Graduation Words 2023

Last week, I again had the honor of being the last to address our Seniors at our annual graduation ceremonies. Technically, my role is to lead the Seniors in our graduate pledge, but I also try to take advantage of the moment to say a few last words to our students before they officially become alumni. As usual, I didn’t write a speech for this moment but chose instead to speak to them from the heart. What follows is what I said, to the best of my recollection.

I can’t believe I have to follow Sophie [she sang to her classmates and our audience]…that was just incredible. Incredible and emotional. It’s an emotional day. It’s been an emotional week, one that really started last week with the graduation parade. For those of you who don’t know, it’s an annual tradition for our Seniors to wear their caps and gowns and walk through the campus of the school so that all of our students, Preschool through eleventh grade, have a chance to say goodbye. It’s a celebration of our seniors and all they’ve accomplished here at Lincoln, and it’s also a moment to recognize who our seniors are becoming. And for our students, especially our youngest students, it’s really exciting. My wife teaches first grade, many of you know that, and so I get to visit our first graders and get to know them quite a bit and I can tell you they see you as superheroes. Especially in those robes that look a little like capes. You’re superheroes to them and to us, and I hope you recognize the accomplishment of the day and the powers you’ve learned over your years here at Lincoln so that you can go out into the world and use them for good.

It really is an emotional moment, and week. It’s also an emotional week for me because my favorite TV show, I think of my whole life, ended this week. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “where is Garren going with this?” Trust me, I’ll get there. My favorite TV show, and again many of you already know this, is Ted Lasso. If you haven’t seen it, it’s on Apple TV and it’s worth the watch. I love the show because it’s funny and light-hearted and most of all because it really does a great job of incorporating life lessons and leadership skills. I use quotes and situations from the show all the time in my work as your principal, and as I was watching the last episode of the show last night there were a few quotes that reminded me of our ceremony today.

The first quote I want to mention is one I’m not sure I actually agree with. I did last night when I was watching the show, but now I’m not so sure. It was in a scene when two characters were talking about parenthood, and one said to the other something to the effect of parenthood is tricky because “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but mostly you just tie. The trick is to keep playing the game.” I’m a parent and I laughed too but here’s the thing; today is a really big win for all of the parents and grandparents in our audience, and I’d like to take a moment to give a huge round of applause to all of you for the incredible effort you’ve put into your students to get them to where they are today.

Another quote I have to mention is one from an earlier season, but it’s one I quote often and need to again for our seniors. The quote is, “be curious, not judgmental.” This is my hope for you seniors, that more than any name or date or fact or figure, Lincoln School has taught you the skill of curiosity. Because the thing is, this world is a great big magical place full of mysteries to be solved. And if you can stay curious, if you can see that magic each day, what an amazing adventure you’re about to have.

Finally, there was another quote from the show I want to leave you with. It’s related to the words of Dr. Allen from earlier today when he spoke to you about our pursuit of excellence here at Lincoln School. It’s our mission as a school to pursue excellence in all things, but I want to remind you that excellence does not mean perfection. The quote from the show was something like, “No person is perfect. We all make mistakes. The key is to do your best in all things, and to ask for help when you need it. If you can do that, then you’re moving towards better every day. And that’s the point.” I’d like to leave you today with this idea: that excellence is always trying your best AND remembering to ask for help when you need it. That’s the key for each us to get better, and to make the world a better place.