachers here, not only because they’re so smart and caring but because they have such different characteristics that make them so unique.
For example, in sixth grade, when I finally found my way to Mr. Miller’s classroom (it was like exploring the remote jungles of South America) I was shocked to find a man whose face had handlebars.
I wondered, did he grow that mustache on a dare or did he lose a bet?
Or, how about Ms. Korn? It’s truly unfair that someone so nice and smart is so pretty. It really is a hard hit on your self-esteem.
But her enthusiasm is what blew me away. I remember at 7:40 in morning she’d be jumping around saying: “Math, Math, Math!! Oh my god, let’s learn about math!!”
One day a bird flew into our room and she impulsively yelled: “GUARD THE COFFEE!!!”
Ms. Korn is passionate about at least two things: math and caffeine.
And if our 8th grade teachers were any more enthusiastic, we’d have to get them pom-poms—they have truly been our cheerleaders for this year.
THE BOTTOM LINE: I know I speak for my entire class when I say we feel blessed to have had the privilege of learning from such exceptional teachers who made us laugh as well as learn.
So, let’s give it up for our teachers – loud enough that the neighbors will know how much they are appreciated [lead cheer/applause].
Okay, teachers are important, but let’s not get carried away. Getting an education is a sidebenefit.
The real purpose of middle school is to make friends and have fun – am I right?
Come on, how long we will remember the capital of Zimbabwe? – Heck, I don’t even know how to spell Zimbabwe.
But I will never forget how supportive my classmates were when anyone needed it. I always remember that about my peers: when the chips are down, they pull though with unusual kindness and caring.
I’ll also remember those primitive rituals Archer calls Arrow Weeks and Fall Outings – or what I think of as my forced confrontations with nature.
Nature: bugs, hard ground, cold air, sleeping bags.
Personally I’m a feather pillow, soft mattress, air conditioning and heating kind of gal.
Perhaps it was a clever way to get us to bond, but I remember in the 6th grade our tents were placed on a slope. Can you guess what happened after a night of tossing and turning?
The tents all rolled down.
I wanted to feel close to my classmates – not crushed!
Luckily, we used Kiki Kaner as a cushion. Well, lucky for us—not for her.
Of course, they warned us of bears and one night Alex Jacobson, Alexa Ebner, and I were sure we heard one. But, luckily it turned out to be only old handle bars, Mr. Miller – snoring.
I was apparently spotted as a special problem early.
During our 6th grade Arrow Week, they literally put a leash on me to prevent me from wandering off or falling into something.
I’m still trying to overcome the trauma of being called leash girl by the nature guides.
In the end, — all these events and the thousands of conversations, — dozens of fights, — getting caught between feuding friends, — sharing deepest thoughts, — and crying on shoulders — all come together to form an experience that is nothing short of amazing.
How lucky are we to be surrounded by so many intelligent, vibrant and totally unique classmates to enrich and spice up our adolescence?
As someone with three sisters, I didn’t think I could handle any more girl hormones, but I am so lucky and thankful for the enduring, meaningful friendships I’ve made and so many moments of warmth20and comradeship so many of you have given me.
Thank you all for being my sisters! –
So, when all of us think back on these transitional middle school years we will think about what happened to us and around us.
But what was really the most important was what happened IN us.
When all is said and done the crucial years we’ve already spent at Archer are really about growing up.
Let’s start with dealing with fear and self confidence.
My dad always quotes Eleanor Roosevelt who said “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – But for God’s sake she was the First Lady and the most influential woman in the world when she said it.
That’s not how I felt in the 6th grade.
But the combined effort of our friends, parents, and teachers has helped me see there is so much power within us to overcome the fears and obstacles that could discourage us. –
There is nothing we cannot do if we put our minds to it!
Archer is a place where it’s safe to take risks, where it’s okay to be who you are. It’s a place that allows us to discover and develop into the person we want to be.
I wonder whether we appreciate enough how lucky we are to have so many caring and involved adults to guide us in our lives. —
One thing these last three years have taught me is that life is full of ups and downs, — tears and laughter, — confusion and clarity, and constant learning about ourselves and the world around us.
And you know what, that’s what high school is going to be like and, in fact, the rest of our lives.
I am so proud and grateful for this experience with each of my classmates. You’ve enriched my life, tolerated my bizarre sense of humor, and gave me the feeling that I was home.
The poet Maya Angelou said, “People will not always remember what you say, or what you do, but they always remember how you made them feel.”
On behalf our class, I want to thank our families, friends and teachers for making us feel worthy and capable.
I look forward to entering the next phase of our lives with this amazing group of young women.
Thank you.