Graduation Speech to David Brearley

High School Class of 2022

Kyle C. Arlington, Superintendent of Schools

WELCOME PARENTS, FRIENDS, FACULTY & STAFF MEMBERS, AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2022! THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT, AND I AM HONORED TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU.

GRADUATIONS ARE TYPICALLY A TIME FOR REFLECTION. OF COURSE. YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS HAVE BEEN ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL.

THE EVENTS OF THE PAST FEW YEARS AFFECTED VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE ... A GATHERING LIKE THIS ONE COULDN’T EVEN HAPPEN TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE WONDERED IF THE WORLD WOULD EVER RETURN TO SITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE. IT CHANGED HOW WE GREETED EACH OTHER, AND AT ONE POINT, IT SEEMED LIKE HANDSHAKES MIGHT BE GONE FOR GOOD.

HOW DID SHAKING HANDS START, ANYWAY? THE CUSTOM WAS OBSERVED IN ANCIENT GREECE, AND EVEN EARLIER. IT MIGHT HAVE HAD PRACTICAL ROOTS AS A PEACEFUL GESTURE TO SHOW THAT A PERSON WAS NOT HOLDING A WEAPON.

HANDSHAKES WERE ALSO CONSIDERED A PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF A SEAL OR BOND.

IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO ABANDON ALL THE COOL HISTORY THAT GOES WITH HANDSHAKES. AND LET’S FACE IT, FIST BUMPS JUST DON’T SEEM AS OFFICIAL.

YOU WILL LIKELY SHAKE QUITE A FEW HANDS AS YOU NETWORK AND GO ON JOB INTERVIEWS IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE. YOU MIGHT BE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT NEW AND SOMETIMES INTIMIDATING EXPERIENCE.

AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, I CAN OFFER A LITTLE ADVICE.

• LOOK A PERSON IN THE EYES WHEN YOU SHAKE HANDS. IT’S POLITE. IT MAKES A GOOD IMPRESSION, AND IT MAKES YOUR MOM REALLY PROUD. I KNOW MINE IS.

• BE PERSONABLE. ANY BOSS WHO IS BEING HONEST WILL ADMIT THAT PERSONALITY IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS AN ACADEMIC PEDIGREE . PEOPLE WANT TO HIRE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE PLEASANT TO BE AROUND.

• BE HUMBLE. YOU ARE NEW TO ALL THIS AND THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS. THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS SHOW INTEREST AND CURIOSITY AND MAKE YOU LOOK PRETTY SMART.

• BUT PLEASE REMEMBER YOU ALSO HAVE A LOT TO OFFER. YOUR GRASP OF TECHNOLOGY MIGHT BE SECOND NATURE, BUT IT IS ALSO A VALUABLE SKILL. MANY OF YOUR FUTURE CO-WORKERS DID NOT GROW UP IN THE DIGITAL ERA AND YOU CAN PROBABLY TEACH THEM A FEW THINGS. YOU WILL BRING ENERGY AND A FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO ANY SITUATION. FOR THAT, YOU’LL BE APPRECIATED.

DURING YOUR TIME AT BREARLEY, YOU LEARNED TO BE RESOURCEFUL AND CREATIVE. YOU CONTRIBUTED IN MANY WAYS TO MANY PROJECTS, EVENTS, AND ACTIVITIES. YOU BECAME LEADERS AND THINKERS.

YOU NOW HAVE THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL BUILD ON IT.

SO WHEN YOU SHAKE MY HAND AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR DIPLOMA, IT MEANS YOU HAVE MET THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY’S REQUIREMENTS, IT MEANS YOU'VE MET KENILWORTH'S REQUIREMENTS, IT MEANS YOU HAVE THE CREDITS, THE COURSES, AND THE GRADES. IT MEANS YOU'RE READY!

BUT I ASK THAT YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU SHAKE YOUR PARENTS' HANDS TONIGHT. IN THAT MOMENT, SURE THEY ARE CONGRATULATING YOU, BUT I IMAGINE IT'S ALSO A MOMENT WHEN THEY REMEMBER SENDING YOU OFF TO KINDERGARTEN FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE GRANDPARENTS HERE, THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR HANDSHAKE MEANS TO THEM. IT SURELY MEANS MORE THAN CONGRATULATIONS. IT LIKELY MEANS THEIR BABY'S BABY IS GROWN UP.

YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU HAVE ACHIEVED AND EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NEXT.

THE CLASS OF 2022 IS ABOUT TO GO OUT IN THE WORLD TO REPRESENT BREARLEY, KENILWORTH AND THE FUTURE!

BUT, BEFORE WE START SHAKING HANDS, LET’S GIVE THEM ALL A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.