looking through life’s lenses

BY SCHOLAR OF SCHOLARS KATE LOO

Good afternoon to the Triton faculty, the families of my peers, and my fellow graduates.

Today, as we stand on the precipice of our futures, we are filled with curiosity about what lies ahead. One of us may become a professional food critic like Katie Walker, a reality TV expert like Ms. Dimperio, or an aspiring filmmaker like Kaili Artson. No matter what paths we pursue, remember one thing: we are the photographers of our lives.

As photographers, we use a multitude of lenses to view life’s colors, patterns, and textures. But these lenses are not merely tools for seeing; they are also profound ways to understand what our lives mean.

It is through these lenses that we broaden our perspectives and hone our talents. Now, let us zoom into three lenses that have served as the focal points of our high school careers.

As a swimmer, I see the world through my athletic lens—one that is grounded in perseverance, collaboration, and integrity.

As Tritons, our athletic lens depicts our unwavering spirit in each frame. We’ve screamed loud crowd chants during football games, cheered on our nationally ranked boys cross country team, and celebrated our boys soccer team’s CIF title.

Our commitment to athletic excellence is unrivaled, which is nearly as impressive as Mr. Popovich reciting all of the Super Bowl champions in consecutive order.

As a viola player, I see the world through my creative lens—one that expresses my individuality, emotions, and imagination.

Through this lens, we take pride in our esteemed music program scoring unanimous superiors at Festival, as well as our drama department’s musical, The Phantom of the Opera, winning the title of Best Musical Drama at the JRay Awards.

But the power of our creative lens extends far beyond our achievements. We are not defined by our artistic success, but rather our ability to shape narratives and inspire others to explore the depths of their own creative potential.

As an IB diploma candidate and Dual Immersion student, I see the world through my academic lens—one that is rooted in curiosity, reflection, and insight.

Our academic lens encompasses the late-night biology study sessions, the connections we built through the Tritons Interacting with Pipers Program, and the honor of being named Academic Champions like girls lacrosse and competitive cheer.

All of these experiences do share one commonality: they empower us to appreciate the richness and diversity of our educational careers.

Sometimes, as photographers, we are not able to capture our memories in all their clarity.

Just as our lenses become dam- aged or foggy, we may experience moments of misdirection or imbalance.

To regain our clarity, we must lean on our friends, families and teachers. As our strongest support systems, they can help us reframe our perspective and guide us to understand the bigger picture that we wouldn’t see alone.

Life is not one perfectly composed shot, so let us embrace these imperfections as we continue to refine our craft.

As the frame of our high school journey begins to close, let us remember the power of these lenses. Each lens—the athletic, the creative, the academic—has enriched our high school experience.

Collectively, they provide us with a multidimensional perspective on life. So, may we use the lenses of our experiences to nurture our passions and craft the ideal picture of our future.

Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2023!