https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUMIb7Vuidg&t=4525s
Commencement Speech to Class of 2018
June 9, 2018
Rodney Clark
Good morning. Thank you to the School Board, the Superintendent's Office, the schools Leadership Team, Faculty, Staff, Parents,the Hollis Brookline community, and the graduates of 2018. I am honored to have been chosen by this year's graduating class to give this years commencement address.
For the past 20 years I have sat over in the shade of that tent with the proud faculty and I have heard some fantastic words given to our graduates. Last year, the class of 2017 chose Mr. Eric Perry, “the showman” and junior member of our physics department to make the address. In 2016, the graduating class chose Mr. Adam Wilcox, the senior member of the physics department, known for his rapier wit to give the address. Two fine men and outstanding physics teachers, the district is truly blessed. And so the Class of 2018 has gone to the science department once again for his year’s Commencement Address. You might have gone to the well one too many times, for I am afraid I am not the showman that is Mr. Perry, nor do I have the wit of Mr. Wilcox, but I shall promise you the best characteristic of a commencement address... that my remarks will be brief.
In June of 1984, (34 years ago) I sat where you are now, in an idyllic place about to graduate from high school. I grew up in Marion, Iowa, a place not too different from Hollis and Brookline. Marion had strong middle class families, the people were devoted to their children, their community, their football team, and their school. The state motto of Iowa is “a place to grow” and it certainly was and remains so today. You too, have been blessed to grow up in a heavenly place, nurtured in love and opportunity.
In the fall of 1984 I went off to college at Iowa State University to pursue my Dream. The Dream of every midwestern boy. My Dream was the Dream of all Dreams …. To become a high school biology teacher. ( Who is more blessed than me?)
I presented myself that September to the office of the head of the secondary science teaching program, Dr. George Knaphus. Dr. Knaphus, was a decorated World War II veteran, in his late 60’s, and a fellow Iowan. As I entered his paper filled office, he peered at me over his spectacles and said in the most welcoming and congenial way; “Good morning son, how can I help?” I nervously explained who I was and my wish to become a biology teacher. Dr. Knaphus, could not have been any more gracious with his time that day, or in the four years that followed as he freely gave of his time in helping me become a teacher. As it turns out, Dr. Knaphus, was a pretty important man at the university, he had research to conduct as he was a world renowned mycologist. (turning to the graduates) What is mycology? He was in charge of several graduate students, a lecturer of both graduates and undergraduates, and the head of several committees. But as busy as he certainly was that September morning, he appeared to be willing to drop everything to take care of this skinny boy from the other end of the state. I remember it as clear as if it happened yesterday, he began by saying “Good morning son, how can I help?”
Over the years, those words have been most instructive to me. After college, I was fortunate to have been selected to be a Peace Corp volunteer. I was assigned to teach math and science in the small Southern African country of Swaziland. Twenty-nine Americans were selected that year to go to Swaziland and we were to meet in Philadelphia for training before going together to Africa. And it was there, in Philadelphia, it happened. One of those 29 fresh faced Americans was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. She was smart, confident, strong and full of life. I was well, well, out of my depth with this girl from Beverly Farms, Massachusetts.
As we completed out training in Philly and prepared to journey to Africa I came upon her waiting for our bus, surrounded by several pieces of fancy luggage. It was then that I summoned my courage and used Dr. Knaphus’ magic words… “How can I help?” Well, didn’t she just let me help her with those bags. I proudly carried those bags to Africa and home two years later. In two weeks, she will let me carry her bags to Plum Island as we celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.
So I arrive in Swaziland, and I am assigned to teach in a very rural school called Mbukwane High School. The school, as we would say, was deep in the African bush, and did not have electricity or running water. What they did have was a need for a math and science teacher. So upon arriving at Mbukwane I presented myself to the headmaster of the school, Mr. Dlamini. Mr. Dlamini was the schools Headmaster and Disciplinarian. He made our Mr. Ouellette look like a softee. So I greet the headmaster and explain that I was his new Math and Science teacher newly minted from the states. Mr. Dlamini gave me a skeptical look, so I try Dr. Knaphus’ magic words. “Mr. Dlamini, I am so pleased to be your new Math / Science teacher, how can I help?” Well, didn’t Mr. Dlamini’s demeanor just brighten as he lead me to a room adjacent to his office.
“Mr. Clark he said, here is our school’s gestetner and I would like you to be in charge of its operation while you are here.” Now I had never seen such a machine, but I would learn that it was the schools copy machine. By the look of it, I think it was left behind by the British colonist, and the British had been gone for decades. It had a hand crank and a drum upon which one smeared ink over its surface. By placing a stencil on the inked drum and turning the crank one could create a crude copy... and now I was in charge… this young man from Iowa. Not the most glamorous of a assignments, but nonetheless a job that needed to be done at the school and a job worth doing.
Class of 2018 I tell you these stories of my life surrounding these four words, “How can I help?” as I hope they will be instructive to you. You and I had the happy circumstance to be born into this great country, into loving communities like Marion, Iowa, and Hollis - Brookline, New Hampshire. Why we were not born in rural Africa is a mystery that we can not know. But what I do know is this. You have been given gifts beyond the dreams of most and as you sit here you can literally pursue any dream you set for yourself. As you pursue those dreams, I challenge you to lend a hand to others. Perhaps as a mentor, like my mentor Dr. Knaphus. Perhaps you will find yourself helping in a less glamorous capacity, like being in charge of a broken down gestetner. Or perhaps you will ask how you can help a girl and she will become the girl of your dreams.
Class of 2018 I give you these four words, “How can I help?” Use them often, use them courageously, use them with abandon. They will make you a better friend, a better employee, a better spouse, and a better parent. I know that the class of 2018 will share their many gifts with the world with joy, for this is why you are here. You are, and will ever be, HB.
Thank you.