Good evening friends and family of the graduates, GHS faculty, and the class of 2008. I am honored to be here this evening to celebrate with you the new beginnings for the Gilroy High School class of 2008.
As I begin, I would like to share a quote with you. In his novel Atonement, Ian McEwan wrote "It wasn't only wickedness and scheming that made people unhappy, it was confusion and misunderstanding; above all, it was the failure to grasp the simple truth that other people are as real as you. "
I chose this quote, because I believe that what makes the GHS class of 2008 so special, is that despite the notoriety high schools have for divisive cliques, the Gilroy High School class of 2008 has been able "to grasp the simple truth that other people are as real as you. "
On my first day of high school, I walked into my first period class. Since it was Spanish 2, the class was filled mostly with sophomores and juniors, and I was the only freshman. I quickly noticed the seating arrangement in the class; the "popular" kids sat in the center of the room, the " jocks" in right hand corner, and the "nerds" in the left hand corner. Throughout the year, it was rare for anyone to speak to a person outside of his or her respective group. The class was divided, and that was that.
However, when I walked into my second period class I instantly noticed a different vibe. As freshmen, we were all new to the school, but within a week everyone knew the names of the other students in the class. The assigned seating was not looked down upon in my classes as it was in many others, because everyone had quickly friends. By the end of the year, my classes had become more than groups of students, more than classes, we had become a community.
This unity has been evident throughout all of our four years at Gilroy High School. During events like homecoming, Senior Dinner Dance, and Prom our class has celebrated together, like one big family.
High school is famous for divisions, but I know that the class of 2008 has challenged this stereotype. In our class, kindness is extended beyond cliques, judgments and prejudices. We have been able to "grasp the simple truth that other people are as real as you. " If we can create community in the typically divided realm of high school, imagine what we can do in the future to end the hatred caused by other divisions- racism, sexism, nationalism. As you leave Gilroy, share what you have learned here with world, and use it to bring a change. Teach others that great things happen when we are able see beyond differences, and recognize the humanity in every person. This realization has taken understanding, acceptance and maturity, and I am sure that as the class of 2008 we will carry this realization with us into the future.
As I look at the world today, I believe that the main problem is that humans are not able to see the needs, desires, hopes, dreams, the humanity in others. Right now our entire world has numerous challenges to overcome. Irresponsible resource use and government policy have led to pollution, depletion, and global climate change. A religious genocide has been occurring in Darfur since 2003. Millions of people cannot afford clean water, while others do not understand that water supplies are limited. Why are these tragedies taking place? Because many people are not able "grasp the simple truth that other people are as real as you. " The GHS class of 2008, however, has learned and exhibited this already. With our unique ability to see beyond ourselves comes responsibility as well, the responsibility to inspire compassion and change in others. Get out there and show people that we care bout our world- vote, carpool, volunteer, recycle, change a life. By sharing our ability with the other citizens of the world, we can start a revolution, a revolution that will lead to justice, peace and respect.
Rachel Tenny Aptekar is a graduated senior and salutatorian of the Class of 2008.
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