It is my pleasure to welcome students, faculty members, trustees, parents, and, of course, the Class of 2008 to this year’s graduation ceremonies. We gather to give thanks for this class and all that they have given to us; to offer them some parting words of wisdom or advice or humor; to listen, one last time, to their view of things; and, most importantly, to present each of them with a tangible symbol of their achievement – a Milton diploma.

It is a weighty article, this diploma, and I’m not talking just about the quality of the paper. I mean that each one of these artfully lettered (thank you, Mr. Millet) and carefully signed documents connects each of you to the past, this present, and the future of Milton as well. Generations of students before you have sat as you are sitting here today – excited, nervous, eager to be done but perhaps just as eager to savor this moment before the inevitable leaving.

Milton has always struck me as a community whose members do not easily tout their own abilities or achievements. They let their character and their actions speak for them.  They understand that the story is not about us, individually, but about what we are doing in and for the world around us. Those who have left Milton before you – like Jehane Noujaim, from the Class of 1992, an internationally known filmmaker who will address us today – say that they, like all of us here, benefited from the freedom to learn from experience.  They learned critical life lessons from the faculty, the students, and the life of the community here.

Several of you, in talking to the Milton Magazine recently, gave shape to those life lessons that you learned at Milton.  You said – and I’m quoting you,

“Milton taught me to be open and to interact with people.”

“Milton taught me that my opinions are relevant,”

“I didn’t realize how much my leadership role would entail,”

“I learn a lot by doing,”

“That I know a lot about how I learn,
        
“That few decisions are easy”
                 
“That you need to set aside the time to think; introspection leads to action,

“That I can be wrong, and not have that derail me,”
        
“That hard work has inherent value,”       

“That people [and issues] are very complex,”
        
“That meeting a challenge is a source of pride,”

“That seeing correlations in history and literature help you learn a lot about the community of human beings throughout history – about the life and struggle of humanity”
        
“I’ve learned…
“How to accept difference, not just as an intellectual concept but in day to day living,”

“How to connect with people: kids and adults,”

“How to be patient, not angry or belligerent when people come to different conclusions than I do,”

“How to keep the bigger picture in mind – perspective keeps things in check,”

“How to work with people who are, and are not, my best friends (it’s equally hard),

“How to listen rather than just hear,”

“How to write,”

“How to understand yourself as part of a team – to respect and trust the work of others,”

“How to figure out what’s really important,”

“How to concede someone else’s point without compromising my own,

“I LEARNED THAT YOU MUST BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.”

Anyone who has been part of the Milton experience knows that Milton is many voices, many points of view, not one, and that what matters most is not the players, but the music they make. There are many remarkable players at Milton, and we have made good music this year, due in no small part to the Class of 2008, as bright, creative, and caring a class as I can remember.

We thank you for sharing your talents and yourselves with us — your adventures, your experiences, and your memories. I want to thank you, the Class of 2008, on behalf of everyone at Milton for your willingness to take risks, for being bigger than the problems you have confronted, for rising above the petty and the small.  We are confident that your individual contributions will lead to something lasting and sublime for the communities in your future.

As we prepare to award the diplomas, I would ask the Class of 2008 to join me in celebrating the mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends who have been there during the difficult moments as well as on these occasions for celebration.  We would not be who we are without the love and support of these very special people in each of our lives.  Please join me in applauding all that they have done to make this day possible.

Before we hear from our speakers today, I want to recognize a number of teachers who will be retiring this year. As each of them accepts new challenges in new places, we want to thank them for investing their energy, their intellect, and their personality in making this School what it is.  Please stand and receive our thanks for your many years of dedicated service for the students of Milton Academy: from the Performing Arts Department, David Peck; from the PE and Athletics Department, Tom Flaherty; from the Admissions Department, Jane Brewer; from the Modern Languages and English Departments, Bill Moore; and, after 48 years in the Modern Languages Department, George Fernald.

Please welcome Kim Samson, Class I Dean, who will introduce our first speaker.

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