Commencement Speeches
Jorge Miranda
Principal
MATCH Charter Public High School
Welcome families, friends, staff and students.
It is a pleasure to be here with all of you this fine afternoon and to be able to celebrate the courage, discipline and perseverance of the Class of 2007.
In your time at MATCH, you have had approximately 750 words of the day. I'd add just one last word - it is one I'm sure you have heard often. Your word for today is commencement. It is a noun and it has 2 definitions.
The first definition is "An academic exercise in which diplomas are conferred." It is a synonym for graduation.
By this definition, commencement is often seen as a time of goodbyes. The Class of 2007 has gone through a lot and accomplished so much to get to where they are today and this is an appropriate time for all of us to stop, reflect and reminisce.
However, commencement has a second definition. The second definition is "The act of starting something; a new beginning."
And for you, Class of 2007, this is truly a time of commencing. This is not the conclusion or the final chapter for you - this is only the beginning.
The mission of the MATCH School is to prepare students for success in college and beyond. It is now time for you, the Class of 2007, to step out onto the next stage of your life and to fulfill the mission of the school and more importantly, to fulfill the promise and potential of your lives.
Emily Dickinson, an author our seniors studied in A.P. English this year, wrote:
"Hope" is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune --without the words -
And never stops at all
MATCH's soul is without a doubt filled with hope - hope in everything our students can and will accomplish; everything the Class of 2007 has already accomplished.
But remember that your preparation for college and beyond is more than just what you learned in Senior English or 9th Grade Science (Sorry Ms. Little and Master Chang). It is more than the skills you have proven through various proficiencies and final exams or even on the MCAS or SATs.
The time you were stressed about finishing all your work or finishing that research paper on time - that was preparation for college and beyond. The time you worked with someone you didn't necessarily like, but you made the best of it. That was preparation for college and beyond. The choice you made year after year, to stay at MATCH despite the rules you might disagree with or the extra work or even repeating a year - choosing to take the harder road in order to come out ahead in the end, that was preparation for college and beyond.
But rememeber, in all this preparation, you were never alone.
Isaac Newton once said, "If I have seen further, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants." I remember when I first heard this quote - it was my senior year at Dartmouth College. When I heard it, I immediately thought of my parents and family. I could not have been the first person in my family to graduate from college without their support and inspiration.
Today, whein I think of the quote, I immediately think of my mentor and predecessor, Mr. Charlie Sposato. A man whose huge shoes I struggle to fit into each day and whom I admire more than words can say. But also a man who has helped me to see further than I would have on my own and whose mighty shoulders I am proud to stand on.
And when I look out at the audience today I see an auditorium of giants. Families, teachers, tutors, staff, trustees, friends of MATCH - our seniors have stood on your shoulders and with your support, they hvae reached higher and seen further. Thank you a million times for all you have done to make this day of commencement possible.
And when I look at the Seniors, I know that you too will one day serve as giants in the lives of others. You will inspire others and you will help others reach their full potential.
In our society, we sometimes tend to idealize the loner - the person who goes it alone and doesn't need anyone's help. But there is strength and power in admitting that we are not alone in this world and that we need others to accomplish the very best within ourselves. Independence does not mean isolation.
Class of 2007 - it is now time for us to once again turn to the future.
Walt Whitman, an author our seniors studied their junior year, wrote, "The strongest and sweetest songs yet - remain to be sung."
Class of 2007 - best of luck on your new beginning and to all your songs that remain to be sung.
Congratulations.
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Jorge Miranda's Remarks
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