Susan R. Lindsay, Head of School
Graduation Address
Graduation –
Graduates, Faculty, Parents and Friends of the Class
of 2007:
Tonight we come to express our
appreciation to the graduates and to their families, for the special memories
we have shared over the last few years.
A walk through the school reminded me that
you are the class that entered seventh grade in August of 2001. You certainly looked younger and you were
less confident as you began your time at Prep.
You entered our school having been nurtured by families and supportive
communities in powerful ways. It has
been a privilege to join with them in watching you become the young women and
men of distinction that sit before me.
Parents and friends, I know that tonight
is a milestone for you as you admire these graduates, many of whom were born in
1989. When they entered the world, a
postage stamp was 25 cents (compared with the current “forever” stamp costing
41 cents); gasoline was 95 cents a gallon; the price of a Tandy Computer 20 MHz
(megahertz) Intel microprocessor with 2MB (meg bites) ram was $8,499(monitor
and mouse NOT included); and the median household income was $28,906, which by
today’s standards would put a family of four to six at near the poverty level.
Inventions and discoveries in 1989 included the development
of the first worldwide web server and browser, and transfer of the human gene.
Those discoveries now seem “insignificant” when compared
to the issues of today: terrorism on
American soil, the Iraqi War, global warming, and rebuilding of the
In 1989, San Francisco won the Super Bowl, the
Oakland A’s won the World Series, Detroit won the NBA Championship, and the Jackson
Prep football team won the AAA State Football Championship. Before the game, fans were advised to, “Get
the children off the streets and close the Venetian blinds, ‘cause the Patriots
are coming to town.” This year the
football team again won the AAA State Football Championship, with Coach Black telling
his players, “It’s easier to dominate
than it is to struggle!”
In the late 1980’s, Dr. Roberts was the senior high
principal, and I was a senior high counselor and faculty advisor for the student
council. In the year you were born, Mrs.
Lindell was teaching geometry, Mrs. May was teaching
Pre-Calculus and Mr. Ollar was teaching Geometry and
Algebra II, as well as coaching the tennis team. Ms.
Bradford was teaching 9th grade history and coaching junior high girls basketball, Mrs. Orr was teaching political science,
and international relations, and Mrs. Middleton, the “goddess of geography” in
the junior high, was teaching American history and math. The science department also had some familiar
faces—Mrs. Cox was teaching Biology II and Anatomy and Physiology, Coach Noble
was teaching physical science and coaching junior high football and assisting
with baseball, and
your
college counselor, Mrs. Peet, was teaching earth science and Biology I. Mrs. Arinder
chaired the English Department, Mrs. McGraw taught art, Mrs. Haire taught
typing/word processing, and Mrs. Trudy Powers was
teaching resource. As you can see, many
of your teachers had a wealth of experience by the time you joined their
classes.
Graduating in the class of 1989 was Mr. Lain Hughes, our
current Social Studies Department Chair, AP American History teacher and Sentry
newspaper sponsor. Mr. Hughes was selected
as Most Intellectual Senior Boy and Star Student and was honored in the Prep
Hall of Fame. In the yearbook that year
he gave several quotes, one of which was from Larry Newman: “Don’t ask me; I’m
only visiting this planet.” Mr. Hughes, I
am glad that in your planetary voyage you decided to make education your career
and many of the students before me tonight are the beneficiaries of your expertise
and humor.
Enough about those who have supported you through
your secondary experience…let’s talk about where you are today and your future.
Parents, I thank you for the investments you have
made in your children’s education by entrusting them to our care. You’ve invested thousands of dollars in
rearing your children for moments like these—chances to look back and say,
“Well done!” and the opportunity to look forward and say, “You can do it!” We all know that the most important
investment you’ve made is not measured in dollars and cents. Statistical studies indicate that you have
invested a minimum of 156,680 hours in your student’s life, including many
hours of hoping and praying that you will become men and women of character,
substance, and distinction.
The challenges in the world today are many, and yet
the opportunities are even greater. I
encourage you to:
William Shakespeare said, “We know what we are, but
not what we may be.”
There
is life after high school. I am appreciative
of my association with you, and I look forward to seeing you reap the benefits
of the opportunities you have had.
In closing, let me encourage you to trust the Lord’s
guidance on the roadways of life.
Parents and friends, please join me in applauding the
CLASS OF 2007!