Brewsterconnections - Brewster Academy

After the presentation of awards, board of trustee president Dan Mudgeintroduced this year’s commencement speaker, 2001 Brewster graduate BruceHawkins ’01.While at Brewster, Hawkins was president of the student body during his senioryear. He credits Brewster with helping to develop his leadership skills andwith igniting his passion to help others. Hawkins is a graduate of VanderbiltUniversity and the Howard University School of Law and is the author of twoautobiographies. Two and half years ago he opened his own law practice near hishome in Stone Mountain, Georgia.Throughout his journey, Hawkins says he simply “aims to make today better thanyesterday and dream of a tomorrow more purpose driven than today,” a themethat resonated in his remarks to graduates.“We live in a world that seems so focused on dividing us, yet the only thing thatreally makes us different are ideas. I want to share an idea today.”“There was a time when someone held you in their arms and they nurtured you,and they believed in you – before you believed in yourself.”He went on, “then you believed in yourself but there is a big change that happensfrom growing out of an innocent childhood – where imagination reigns – toadulthood … and that is that we become afraid to fail. I’m not sure why, butwe do. … and when we do this, we sacrifice the extraordinary for the ordinary,”Hawkins said.He implored graduates to believe in themselves and not to be afraid of failure.“Remember that you will be definedby how you travel down the path,not by the stumbles you make. …Find your path of purpose and youwill never have a wasted step.”Following Hawkins’ speech, the HOWLChorus performed “And We Shined,” asong written by HOWL member OliviaHadley ’12 for Commencement.Then, smiling graduates accepted theirdiplomas; Mike Cooper congratulatedgraduates in their native languages;HOWL led all those in attendance insinging the school song, “Emblem’sDivine;” The Rev. Poulin delivered thebenediction; caps were tossed, and thepiper led Brewster’s newest alumniout of the Smith Center and into thecongratulatory arms of faculty, family,and friends.Visit us online to see which collegesand universities graduates areattending:brewsteracademy.org/collegechoicesMax Smith, Brian Weisbord, Geoffrey CookVilhelm Nilsson“I need you not to change. When I was here, I was just a student with big dreams.The teachers here led me to see those dreams. I feel I was guided to law school.”“I know that you’re great. We come from the same stock, taught by many of thesame teachers, but you will only be as great as you believe you are.”Jordan Johnson and Allie HughesHanna Skelley and Amy MiseraNora Clement with sons Mikael and Kris ’06Commencement SpeakerBruce Hawkins ’01Thanapat Vichienlux, Chris Brown ’87,and Jaruwan Amtawongwww.brewsteracademy.org9