Leadership, Love, and Lessons Learned: Celebrating the Class of 2025

In his opening remarks, Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem mused that the weather was an opportunity to “connect with our school’s history more deeply,” calling back to Rivers’ days as an open-air school. He also wondered whether the tradition of jumping into Nonesuch Pond after the ceremony would hold, commenting, “Seniors, that is up to you, though you may want to consider the words of your favorite philosopher, Mr. Zalaski, who would ask: ‘Is that a choice or a mistake?’ Only you can decide.”

Dahlem praised the strong academic, athletic, and artistic legacy of the Class of 2025 and drew attention to the class’ leadership in important conversations about engaging across differences and celebrating diversity. (The community also gathered to honor individual accomplishments at the annual Prize Day ceremony a day earlier.) 

“Beyond what you did, it was how you did it that was most impressive and aligns with who we are as a school,” Dahlem said. “You supported each other with joy and pride. You are a balanced, grounded, and generous class, and that is a legacy worth celebrating and remembering.”

Dahlem went on to speak about the importance of living a life of purpose, sharing that research shows it is correlated with positive physical health, mental health, and longevity. “Your job right now isn’t to have your sense of purpose all figured out, but to have a lens on where you go from here that helps you create your own path to a life of purpose,” he told the class. “The good news is, many of the ways you’ve engaged at Rivers already can serve as first steps in this journey.”

He encouraged graduates to consider what they enjoyed doing at Rivers and how those endeavors could be applied to a life of purpose moving forward. “If you enjoyed honors science research or a science research internship, imagine connecting that work to the needs of others through medicine or biotech innovation. If you enjoyed serving as a T.A. in a class, imagine helping students beyond Rivers as an educator,” he said. 

“Maybe you really enjoyed the Venture Capital Club and can imagine funding businesses that meet human needs in a way that allows investors to do well but also to do good. Or you might pursue your artistic expression in a way that enriches the lives of others,” he added. “The idea is to know what it feels like to do something that matters to you that will also matter to someone else,” he emphasized.

After Dahlem’s remarks, Alan D. Rose, Jr. ’87, president of the board of trustees, took to the podium to congratulate the class. “We could not be more proud of you as you become Rivers alums,” he said. He encouraged the class to stay connected to the Rivers community and added, “Please don’t forget the role that Rivers had in preparing you for the triumphs and challenges in the years ahead.” Rose also thanked the professional community for their dedication to the student experience at Rivers.
 

Dahlem took a moment to thank Melissa Anderson P’25, ’25, head of Upper School and assistant head of school for program, as she departs Rivers. “Dr. Anderson is an outstanding educational leader, teacher, advisor, and champion of our faculty and students,” he said. “We will miss you just as much as we’ll miss this senior class.” Anderson then introduced the faculty speaker chosen by the graduating class: Victoria Mizzi, math teacher and interim dean of student life. 

Mizzi emphasized lessons the Rivers community has learned from the Class of 2025. “You taught us to show up,” she began. She described the graduating class as a group of “joiners,” noting their creation of the Grade 9 and 10 semi-formal and revitalization of the Homecoming dance. “The essence of being a ‘joiner,’ of not being ‘too cool for school,’ lies in the understanding that life is what you make of it—that having fun first requires the willingness to show up,” Mizzi said. “This class has shown up in big ways.” 

Mizzi added that the class has taught their younger peers that being loud is not a prerequisite for being a leader, that the class has “led by looking out for those who needed it most,” and that they have shown the community the strength of vulnerability. 

“I hope that you embrace the unexpected and know that the best-laid plans are often not what leads to happiness,” said Mizzi. “One of my most important mentors, Dr. Anderson, reminded me last year that progress is rarely linear.” Mizzi urged the class to be ready to revise their plans, to take advantage of new opportunities, and to build strong relationships. “As long as you continue to show up for those you love, the rest will follow,” she concluded.

Following Mizzi’s speech, Anderson introduced the Class of 2025 student speaker, Grace O’Sullivan. In her speech, O’Sullivan told the audience about a Google Doc she started at the end of her freshman year, titled “Lessons Learned.” 

“I didn’t know it then, but that Google Doc would become one of the most important tools I carried with me through high school,” O’Sullivan said. “Not for academics, not for test prep or essays—but for growth. Quiet, invisible growth.”

Over the years she has continued to add to the list with her reflections—including “don’t do nails on a school night, just go to bed, it’s a waste of time” and “you are not responsible for other people’s fights”—and with words of wisdom from others.

“Each time I added something, it was a promise to myself: I’ll do better next time. Not perfect—just better,” O’Sullivan explained. She shared that reflecting on her list of lessons made her appreciate the memories along the way to graduation and led to yet another lesson—to enjoy moments, not just milestone occasions. She challenged her classmates to approach their lives with curiosity and a willingness to learn from others and from their own mistakes. “We all have much more to learn,” she said. “And we have to make the decision to be eager in our search for life’s lessons.”

With that, Dahlem returned to the podium for the conferral of diplomas. As each of the 92 graduates took to the stage, Dahlem read a tribute in recognition of their unique strengths and contributions to the community. Afterward, he directed Rivers’ newest alumni to take a deep breath and look around. “Soak up the density of love that surrounds you here today, and take it with you on the next step of your journey,” he said.

The class took one more journey together, processing out of the tent to toss their caps into the air at the flagpole. Then some took that traditional dip into Nonesuch Pond, which was, indeed, very chilly—one last lesson learned as the Class of 2025 heads out into the world beyond Rivers.