Commencement Speech 2021

The following are the concluding remarks for the Class of 2021 Commencement on June 4, 2021
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Like many over the past year, I spent a good amount of time watching Netflix and Prime Video — exploring new shows and movies and re-watching old favorites. As I watched Dr. Strange as part my Marvel Cinematic Universe refresh, walked through as students enjoyed Back to the Future during lunch this winter, and re-watched episodes of Quantum Leap, the concept of time connectivity, the threads that tether our past, present and future together, kept surfacing.

 

Class of 2021, my final questions for you to think about are these: What is it that connects the past to the present and the future for you? How does this concept of time connectivity bring meaning or importance to your life?

 

One way we experience this connection is through traditions. Traditions help bind the past to the present. They are anchors to our history, and the familiarity they provide brings comfort and a sense of stability. Traditions connect us to those who came before us and provide a deep sense of belonging.

 

Today, you are participating in one of Brimmer’s most sacred traditions — Commencement. Today, we mark your completion of high school and the start of your next journey. Today parts of this ceremony resemble those of years past, while others are different. We honor the past and still make space for new and exciting ways to celebrate your success. We know it’s not how the ceremony looks that matters most; it’s about the ritual of coming together to honor our students and their accomplishments that connects us to the past and the future. 

 

Perhaps traditions are not only meant to be anchors. We could also look at them as lighthouses or guide posts. In this way, they illuminate a path forward that provides comfort without holding us back from enhancing and innovating.

 

Back in April, Chef Craig served his family’s matzah ball soup. The meal he shared with our community was steeped in tradition and meaning, but not because he followed his grandmother’s exact recipe. Instead, he captured her essence in his version, using her recipe as a guide post. He paid homage to his family history by keeping the recipe alive, but he brought his own sense of self and love for cooking by adding modern and meaningful updates. The tradition of that soup is not about the amount of carrots, dill, or celery used; It’s about bringing something from the past into the present in order to maintain a connection in the future.

 

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke this spring to students on a podcast in South King County, Washington. During the conversation, he was asked about futuristic ideas such as teleportation and time travel. He began his response by saying:

 

 

Brimmer and May Class of 2021, this is my wish for you—Allow your roots strengthen your foundation by remembering what is most important to you and what you value most. Allow what you’ve debated, learned, and experienced to illuminate your path forward. As you move on: 

Now, stand up. Stand up and look around. Look at the faculty, staff, and administrators who have supported you. Look at the pride on the faces of your family and friends in the audience or surrounding you at home. Think about those in the Zoom-o-sphere (as Kat called it) that have been there for your best and worst moments. Now, look at each other and take a mental picture of this final moment as Brimmer students with your classmates.

 

Brimmer has been your home and you are ready to be launched onward to your next adventures. Our light will provide a beacon for you to return to from time to time, whether in physical place or spirit. When you return to visit, there may be things that look different, but underneath it all will be the essence of the Brimmer experience that you enjoyed and will connect you to those who came before you and everyone who will follow after. Congratulations Class of 2021. We will miss you and cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in the years ahead.

 

We hope the vignettes prepared about each of our graduating students gives you a peak into the ways these incredible young people impacted our School. They are academics, thespians, athletes, problem-solvers, and debaters who showed they are capable of being successful regardless of the circumstances. Please join me in a round of applause for this remarkable group.