COMMENCEMENT 2020-Faculty Address
Recognizing and cultivating your strengths.
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Transcript of the 2020 faculty baccalaureate address by Mrs. Kim Bonica, English teacher and student advisor
Welcome and congratulations to family and friends and, most importantly, to the Class of 2020! I know that today is bittersweet for many of us, as we would prefer to celebrate this graduating class as a community and a family, in person, but, like any family would, we have prioritized safety first. However, today’s nontraditional ceremony does not diminish the significance of your accomplishments, as we come to celebrate the completion of your high school career and the transition
to your next steps as adults who are moving on to make your marks on the world. You have worked incredibly hard to get to this milestone; you have faced many challenges, some successfully and some still a work in progress, and now you are ready to apply the lessons that life has taught you thus far about overcoming obstacles through effort and determination. As a teacher, I value hard work and intellectual curiosity, and I understand
the role that they play in one’s success. However, are these elements alone the key to achievement? What other components should we consider? Competitive spirit? Intrinsic motivation? Self-confidence? Should we move forward independently with our eyes fixed squarely forward, or should we use others as a measuring stick for our own progress? I think that it is human nature, at any age, to look to our peers in order to evaluate ourselves and our behavior, to some degree. While I do think COMPENDIUM FALL 2020 | EAGLE HILL SCHOOL 5
