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6 | June 14, 2018 | The lake forest leader NEWS<br />
LakeForestLeader.com<br />
Lake Forest Academy graduates focus on global unity<br />
Alyssa Groh, Editor<br />
Lake Forest Academy<br />
has a strong focus on<br />
global pluralism according<br />
to Head of School John<br />
Strudwick, and diversity is<br />
prevalent in the Class of<br />
2018 with 118 graduating<br />
seniors from 20 different<br />
countries.<br />
The 2018 senior class<br />
came together one last time<br />
for graduation June 2 in the<br />
formal garden at Lake Forest<br />
Academy.<br />
Looking back on the<br />
2018 graduating class,<br />
Strudwick noted the senior<br />
class’ commitment to<br />
accepting one another, despite<br />
their cultural differences.<br />
“We are a very missiondriven<br />
school and part of<br />
that mission is our commitment<br />
to global pluralism,<br />
which is really an understanding<br />
and respect for<br />
others,” Strudwick said.<br />
“You can take global (pluralism)<br />
to not just different<br />
countries, but different<br />
backgrounds, different races<br />
and different religions.”<br />
During his commencement<br />
speech, Strudwick<br />
spoke about the importance<br />
of listening, noting<br />
that everyone can improve<br />
their listening skills.<br />
“It is important to always<br />
continue to listen, and listen<br />
to others and learn from<br />
others,” Strudwick said.<br />
“One of the things, generally,<br />
is perhaps the adults<br />
are not doing a good job<br />
of being a role model for<br />
our young adults in high<br />
school. Adults around the<br />
world are not doing a good<br />
job of listening, we need to<br />
focus on listening to others<br />
and respecting their views.<br />
“I think that what <strong>LF</strong>A<br />
students come away from<br />
their time at [<strong>LF</strong>A] is the<br />
respect for others, other<br />
beliefs, other nationalities<br />
and the desire to learn more<br />
about the unfamiliar.”<br />
During his commencement<br />
speech, Thomas Filip,<br />
the senior class president,<br />
spoke about a phrase his<br />
former football coach Robin<br />
Bowkett frequently spoke.<br />
Filip said Bowkett was<br />
known for saying “Be the<br />
uncommon man.”<br />
Until now, Filip said the<br />
phrase never really meant<br />
much to him, but as he prepares<br />
for a new chapter outside<br />
of high school, it has a<br />
To view more<br />
graduation<br />
photos,<br />
visit<br />
lakeforestleader.com.<br />
deeper meaning to him.<br />
“To be successful, we,<br />
the alumni of <strong>LF</strong>A, need to<br />
be the individuals who take<br />
what we have been given,<br />
and the skills we have and<br />
be the people who are different<br />
in the crowd,” Filip<br />
said. “... And if you have<br />
uncommon character and<br />
uncommon drive, you can<br />
make a difference.”<br />
Filip also noted that life is<br />
only going to get harder as<br />
the graduating class faces<br />
life outside of high school<br />
and is faced with making<br />
Please see graduates, 7<br />
Class President Thomas Filip addresses his classmates<br />
at Lake Forest Academy’s graduation June 2 in Lake<br />
Forest. CLAIRE ESKER/22ND CENTURY MEDIA<br />
A small, but mighty graduating class at Woodlands<br />
Class of 2018 to<br />
be remembered for<br />
being close-nit<br />
Alyssa Groh, Editor<br />
When Mikayla Swanson,<br />
a member of the 2018<br />
graduating class and valedictorian<br />
at Woodlands<br />
Academy, gave her speech<br />
during the commencement<br />
ceremony Thursday, June<br />
7, she spoke about the “senior<br />
tribe,” the name the<br />
22 graduating seniors gave<br />
themselves.<br />
This years graduating<br />
class was a small one of<br />
only 22 students, but that<br />
did not stop the students<br />
from becoming incredibly<br />
close and supportive of one<br />
another and their successes.<br />
During her commencement<br />
speech, Swanson<br />
spoke about how close-nit<br />
the graduating class was,<br />
and relayed a few of her favorite<br />
memories.<br />
“We have a class catchphrase<br />
that we celebrate<br />
every day at lunch,” Swanson<br />
said. “It goes like this,<br />
‘How many girls can fit at<br />
a table? A whole class.’ In<br />
other words, we do everything<br />
together and community<br />
has become one of the<br />
defining characteristics of<br />
our class.”<br />
Head of School Meg<br />
Steele agreed with Swanson’s<br />
sentiments and said<br />
this class stands out from<br />
the rest due to its small size<br />
and sense of community.<br />
“The thing that really<br />
distinguished them is they<br />
are a very close-nit class,<br />
and that is special,” Steele<br />
said. “They all care about<br />
each other and they are<br />
all close friends and they<br />
are really thoughtful about<br />
community. As they leave<br />
Woodlands Academy I<br />
hope they continue to be<br />
who they are, and continue<br />
to care about the communities<br />
they are going to.”<br />
Shannon Dey, an English<br />
teacher at Woodlands<br />
Academy, also spoke about<br />
the closeness of the graduating<br />
class during her commencement<br />
speech.<br />
“Today you leave as a<br />
strong, close-knit group<br />
of young women,” Dey<br />
said. “The bond you have<br />
formed as a class has transformed<br />
all of you on an individual<br />
level and provided<br />
you a foundation for what<br />
it means to truly be a part<br />
of something bigger than<br />
yourself. Although you<br />
may feel scared, nervous,<br />
and maybe even hesitant or<br />
unsure about this next step,<br />
know that the Woodlands<br />
community is always behind<br />
you.”<br />
Dey also gave the students<br />
some advice for the<br />
next steps ahead.<br />
“As you prepare for the<br />
beautiful journey ahead,<br />
I can say with confidence<br />
that you will continue to<br />
voice your opinions, to<br />
speak up even when those<br />
around you stay silent,”<br />
Dey said. “You will continue<br />
to give to those in need,<br />
and scream out for change.<br />
You will continue to do<br />
well, not only academically,<br />
but be well emotionally,<br />
physically, and spiritually.<br />
You will slow down<br />
when life gets too fast and<br />
remember that in order to<br />
take care of others, you<br />
must take care of yourself.<br />
In order to love others, you<br />
must love yourself.”<br />
Swanson also utilized<br />
her time by thanking those<br />
who influences the graduating<br />
class during their time<br />
at Woodlands Academy including<br />
parents, faculty and<br />
staff.<br />
“Thank you Woodlands<br />
Academy faculty and staff<br />
for helping us develop a<br />
deep respect for intellectual<br />
values both inside and<br />
outside of the classroom,”<br />
Swanson said. “...Thank<br />
you for your never ending<br />
patience and for laughing<br />
off our mistakes.”<br />
And finally, Swanson left<br />
her class with one last note.<br />
“Class, despite the fact<br />
that everyone in this room<br />
already knows, you are<br />
more amazing than you<br />
realize,” Swanson said. “I<br />
hope you know that you<br />
are not just my sisters, you<br />
are my heroes. Wherever<br />
you end up, whatever you<br />
do, you will always have a<br />
friend in me and a home in<br />
the Sacred Heart family.”<br />
Graduating senior Kate<br />
Morris (left), receives<br />
help with her cap from<br />
her sister Maddy Morris,<br />
an alum of Woodlands<br />
Academy of the Sacred<br />
Heart, before Woodlands<br />
Academy graduation<br />
Thursday, June 7. Ernest<br />
Schweit/22nd Century<br />
Media
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