Rivers' Class of 2018 Graduates

  

“Today marks a beginning for you all, the commencement of your next journey, as you cross the threshold from your earlier conception of yourself to a future that waits for all you now have to bring to it,” said Mr. Parsons. “As you depart these familiar grounds, newly empowered and characteristically eager to see what lies beyond, you take with you the lessons you’ve lived through, the triumphs you’ve crafted, the relationships you have fostered. You take some bruises, sure. But you take stronger muscles, too, keener eyesight, deeper emotional acumen.”

 

Mr. Parsons then introduced outgoing President of the Board of Trustees Bob Davis, and thanked him for his years of service to the school.

 

“Bob, you have served Rivers passionately over your 15 years of service to the Board and the larger school,” said Mr. Parsons. “Even in your year away from Board work, you served on the Head’s search committee before returning to us as President, a culmination of service that spanned everything from the Master Planning, Facilities, Athletics, Major Gifts, Governance, and the Executive Committees.

 

“Bob, you have always been a vocal champion of all things Rivers, and your pride in your three Rivers graduates: Brian, ’06, Michelle, ’08, and Danny, ’13, has kept you close to us through the years. Your dedication to the Rivers community, your generosity in supporting our dreams for the future, and your inspiration and leadership in your role as Trustee and President of the Board of Trustees will long be remembered. I speak for the entire community when I thank you for all you’ve made possible for students of today’s school and for future generations of Redwings passing through our doors.”

 

Faculty speaker Yoshi Fujita spoke to the graduates about the differences between “type 1” and “type 2” fun.

 

“Type 1 fun is what most people typically think of as fun: spending time with friends, playing a game, catching up with family, traveling someplace new and exciting, anything along those lines…Type 2 fun is characterized by moments when you really don’t want to be doing what you’re doing. In fact, most of type 2 fun involves significant periods of frustration, irritation, or weariness.

 

“Where’s the fun part? Type 2 fun occurs when these tiresome, dreary slogs through tedium are punctuated by moments of sheer joy, elation, and excitement…Type 2 fun is the kind of thing that, in the moment, you may regret doing. Yet later, you end up being glad of the experience. You come away with a sense of personal pride and accomplishment. When I think back to the most meaningful experiences of my life, the ones that have given me my best memories, my favorite stories, and my greatest friends, they largely revolve around type 2 fun.”

 

After recounting various examples of “type 2” fun in his own life, Mr. Fujita concluded with a message for the graduates.

 

“I encourage you to find and appreciate the type 2 fun in your lives. Seek out those challenges that scare you a little bit, the things that you think you can do, but know will be hard. The things that will require something more than you’ve given before. Many of life’s challenging experiences can be type 2 fun, if approached with the proper attitude. Frame those experiences as a mountain to summit, where you will eventually be rewarded with a spectacular vista, with a moment of pure joy and achievement.

 

“I hope you will all look back on your time at Rivers as type 2 fun: not always easy, often full of frustration and challenge, replete with successes, failures, but most of all learning. I hope you leave this place with a sense of accomplishment, with meaningful, life-long friendships. I hope you recognize that the trials we have put you through were really just the rocky part of the trail leading up to the first peak. Today you’ve reached the summit. Tomorrow, you start walking towards the next mountain to climb, the next peak to scale, the next vista to bask in, followed by many more mountains in the life you will traverse.”

 

Joe Nedder ’18 chosen by his classmates as the student speaker, spoke about various encounters from his days at Rivers—shared smoothies, unrequited sixth grade romance, jazz lunches—and how the sense of community he found at Rivers shaped his, and his classmates’, experience.

 

“Even as I walked on campus for the first time, I never felt scared or alone. I barely knew any students or teachers, yet somehow I felt supported and encouraged. I think all of us here this morning can attest to the fact that this campus has a way of bringing people together. It has a way of making school feel like a privilege. It has a way of creating friendships that are as close as families…

 

“While we may be stepping off of campus, we are never going to truly leave Rivers behind. In all of our future endeavors, we will take Rivers with us wherever we go. We will take the memories we’ve had. We will take the lessons we’ve learned. We will take the friendships we’ve made. The welcoming spirit of Rivers will never leave us and will stay ingrained in our heads and our hearts for years to come.

 

“If at college next year, I can find myself a family that welcomes me as Rivers has, I will consider myself incredibly grateful. And if I am lucky enough to study alongside such passionate and talented individuals as are sitting next to me this morning, I will be overjoyed. Rivers has enabled all of us to pursue what we love and strive for greatness. Rivers has given us incredible opportunities and resources. Rivers has taught us to face each and every challenge that comes our way with integrity and perseverance. Rivers has given us the strength we need to spread our red wings and fly to new heights.”

 

After Mr. Parsons paid tribute to each graduate and presented the diplomas, the graduates filed out through lines of applauding faculty and family members, and assembled for the traditional cap toss at the flagpole.

 

Congratulations to the Class of 2018 and best wishes for a happy and successful future beyond Rivers.