• ParkBulletinCover - The Park School

Lilybet MacRaeI am taking Emily Hoyt. I am leavingbehind my favorite time of the day:recess!Mackenzie MillsI am taking my backpack. I am leavingbehind my sisters and my mom.Hannah OettgenI am taking the confidence that Ineed to go to my next school. I amleaving behind my MorningMeeting seat.encouraged me to find my voice, and with thehelp of their kind encouragement, I did. Itwas about discovering the type of person Iwas and expanding my comfort zone, as theclassroom setting was just another opportunityfor me to be myself. I was pushed tospeak up more, to work with my classmatesand learn from them, and to use all availableresources to make it.I bring up the role of teachers in my lifeto remind you to reach out to the teacherswho have dedicated their lives to helping youreach the next level in life. That resourcenever goes away; especially the blue M&Ms inMr. Katz’s office that I hear you love. Knowthat your teachers still care and will still bechecking up on you long after you graduate.Believe me. But a resource only works when itis in use. When you leave this place, rememberthe lessons you learned about high standards,teamwork, independence, friendship,respect, love, and trust. As corny as it maysound now, these lessons that have beeninstilled in you will be what sets you apartfrom the rest as you continue on your journeyin high school, but only if you remember touse them. Please do.In addition to using the resources thathave been made available to you, I also urgeyou to refuse to allow limits to be placedupon you. As much as it sounds cliché, don’tlet anyone tell you that you can’t do something.I’m sure that students as bright as all ofyou will have high expectations and goals foryourselves. As you strive for new levels,thoughts of doubt might come as you thinkabout a class that you want to take, a newhobby you want to pick up, a career path thatyou want to explore, or a traveling opportunitythat you want to look into. It’s easy to notpursue something out of fear, or out of playingit safe.But you know what? It takes courage totake a risk and challenge yourself in ways noone expects from you. You are lucky becauseyou have already been exposed to so manyopportunities that most people your age haveyet to experience. So all I am asking is thatyou continue to take advantage of the edgethat you already have. Aim high, and that’sexactly where you will go. You have learned somuch and built so many friendships and connectionsthat will last you a lifetime, but onlyif you make sure those connections last. Iwant to encourage all of you to work to keepthe love that I can tell you all have for eachother. I’m just saying that you are quite thedynamic bunch, and if you can remember tokeep each other in mind as you move on tothe next level, you will be so much better forthose sustained relationships.Don’t forget where you came from, thestandards that you have set for yourself, orthe people who helped to mature into thepeople who you are today. I am confident thatif you continue to be aware of your educationthus far and keep reaching high, there isabsolutely nothing that you as individuals andas a group cannot achieve. I look forward tohearing about you excelling in all of yourendeavors.Thank you so much for taking the timeto listen to my words, and again, congratulations—youdid it!“Don’t forget where you came from, thestandards that you have set for yourself, or thepeople who helped to mature into the peoplewho you are today.”The Park Bulletin | Fall 2010 11