Graduation Speech
By Kayla Yates, Class of 2010
June 13, 2010

It is September 2006, dressed in our jeans and sneakers, holding our books and bags, shoulders tense, butterflies colonizing our stomachs, we stand immobile, naïve, innocent freshmen, worrying about our appearance and who would be our friends.

It is June 2008, and the air is imbued with tension, as finals approach. Uncertain about our understanding of the material and concerned about our performance on each test, our minds focus on preparation. 

It is January 2009, and suddenly everywhere we look, we see the Big Brother of College Board peering at us intently, reminding us to study for the SATs, while continuing to hand in our homework on time.

It is September 2009 and we are ready to begin contemplating our high school career, fishing for a unique and intriguing project, internship, or seminar to participate in during Ma’avar.

I have just highlighted the more angst ridden moments, in my memory, of our lives in high school.   I encourage you, my classmates, to rediscover these stressful high school moments and consider how you could have approached them differently. Let us step back and consider the moment:  Was a stressful moment also the beginning of your high school career, the start of learning advancements and friendships? As Gann has always taught us, we have the ability to look at a situation from different points of view, not accepting just one perspective. We have the power to determine what we make of a situation. What will our interpretation be? 

How should we define this moment? We, the Class of 2010 are standing on a stage peering out at friends, family, teachers and mentors.  Classmates, please close your eyes and take a deep breath.  As you inhale, gather all of the love and support bubbling over in this room, and as you exhale, let that joy and comfort bathe your body.  Now open your eyes and take a good look at all the eyes staring at you and know that this is what Gann Academy has provided for you as you prepare to enter the world of exploration; a strong foundation of support, knowledge, and confidence. These eyes, are eyes of inspiration, and while they may not always be visible, they will always be there as a source of guidance. We will walk off this platform today with a sense of security and wonder.  While Gann has worked to help us establish ourselves, it has refrained from dictating who we are supposed to be or what we are required to do. Think about all of those debates, debate- midrashes and response papers, activities that encouraged us to think for ourselves and defend our beliefs. Gann formed and transformed our identities.

We are the class of 2010, seventy four students, each of us with unique viewpoints, interests, talents, and experiences. The faculty and staff at Gann Academy have always recognized us as individuals. We are not just a class preparing for college or leaving for college, we are a tapestry woven from an array of stories and colors of our identities. The model that Gann has created for us is just this: it is imperative that we learn not just to accept the presentation of life’s artwork, but also pay attention to its make-up. We are not just Jewish boys and girls with brown, blonde, or red hair; rather we are thespians, avid dancers, photography masters, all-star players, mock trial captains, writers and editors of school newspapers, and Torah scholars. We have developed the ability to look beyond the obvious and to go deeper. As we leave Gann, I pray that we will enter the world confident and proud of what we have accomplished, eager to learn, to explore and to listen to others, all the while remembering who we are, where we have come from, and most of all, the experiences and growth that have brought us to this moment. As it is said in Psalms 90:12, “Limnot yameinu ken hoda. Teach us to number our days, and give us a heart of wisdom.” When we contemplate the things we have accomplished, let us not only remember the past, but also experience the present. Classmates, if there is one wish that I have for you, it is that you make each and every day of your lives matter. Congratulations and Mazel Tov to the Class of 2010!