good afternoon sorry about the weather a little bit too hot in here maybe a conditioning but of a nice i like to welcome mr right mr sullivan school committee members invited g attempting to think of something to say to you this afternoon i want to deliver a message to my peers the graduates and to the friends and family who are at the graduation i've chosen something which i think will bring everyone together we're all of different ages different backgrounds but what i'm going to read i think appeals to everyone no matter what age it's called the station by robert hastings tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision we see ourselves on a long trip that spans the continent we are traveling by train out the windows we drank in the passing scene of cars nearby highways of children waving at a crossing of cattle grazing on a distant hillside a smoke pouring from a power plant over zero upon roll of corn and wheat a flat lands and valleys of mounds and rolling hillsides a city skylines and village halls but uppermost in our minds is the final destination on a certain day at a certain hour we will pull into the station minutes for loitering waiting waiting waiting for the station when we reach a station that will be it we cry when i'm eighteen when i buy a new mercedes benz when i put the last kid through college when i have paid off the mortgage when i get a promotion when i receive retirement i shall live happily ever after sooner or later we must realize that there is no station no place to arrive at once and for all the true joy of life is the trip the station is only a dream it constantly outdistances us it isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow regret and fear a twin thieves who robbed us of today so stop peace the aisles it counting the miles instead climb more mountains eat more ice cream go barefoot more often swim more rivers watch more sunsets laugh more cry less life must be lived as we go along station will come soon enough today one phase of our journey has officially ended and yes it occurs to me what a long strange trip it's been but now on the same day a new one begins no i will never walk this road again no more pep rallies not another senior class play no more levees big holes but we must continue on our journey the future brings with it all the excitement and anticipation of the unknown we bring the future the knowledge loves last and friendships that have enriched our lives as we go along on our journey remember to be your own person and do the best you possibly can to quote our smith life's a journey not a destination we embark on the future as one hundred sixty seven different and diverse individuals but we will always be someone high school graduating class of one nine hundred ninety four thank you and good luck oh good afternoon and welcome but most importantly welcome to the class of one thousand nine hundred four well we finally made it the day that we have dreamed about since our freshman year is finally upon us i know for myself that when i was a freshman i couldn't wait until the day i was to finish high school receive my diploma and move on to the world of college but now for me to stand up here and say that i'm glad it's over would not be completely true sure i'm excited about the many opportunities that a wait me but i can also say that in some ways it's kind of sad to think that there will finally be some closure to what has been a major part of my life and i'll bet that i'm not alone when i say that in talking to many of you about graduating the phrase yeah i'm ready to move on but a part of me wants to stay continually surfaces when i sit back and think about the reply that i have heard often throughout this senior year i realized that the answer was one i should have expected the pan of apprehension that seems to surround this day should alert everyone to the fact that there is something special about the quality of what each one of us has gained from being a student at belmont high school what each of us has gained is not restricted to academics alone although education w have been prepared by some of the most qualified members of the teaching profession not only have each of us had the opportunity to take advantage of an excellent school system but we have each had the chance to grow in so many other ways and in the process discover  hidden talents and who we really are sitting among the class of one thousand nine hundred four our outstanding musicians athletes actors and actresses as well as artists even if someone out there today wasn't a member of a group or team that received an award or won a championship each person should take pride in the accomplishments of classmates because even though it may not be obvious each accolade or commendation is a reflection on the class as a whole after looking back on these last four years it's almost unbelievable that after a few more speakers and presentations will each come up to this podium and receive a diploma that marks the end of an extremely significant portion of our lives but no matter how hard we try eventually there are times in each person's life when no matter how much you want to stay and not want things to end you know deep down in your heart that it's time to move on well it's finally our turn the turn of the class of one thousand nine hundred four to venture out on our own  of you out there were ready to take the plunge way back in september and might have done so willingly but the majority of students if not all in some way he did some sort of guidance and preparation for this day because the first steps that we take after this afternoon are going to seem difficult i know that sounds a little hard to believe but a few weeks ago i saw a quote flash across the television screen that certainly applies to the feelings that many seniors experience when getting ready to graduate and move on to other things to quote wasn't on the screen long and for that reason i do not know the name of the individual responsible for the quote but i think that each member of the class really listens and can imagine him or herself as if actually being a part of the quote it seems to make sense come to the edge he said we can't wear afraid they said come to the edge he said so they came to the edge he pushed them and they flow we the class of one thousand nine hundred four and now on the edge it is our turn to be guided off no matter how afraid we are because whether you are entering an institution of higher learning or the job market that initial frightening step off of the edge is inevitable once each person takes that first step there are endless possibilities as to the number of things that can be accomplished as long as each member of the class puts his or her all into everything he or she does there is no way that a person can achieve anything but success in closing there is something else i would like to say to my peers in the class of hundred four it's ours for the taking now the responsibility for what happens beyond today rests solely on our own shoulders but i have every bit of confidence that each of you out there will do everything possible to have a positive influence in the times to good luck to each member of the belmont high school class of one nine hundred ninety four you dr holland mr right members of the school committee teachers parents relatives friends fellow graduates and anyone i missed you all are in your underwear when i first started thinking about writing a speech for graduation i really didn't know what to talk about so i asked many of you what you would say if you had to make a speech and most of you said you'd stay away from the typical graduation topics that people always use so i'm not going to talk about how in the past four years our class has had so many accomplishments in academics music sports drama cetera i'm not going to say that the future is scary and exciting at this point and we'll all be successful and whatever we do blah blah blah and i won't even mention how our class broke down all social barriers and now we're all best friends because we're not all friends it's true we are a diverse group of people with varied talents interests and personalities so naturally we're not all going to get along all the time but despite our differences we share one thing that binds us together we are the belmont high school class of nine hundred ninety four when we go our separate ways to college marriages and careers will make new friends and have new interests but never again will we meet anyone that we share this special bond with no one else will remember those enriching classes especially the ones that started fifteen minutes late and ended fifteen minutes early no one else will have shared that healthy p h s academic competition like the moans and groans when class rank was announced no one else will think fondly of our friendly kitchen staff and nutritional tater tots at lunch who else will have shared the experience of the canned food grading system on certain test or those multiple choice tests whose answers are mostly all cs well anyone know what you're talking about when you reminisce about tagging people in the library and who else will get in a style joke about green lockers together we survived the bad parts of the h s and together we enjoyed the good parts even though we may not all like each other we share this bond of similar experiences of the past four years thinking back on our high school careers will find we didn't do everything we should have according to my own assumptions and a slightly unsuccessful poll you it seems that if we had to go back and do it all again many of us would have studied more and many would have studied less and a lot of us would have become more involved with student activities sooner when we first came here as freshman it seemed that the next four years with stretch forever and there would be lots of time to get to know everyone well and to take part in all the activities offered not to mention time to attend classes and maybe learn a little but here we are graduating and the last four years have slipped by too quickly one thing we should have learned from these years is to seize opportunities as they are presented to us so that later on we won't have to say with regret i should have joined that club or i should have gotten to know that kid who sat next to me in class not everyone opportunity passed them by there are plenty of us who are active in and outside of the school last week we sat through an assembly that singled out those of us who stood out in sports music academics and other fields these people are to be commended but they are not the only ones making a difference in the school in fact every one of us makes an impact just by being ourselves we affect each other and many subtle ways i personally have learned something from every one of you there are many of you who might admire for being talented or friendly or funny or smart just by being ourselves every day we make an impact on the people around us so while we can't help but make an impact on others we can decide what impact we want to make b thinking about the effect our actions in the future will have on those around us tomorrow june sixth is the fiftieth anniversary of d day the beginning of the end of world war two in fifty years we'll look back on june hundred four as our d day the end of the beginning of our lives as we set off on the next phase of our lives as class radical i urge us all to be radical let's remember our roots but reach out for new experiences and i'd like to read a poem by that famous author unknown if there were ever a time to dare to make a difference to embark on something worth doing it is now not for any grand cause necessarily but for something that tugs at your heart something that your inspiration something that your dream you owe it to yourself to make your days here count have fun dig deep stretch dream big thank you good afternoon and welcome to all the proud parents dedicated teachers school committee members mr right and most importantly to you the belmont high school class of one thousand nine hundred ninety four we have spent the last four years in this safe haven for exploration and learning by filling our schedules with activities and making important friendships we have attempted to find the most comfortable personal balance what we have learned the most about is ourselves we have found in ourselves strengths to develop and weaknesses to improve upon and the more we have begun to understand ourselves bit easier it has become to understand and appreciate others this personal maturation has brought with it a more open attitude which seemed to culminate in our class this year each of us contributing our part we have made this school a place where we belong now although our high school years and with tonight sunset a new horizon will appear with the morning's light and expanse of sky the depths of which our eyes cannot penetrate wide open trembling with new and exciting choices and possibilities it is our turn to step into leaders shoes and share with each other all the different ideas and talents that we have and put them into action as we look to the future the beginning of the twenty first century does not only bring choices and opportunities but also brings gigantic problems staring us straight in the eye we hear about them all the time aids the deteriorating economy the continuing discrimination and oppression of whole groups of people poverty increasing violence and the corruption of our country's you we while we are bombarded with these issues every day and everywhere we look there is an article about how we are the first generation predicted to do worse than our parents it is too easy to feel completely helpless but we are not the power and responsibility to change rests in every one of our hands every small individual effort does have an impact on the people around us and in turn our environment this fall while doing my own independent study a national and community service i came across a quote by robert kennedy which inspired me to always remember my own potential power i read it to myself often and it always lifts me up so i think it is worth sharing it is from the number less diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down mightiest walls of oppression and resistance for me this is a powerful and true image that every little thing does count every time you speak out against something that is wrong every time you stick up for an old friend or make a new one every time you simply  or whistle a tune as you ride the subway the person next to you will feel that ripple and will get the idea or tune into his or her head to as it continues spreading from person to person even simple things like these which all of us have probably already done at one point or another make up a chain of optimism that is a necessity for improvement and progress we as young people need to gather our strength and take responsibility and leadership for our world the first step is the individual one that we have already begun to take looking within ourselves to find our own inspiration expectations and goals now take a look around at the amazing talent and potential of the young people in this room alone some are recognized musicians some are quiet artists some are star athletes while others coach younger kids some volunteer community centers while others work after school every day because he is to appreciate these differences not compare them all of us are intelligent curious interested people with millions of new ideas our creativity is boundless and the best part our young energy adds a spark to life now put our hands and heads together and we become an incredible source of positive energy and power so in order to take on the world in a positive way we must first become comfortable and confident about who we are our schools are the key to enabling young people to do this and belmont high has helped us build our personal foundations that will hold us up the rest of our lives next we must turn to accept and appreciate the contrasts among us support and leadership are vital as we focus our energy towards common goals kennedy spoke about to which each of us contributes our unique ripple when united has the power to change and improve the world so i offer these words to you to start that river flowing so that it will start to face the challenges of the future thank you very much this is a house for the in gathering of nature of people it is the house friendship even in trouble and open room for the encouragement of our struggle it is a house of freedom guarding the dignity and worth of each person it offers a platform for the free voice for declaring both in times of security in danger to fall in undivided conflict of opinion is it a house of truth seeking where the scientists can encourage the devotion of his quest and the mystic can abide in the brotherhood of searchers it is a house of art adorning its celebrations with melodies and handiwork of people i house of prophecy running times past in times present and visions of growth in progress this house is a cradle for all our dreams and the workshop of our common endeavor sometimes we take for granted that we can have diverse opinions that is a great american tradition it isn't everywhere in the world i was thinking just the other day that this is the day before the fiftieth anniversary of the d day invasion of europe and i was thinking back fifty two years ago they were probably a lot of young people going to their graduations and one thousand nine hundred two who were going to participate in that invasion and i think it's appropriate today and i would like to think this is happening across the country that we take a moment of silence in memory of the courage and dedication of those young men and in their memory the belmont high school orchestra will play rendition of america the beautiful is now my great pleasure to represent the faculty of domon high school to give the departmental awards the departmental word for music goes to a young man who holds a membership in the national honor society he received a commendation in the ne'er national merit competition he's class secretary both junior and seniors in the performing arts company you just changed his mind he's going to boston university the department award for art goes to a very talented young man who is a member of our national honor society performing arts company was in the senior class play dumb or high school orchestra significant leader in the student aids awareness committee he will be the department award for english holds a member in the national honor society national merit committed student she's in all of the the ends and almost the music program just goes on and on performing arts company she's captain of the tennis team should be twenty harvard college and fall three subpoenas julia  has received outstanding student work from every department of belmont high school he will continue at harvard college in the fall the recipient is andrew bloomberg the departmental work for physical education is a member of the national honor society she's captain of the women swim team she is responsible for founding synchronized swimming team at the high school she's a volunteer camp well she will that be attending if a college in the fall and the recipient is elizabeth orchestra captain of cross country track team she'll be attending brown university in the fall and she our departmental ward for social studies again holds a membership in the national honor society was a national merit commended student member performing arts company board member of amnesty international editor of high point  soccer and swimming involvement you'll be attending brown university in the fall david mcmanus book award and she will be attending vassar college in the fall and the recipient is catherine wilbur departmental award for business goes to young women for holds membership in the high point school newspaper the mounting club said she's a four city cheerleader she's a leader of the black history fashion extreme extravagance with a student of the departmental word for industrial arts goes to a young man who is a member of our national honor society again national merit commendation he plans to study study civil engineering at northeastern university next fall the recipient is adam we need to stay focused a little bit longer folks it's not going to take much stronger here i was particularly impressed with the speeches this year all three of them and i liked michael speech very much too you thank you i think there was a stream that went through all of them that i'd like to just give you something very short to think about it's was written by henry david thoreau a long time ago but it has a message as many of your classmates have spoken before me have said has something for everybody we must learn to awaken and keep in our sun keep ourselves awake by an infinite expectation of the dawn which does not forsake us in our sound asleep for we are encouraged that a person can elevate life by their own conscious behavior it is something to be able to paint a picture or to carve a statue and so to make a few objects beautiful but it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere in medium through which we look which morally we can do to affect the quality of the day that is the highest of art it is the task of every person to make their life even in its details worthy of contemplation of their most elevated and critical our we should why should we live in such a hurry and and waste of time we are determined to be starved before we are hungry i wish to live deliberately to front only the essential facts of life i wish to learn what life has to teach and not when i come to die i discover that i have not lived i do not wish to live what is not life living is too dear nor do i wish to practice resignation unless it is quite necessary i wish to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life to live so startled and spartan like as to put to rout all that is not life i want to cut a broad swath and shave close to drive life into a corner and reduce it to its lowest terms if it proves to be mean then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it and publish its meanest to the world or if it is sublime to know it by experience and to be able to give a true account of it go in peace scuse me for just a moment thank if we could have a quiet for just a moment we are we have a special gift to the class should still be plenty of time for this there is a special gift to the class the traditional here that the magical a member of the national honor society the nine hundred ninety three recipient of the arthur martin book award of the princeton alumni association award and the p t a award in science the senior holds membership in student government the school advisory council sits on a superintendent's task force is a member of the performing arts company is the concert mistress of the belmont high school orchestra the author of independent study on national and community service the captain of the belmont high school cross country track team member of the high school varsity basketball team she will be attending brown university in the fall and the recent the end is sierra stoneman than a shield certificate for outstanding achievement and exceptional distinction in scholarship is awarded to the senior who is the co salutatorian of the class of one nine hundred ninety four a member of the national honor society the one nine hundred ninety three recipient of the german consulate book award she holds membership in the performing arts company the international club is the member of the school newspaper staff and she will attend university nevada at las vegas in the fall and the recent  jennifer pools or i can assure the members of the class of one nine hundred ninety four that you face great challenges but you leave high school well prepared to meet those challenges not only do you have a strong knowledge base in the arts sciences and humanities but your teachers have given you a greater gift with them and your classmates you have learned how to learn you have learned what constitutes the life of the mind the inner intellectual life that will sustain you victor frank in his book man's search for meaning speaks to the power of this inner life man's search for meaning is an account of frankel's personal experiences in the concentration camps he writes of the every day life in the camps reflected in the mind of the average prisoner caught up in the hard fight for existence and frankel attributes his survival to his ability to maintain a level of imaginative living in the midst of all the horror he writes sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain but the damage to their inner selves was less they were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom this intensification of inner life helps the prisoner find a refuge from the emptiness desolation and spiritual poverty of his existence i hope and pray that none of you will ever have to face the emptiness and desolation of which frankel writes but his message remains important to us today i exhort you to continue to nurture your inner life in the years ahead to let your intellectual life sustain you in the difficult times to console you and to be your refuge you have the ability to achieve the same level of imaginative living that frankel describes alan kay an apple computer fellow once said the best way to predict the future is to invent it use the power of your mind to achieve your goals to realize your dreams and to invent your future thanks to the school committee chairman mrs m elizabeth corwin i am pleased to certify that the seniors here present have met the requirements for graduation from belmont high school thank you dr arden on behalf of the belmont school committee is my pleasure to welcome family friends faculty and students to today's ceremonies to the graduating class of nine hundred ninety four to dye it today marks the end of your years of belmont education what will be different after today no more will mom or dad tell you do your homework get up you're late for school or did you forget your lunch again no more will you come to belmont high every morning at seven thirty five am after you leave here today fewer choices will be made for you more choices will be made by you it's your life and i'm sure you can't wait to take charge one of the favorite memories of my school years is the little white paper cups with the soggy soriano in the newly planted see that i so proudly brought home from elementary school i eagerly awa the first brough to appear i knew that routes took time and are necessary but i was impatient and on the last i took a certain pride climate for a shoot broke through then realised that all too soon  out grown a small container i knew the need to transplant was inevitable if this plant was to reach its full potential once outside however i worried that it wouldn't be strong enough to survive not only did it survive the winds and rains but it bloomed into a glorious morning glory bringing beauty to my whole neighborhood i have taken great pride in having had the opportunity to play a small part in the educational development of each you my efforts and those of my colleagues on the school committee are rewarded today public education is working ninety percent of you are going on to higher education three our national merit scholars numerous banners and trophies have been added to the online high for your outstanding achievement if you leave here today transplanted to wherever it is you have chosen i hope that you will maintain a strong sense of the roots provided for you by the support of this community not only of your family and friends but also the faculty and townspeople of belmont we aren't saying goodbye but rather that we will meet again also if you make your choices please assure that future generations will have the same if not greater opportunities that you have hair and be a planter of sea leave each place that you have been and better because you were there in closing as you read do you part with your diploma in hand today know that your hard work has been worth it you know also and this i guarantee as both the chair of the school committee and as a mother no one is ever going to tell you you have to do this again congratulations class good a call and lock james bryan gallo jessica allison o'connor jana beth coco mark john sullivan abigail stearns freeman bradford floyd car if we could have everybody be seated just for a second we'll be finishing up get everybody back in their seats thank you get everybody back in their seats thank you