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Morgen Smith '18 - Cogswell Commencement Address
I am extremely honored to be speaking to you today. My thanks go out to everyone who has impacted the last four years for myself and my classmates, but most of all, right now I want to say thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2018.
Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted with the line “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” That is to say, nothing is impossible because everything we’ve gone through and everything we’re going to go through can’t stand up to our determination and our abilities and our strength.
I think that quote holds within it a lot of the same ideas as Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! , yes, that classic graduation book. As you all know, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is frankly honest about the fact that sometimes in life you’ll soar to great heights and other times you’ll be left in the lurch. But, in the end, it’s full of excitement and encouragement, telling us we’ll succeed because of what lies within us. It’s perfectly appropriate for graduation – there is a reason why Ben read it to us as we gathered around on Senior Arts Night, and a reason why the copy I have at home has an inscription to my dad from his parents on the day of his own graduation.
It’s a great reminder that even though you’re bound for success, as each one of you is, life won’t always be smooth sailing, and that’s okay. Each of you has already experienced some of life’s ups and downs during high school. There were great times and there were less great times and there were downright not great times, but you made it here with persistence and perseverance. However, as much as I love Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, I can’t help but notice that there is something missing in its message. While getting yourself out of a lurch, or out of that waiting place, often does require drawing on the strength within you, there will be times when that doesn’t feel possible and you don’t feel strong and you can’t figure out how to go on.
But Emerson didn’t say, “What lies behind you and what lies before you are tiny
matters compared to what lies within you,” and I’d like to think that there was a reason
he said “us” and not “you.” If I’ve learned anything so far, it’s that relationships matter more than anything else. The events in my life that have impacted me most all involved relationships with people, whether with my family, my friends, a mentor, or little children. Each of you holding a diploma right now did not reach today on your own, but with the help and support of friends, teachers, and family members, including many of the people who are here cheering us on today.
A wise man once said that two people are better off than one, because they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Three are even better [than two], for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. The strength of what lies within us comes from sharing our lives with other people, because we are stronger together.
So, when hard times hit and you can’t figure out whether you should turn left or right or right-and-three quarters, or maybe not quite, well, then, you might need some help. In those times, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. I promise you’ll be glad you did. Even more importantly, when you’re not in one of those times, my hope is that you will find yourself on the giving end, helping others and building relationships. Most, if not all, of you know that Tess Varley and Kate won our senior game of Assassin. But what some of you might not know is that when I was their target, they slept the night in their car outside of my house, hid by my garage until my dad discovered them, and eventually even hid in my car in a wild attempt to get me out. They were dedicated and did not give up, coming up with new plans whenever something didn’t work out. Seif and I didn’t make it out of that round, but while I was slightly disappointed to have had the bad luck of being assigned to them in the first round, I couldn’t help admiring their determination and excitement.
I think we should all go after relationships the way Tess and Kate played Assassin. Let’s be all in. Spend time investing in relationships. Be excited about building new ones and be dedicated to the ones that you have. And when a friend really needs you, be willing to drop everything and prioritize your time for them, the way Tess and Kate sacrificed their time to play the game.
As you go out from here, I want you to remember that every one of you is unique and you all have something to contribute to your relationships. There is not a person here, nor a person you will ever meet, who does not add something special and valuable to the world around them. Embrace your differences as you also embrace the differences of the people around you, because differences are what make us individual.
Once you’ve embraced your own individuality, turn around and use your gifts to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Be people who bring others together with love. Be people who ache with compassion for the struggling people in the world and take action. Be people who find strength in working together. It truly is the people here who have made Berwick such a special place for me, and I’m sure the same is the case for all of you. So, thank you for being those people, and wherever this life takes you, I urge you to continue being people who make each place that you are a place that is special.
Berwick Academy
31 Academy Street
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
Berwick Academy, situated on an 80-acre campus just over one hour north of Boston, serves 520 students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Postgraduates. Berwick students are from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several countries. Deeply committed to its mission of promoting virtue and useful knowledge, Berwick Academy empowers students to be creative and bold. Berwick strives to graduate alumni who shape their own learning, take risks, ask thoughtful questions, and come to understand and celebrate their authentic selves.
