COMMENCEMENT 2020-Student Address

We were still a community together, even though we were apart! Transcript of the 2020 student graduation address by Connor Ryan

WWell, here we are at our delayed I still remember when I was younger the time the school closed the campus to graduation . . . considering the path to EHS my mom told me that I had a special the time we all logged onto our virtual is never a straight line, it is appropriate graduation year, 2020. Wow, I didn’t classrooms was only two days! We were that our graduation would take some extra realize how special this would get! This is still a community together, even though effort! None of us came to EHS for the not what I was expecting by “special.” A lot we were apart! Sure, the campus is great, sparkling social life of Hardwick or the is being said about what the class of 2020 top-notch, better than some colleges, but easily accessible location (a highlight of has missed, those typical high school rites the community and the interactions we our social life is a weekly trip to Walmart). of passage of prom, last sports seasons, have is what makes this place so special.

It seems everyone has their own story of spring events, parents' weekend, and senior frustration and loss of years before we rang week. I believe how we are responding to I would like to begin with some thank the EHS bell (or at least most of us . . . Dr. this unprecedented time is what we will yous. First, Dr. McDonald, thank you

McDonald, I still need to do that!). truly remember. It is remarkable that from for creating an atmosphere conducive to

learning and shall I say almost fun, but safe as well. My thanks to you and the rest of the team. Thank you, Mr. Moreland, for being the best advisor ever, and being there for me whenever I needed to talk. Thank you to Mr. Blais; I met you on my first day here and you have been my math teacher all two and a half years, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Thank you to Dr. Kim. Just like Mr. Blais, you have been my writing teacher for almost two and a half years, but your technique and style have shaped me to become the writer I am. Thank you, Dr. Raymond, for the greatest chemistry class of all time. Mr. Ward, for teaching me the ins and outs of anatomy of the human body. Thank you, Mr. Kanozek, for helping me look at sports and writing as two very similar mediums and how they can be intertwined. Thank you Mrs. Bonica, and Mr. Bliss. While I never had you as teachers, I am happy that I can call you now my friends. And, thank you, Mr. Geary, for helping me with the college process, the essay edits in the application crunch time, and being a great supporter. And thank you to all of Eagle Hill’s incredible teachers; there will always be a special place in our hearts.

I would also like to thank my family. Mom, you found Eagle Hill for me. I was skeptical at first, but after the first day I realized it was the place for me and I can’t thank you enough for that, and to Nana for making it happen. Dad, you have come to this campus more times than I can remember, whether it was for my shows, basketball games, or just coming to visit me. I will always cherish those moments. And AJ, I know I don’t see you as much with your college thing going on, but there was not a day that went by that I wasn’t proud of you, not only on the field but off the field as well. I always look up to you as my brother and friend. So thank you. Finally, I would like to thank all my friends, whether it was my basketball teammates, my fellow theater members, or a classmate of mine, you have made Eagle Hill a truly special place and you hold a special place in my heart. “Important things that we will take away with us: trust, hard work, and commitment.”

Beyond all of the amazing people, there were three things that stood out to me that make Eagle Hill so special. I hope that as we move on from Eagle Hill that we take away these important life lessons: the importance of trust, hard work, and commitment. We learned the importance of these values at EHS and I hope we will all take them with us as we leave. We learned trust from the teachers. The teachers here know how to teach things in a different way and will do anything to make sure a student understands. Most importantly, the teachers want to see us succeed and they want to celebrate our accomplishments. This is evident in the dorm life as well. Mr. Foley introduced me to living on my own and he helped me with that transition. And I don’t think I would become the person I am today without the help from these two men: Mr. Stanley and Mr. Leyva. They taught me to be myself and to have fun, whether it’s being around Stanley and his two daughters and their dog, or watching Leyva coaching the girls’ basketball team or just playing his guitar. Trust in yourself and trust in the adults around you.

Next, we learned the value of hard work. Now, obviously this can be shown in the classroom, but I also found it on the athletics side of things. I originally was a two-sport athlete. I loved basketball, but baseball was my favorite. When I discovered baseball wasn’t at EHS, I was a little disappointed, as I still love the game, but I knew my education was more important than that. So basketball it was and I worked and worked. I didn’t play my sophomore year, as I came in halfway through the year. But my junior and senior year I was blessed. I was given my two favorite coaches: a tall, burly man who is always cool, calm, and collected; and then on the opposite end was a little ball of energy who will scream at you for not being in a defensive stance. These two people of course are Coach Myra and Coach Coughlin. I never had Mr. Myra as a teacher, but I feel as if I gained the wisdom he imparts to his students. He taught me how to be a leader on and off the court, to go into everything with the right attitude, and to always put your best foot forward. Coach Coughlin I did have for a teacher. She was my PE teacher and I also was her AD intern, which I thought was a fancy way of saying “do the athletes’ laundry,” but it was much more than that. Making the schedules for the week, getting the med kits ready, and setting up the courts. She does not get nearly as much credit as she deserves and it was an honor to be your wingman.

As hard as I worked, I don’t believe I was as hard of a worker as fellow senior Weston Schumacher. Weston was a three-sport athlete at EHS for 4 years. He is now on his way to Mitchell to play lacrosse and we wouldn’t have been able to win a championship without him. I also would like to thank Mr. Jones, Charlotte Marvin, Mrs. Robidoux, and Mr. Francoeur for working with me.

And finally, the last value: commitment. Now, commitment is a value that can be found in every high school and it is not unique to Eagle Hill. There are so many ways to get involved at EHS with all of the activity choices. I really learned about the value of commitment through theater.

When I was younger, I always thought of playing college basketball at Duke and then playing in the NBA for the Boston Celtics (I mean, hey! I was a kid!), but then I found the EHS Theater Department. In fact, I will be furthering my theater education at Muhlenberg College with a yet-to-be determined second major. And just like

most things in life, you have to stay focused on your commitment. I also found three of my closest friends in theater, bonding through our similar experiences. There were days I didn’t want to do it, especially in the winter where I would have school, basketball, and a tech rehearsal all in one day. I hated that tech week in January, but it taught me so much. It taught me how to keep pushing, get my homework done, and not to procrastinate. Plus, I was working with a man that I have so much respect for—Mr. G. Besides being a fantastic director, he was my teacher in stage combat. He is genuinely one of the nicest people on this planet. He would get to know you and just talk to you as if you were one of his peers and he created an environment in theater that I couldn’t wait to walk into every day. I still remember when I met him: he took me out of a writer’s workshop class during my sophomore year and asked if I wanted to be in Les Mis, as I had shown interest. After my first rehearsal I wasn’t so sure, but after a day of blocking and working

through the movements with, Mr. G, I knew I wanted to be part of something special. I officially did six, almost seven, shows with Mr. G., which I would have been in green tights for the last one, but his commitment to the craft and details is impeccable (along with Mamma G) and I also found my second dad in Mr. Mercier, who if you didn’t know is one of the most exceptional people and is another one that would literally build mountains (sets) for us.

My final message to the class of 2020, just keep going. Born in the shadow of 9/11 and now graduating in this unprecedented time. We will overcome it! We are the Senior Skip Day champions, the Quarantined Class. Continue to build your community, keep in touch with one another, keep working hard, and keep being yourself.

And remember, “sometimes we are tested, not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.” Congrats to the class of 2020. It sure will be one to remember.