Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/246730
UP FRONT Middle School Graduation "We are all so proud of how you have grown," Middle School Director Deb Sampey told the Class of 2017 as it celebrated eighth grade graduation on June 5. "You are better and stronger than when you started middle school three years ago." Sampey went on to share some of the many life lessons that this eighth grade class has learned. Through their experiences, they have learned to be kinder, to value their individuality and to be more accepting of others. The result, she said, is a class that has grown strong and more bonded than most. As he addressed the graduates, Head of School Randall Dunn looked to the future. Dunn spoke about a radio program he recently heard that concluded that most adults start out planning to do one thing in life and end up doing something completely different. In looking back on his own life, Dunn said he never would have imagined at the age of 14 that he would one day be head of the Latin School. 6 L AT I N M AGAZINE In the end, Dunn said, the plan is not so important. "What does matter at every age and every stage of your life is that you are passionate about what you are doing, that you are thoughtful and that you surround yourself with people who open your eyes and your hearts to amazing opportunities. "So, as you think about what comes next in your life, I encourage you to focus less on the plan and more on the path," Dunn said. Hanna Mularczyk, the middle school student body president, reviewed the work done by the student government throughout the year, and classmate Grace Coberly thanked faculty, staff and families for their support. Student speaker Gavin Siegel reminisced about the experiences he and many of his classmates have shared since junior kindergarten. "Regardless where we all end up, we have Latin's foundation on which to build our dreams," he said. In a humorous perspective on the middle school years, Charlie Berz imagined a memo written by Deb Sampey to Upper School Director Ted Graf, preparing him for the Class of 2017, titled "God Speed to You." In the imagined memo, Sampey laments the many annoying qualities of the class. In concluding, the memo said that while Charlie and his classmates might have been a challenge for their teachers, parents and Ms. Sampey during the middle school years, they one day will grow to be leaders and role models. "I know they are up to the challenge, even though they might be a little annoying along the way," Charlie read from Sampey's imaginary memo. n