SYCAMORE CLASS OF 2018 // At the 2018 Sycamore School commencement, three 8th Grade graduates, Mary Kate Tanselle, Henley Lynch, and Evelyn Tabor, were chosen to give a speech to parents, teachers, and friends in the audience. Here are excerpts from each of their speeches.
EVELYN TABOR
my classmates. Sycamore
Finally, I have a few
has taught me to be
requests. To the current
respectful and kind, yet
Sycamore students; take
to also be proud of my
advantage of opportunities
accomplishments and
you have here, they will
In language arts class, we were asked to write
have just the right amount
prepare you for your future
about growing up. I wrote that “Growing
of competitiveness. I
in ways you can’t imagine
up shapes your future. What you do as a
have developed strong
yet. And don’t hesitate to
child will impact you for the rest of your
senses of leadership and
ask any former students for
life.” Maybe it’s sentimental because I was
independence that have
advice. We would all love
just over a month away from graduating at
carried me through middle
to give you our tips on how
the time, but I wrote this with Sycamore in
school, and will continue to
to best take advantage of
mind, because Sycamore is where I grew up,
do so into the future.
your time here.
and this building is my home, and the people But most importantly in my mind, Sycamore has
To the teachers, keep doing what you’re doing.
given me the gift of confidence. The confidence
The education you have given me is the greatest
Incredible opportunities are the things that
to stand up here today and speak to you all.
tool I have, and I hope that more kids will get to
make it hard to leave Sycamore after nine years.
Confidence in my knowledge and ability to
experience what I have over the past years.
It’s a mix of the little things, like seeing your
learn. And confidence in my accomplishments
friends waiting for you in the hall before band,
as a student, an athlete, a friend, and a member
To all members of the Sycamore community,
every single morning. And the bigger things,
of the Sycamore community.
this has been the most incredible place to
sitting behind me are my family.
grow up and learn; please work to ensure
like getting the chance to travel the country, that These things didn’t come on their own though.
that it stays that way, so that one day, one
Whether it’s been from a friend, a teacher, a
of the members of the Class of 2018 might
This school has left its mark on me in more
coach, an advisor, or someone who is all of those
send their student here.
ways than I know. There are the visible ways,
things, so many people have made my Sycamore
like the how I worked my way from simple
experience what it is today. I can’t thank my
Lastly, to my classmates, you are my family and
addition and subtraction, to long division, and
teachers enough. You have all inspired in me
words cannot express how much I will miss you
then to complex algebraic formulas. Or how I
a true love of learning, one of the best things
all next year. But I want you all to keep working
went from the “Handwriting Without Tears”
a person can have. What you have taught me
hard at everything you do, and stay in touch,
books, to writing essays in English and Spanish.
extends beyond what I learned in class, and the
because when one of you changes the world,
But then there are the things that lie below the
guidance and mentorship you have provided me
which I’m confident will happen, I want to
surface, the skills that maybe aren’t immediately
with over the years is invaluable, something I will
know, so I can say that I, too, was a member of
noticeable, but are present in myself, and all of
be forever grateful for.
the Sycamore Class of 2018. n
have shown me how truly special Sycamore is.
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