Julian Sahyoun I will take lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences. I will leave teachers who have taught me more than just curriculum. Carter Smith I will take with me eleven years of memories and complete confidence in myself. I will be leaving the comfortable <strong>Park</strong> environment that I have become so accustomed to and venture out into something new. Lexie Sparrow I will take the confidence that <strong>Park</strong> has given me to act as an individual. I will leave behind the laughs on and off stage. Class Graduation Speaker: Carter Smith W hen I sat down to write this speech, the first thing that came to mind was how much I have changed since entering in Nursery [now Pre-Kindergarten], eleven years ago. If you didn’t know me as a six-year-old, you just have to ask any teacher in this school. <strong>The</strong>y all seem to have an infamous “Carter story” about my, let’s say, demanding personality that they love to tell. I can’t count how many times I have heard, “Oh, I remember....” Many love to reminisce about the smocked dresses and signature Smith family bow, which I wore everyday to school. Mind you, these bows were probably the same size as my head. I think the reason people found my outfits so amusing is because they created a sweet, innocent facade that I must say was very deceiving. For example, when I was in Kindergarten, we were asked to jump rope in P.E. and I didn’t want to, so I went up to Ms. Knight and said, “ I don’t want to jump rope and you can’t make me!” and then I proceeded to stomp out of the gym. Another one of my favorites is when I was in music class with Mrs. Allen and I started to cry. When Mrs. Allen asked me what was wrong, I said, “I just want my way Mrs. Allen. Why can’t I just get my way” <strong>The</strong>se were trying times for my teachers, as well as for me. <strong>The</strong> reason I am sharing these stories with you is because over my years at <strong>Park</strong>, they have dwindled and have gradually transformed into more positive ones, and I can tell you that it never would have happened if it weren’t for the faculty who believed in me and worked so hard to help me reach my full potential. I credit so much of who I am today to these men and women who shaped me and became my role models and friends. It was seven years ago, but I still remember every detail of my oldest sister, Pearson’s, graduation. I was in the second grade at the time, and I remember her wet face and red eyes as she sobbed on the same risers up behind me. I remember so clearly someone next to me handing me a tissue and telling me to go give it to Pearson in the middle of the ceremony. As a second grader, I didn’t really understand that I was interrupting anything. <strong>The</strong>n something happened that I have never forgotten. As I turned to go back to my seat after the laughter had died down, Mr. Katz went to the podium and said, “I can’t wait ’til you graduate, Carter.” Me, graduate This was something my second grade mind couldn’t really comprehend, but now here it is today, and to tell you the truth, I am still not quite sure if I fully comprehend it. It is so crazy to think that after this day, I will no longer be a <strong>Park</strong> student. <strong>Park</strong> has always been my little stage and I have always felt comfortable being exactly who I am on it. I am looking forward to the adventures ahead of me at my next school, but this day is very bittersweet. I am excited but nervous to have to go on without my little support system, my home away from home, which has always been there, backing me up every step of the way. It is impossible to choose what I will miss the most, because I will miss it all. Walking down the hall dying of laughter due to one of Lexie’s ridiculous inside jokes, acting like a total fool on T.O.T.A.L. Day, even our random conversations in English class prompted by an “out of the blue” Mary comment. Over this past year, our grade has bonded more than I ever thought possible. Our class has been through a lot this year, but we have always come out stronger, proving our compassion for each other and tight knit grade. So, as our time of being <strong>Park</strong> students winds down and our paths begin to split and lead us in different directions, I am realizing how much I am going to miss every single one of you. Many of you I have been with since Nursery or Kindergarten, and we have spent basically our whole lives together. So much of our past is this school, and there are memories in every single nook and cranny of every single room. During our trip to Stump Sprouts in the fall, the most enthusiastic event was definitely figuring out what we were going to put on the memories page in the yearbook. We all sat together in the living room and talked about all the things we remembered throughout the years. This event was very adrenalized and very loud, and it took a very long time since our escalating volume made it very hard for anybody to explain or hear anything clearly over our excited shouts. Even though we will all be moving on, I will always look back and picture those fond memories and all of my amazing classmates who I shared them with. And to the faculty, who have helped mold me and the rest of my class into the people we are today, all I can say is no matter how many years go by, you will always be an important part of why I am who I am, and you will never ever be forgotten. Now, I will end with a quote from the wise philosopher, Hannah Montana, who once said, “Life is a climb, but the view is great.” 16 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Bulletin | Fall 2009
Lily Steig I will take a strong sense of intimate community. I will leave half a bottle of spilled glitter that remains on the floor of the costume shop. Cary Williams I will take with me my passion for literature and theater that I have acquired over my decade at <strong>Park</strong>. I will leave behind my childish immaturity that <strong>Park</strong> has helped me to outgrow. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Bulletin | Fall 2009 17
Change language