On Sunday, June 19th, Gann Academy held its twelfth commencement ceremony in what was a joyous event celebrating the maturation and success of the class of 2011.
Lindsay Flammey
"I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful." (Natalie Portman)
"For me, the difference between studying and learning is the manner in which I approach the subject. For the past four years, the image of studying was staying up late reading over notes and assignments, frantically trying to contain countless pieces of information. Learning, on the other hand, was when I didn't know the answer to something, but I was excited to discover it with the help of my teachers. At Gann there is both studying and learning, with the latter being the far more consistent approach to my education. Gann helped instill within me a love of learning, and while studying was undeniably a part of the experience, it is the passion that I have for discovering information and working the muscles of my brain that I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life."
Jacob Damsky
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." (Albert Einstein)
"Throughout my time at Gann, but primarily in my first years, I was often called "Question Man" because of the continuous barrage of questions that I would ask my teachers on a daily basis. Whenever I had any strand of doubt, or felt that there was useful information I did not already possess, I would simply ask my teacher without necessarily considering if the question was useful or relevant to everyone around me. Since then, because of Gann's loving and supporting encouragement to ask questions about academics, Judaism, and ourselves, my questions have become more thought provoking and my desire to ask them has strengthened. Like Einstein said, asking questions is very important in life, because without questions, we can't learn from our mistakes or improve for the future. I do not regret any question that I asked over my four years of high school, because they all helped me become who I am today. Unlike others who will be left perplexed because of their fears to question the unknown, I will never hesitate to relieve the confusion from any situation and use that knowledge to benefit myself for tomorrow."
Jared Rodman
"If a word be worth one shekel, silence is worth two." (Talmud, Megillah 18a)
"Although many Jewish texts convey the importance of remaining silent, we, as Jews in the modern world, recognize the obligation to speak out and make our voices heard. Our words empower us, and allow us to fight against injustice. But why is silence worth more than words? After all, if we are to remain silent, how can we avoid becoming mere bystanders? Ironically, Gann Academy's emphasis on class participation and probing discussion has taught me the importance of silence – that is, forethought and discretion. To observe and contemplate before remarking is a simple, yet vital lesson I have ultimately come to cherish – one I hope will give my words greater impact as I go forward."
Eitan Kling-Levine
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." (Albert Einstein)
"Walking into my Tanakh class at the beginning of this year, my teacher asked every student in the class to open our Tanakhim to Genesis 1:1, the story of Creation. The only instruction our teacher gave to us was to note questions we had about the text. After four weeks of intense analysis, our class completed our initial exploration of the first two chapters of Genesis, with a list of over one hundred questions to prove it. This experience embodied a significant attribute of Gann: asking questions. Not only do Gann students thrive on posing questions to their peers while studying a text in class or to a guest speaker or even to the Gann administration, but the Gann faculty supports and nurtures this vital skill. Through my experience at Gann, I've witnessed how asking questions is a way to learn for yourself, while simultaneously teaching others. As the great visionary Albert Einstein implies, we must never forget the importance of asking questions."
Sarah Kieval
"I'm astounded by people who want to know the universe when it's hard enough to find your way around Chinatown." (Woody Allen)
"I remember sitting in Dr. Tanchel's Tanakh class freshman year wondering how I got placed in a classroom full of intellectuals. It seemed as though every student had an earth-shattering comment to contribute each time he raised his hand (and fought to get called on). Dr. Tanchel pushed us to ask questions to which I felt I could not even begin to find answers, and always wanted us to have the "courage of our convictions" when we tried to push back. After a few weeks I felt comfortable enough to join the fray, but I never wanted to push myself to ask and think about the hard questions of life, because they were just simpler to ignore. Three and a half years later, as a twelfth grader in Mrs. Scheur's Tanakh class, I felt surer of my convictions, but I was still reluctant and uncomfortable to delve into the questions I had begun to ask. However, the other students in my class, and my experience at Gann at large, have helped me understand that most of the time asking the question is the harder, more interesting, and most compelling piece of the equation."
