Royal Academy Grad Shares at Commencement  by Rachel Hamilton

I only wish I could have had the privilege of time to get to know each and every one of you individually throughout the last four years of high school. But the truth is I stand before you today, almost a complete stranger, because we chose an alternative route of education. It is because of this alternative route that I can now recognize the more intimate details we seniors have in common.

We do not have one individual memorable event that happened in the hallways of our high school. However we are all, as one unit graduating from high school today and leaving behind, (in one way or another) memories of moments, passions triumphs, hardships, family and friends.

Without these moments and passages of time, in our lives, we would have no inspiration for our future. There was not one particular day when I stopped playing with dolls, or when toy trucks became less time consuming, maybe we do not remember when our last goldfish died and we did not feel the need to replace him.

Today I am honored to mark this passage as the ending of an era. Perhaps today is the marking of all those unmarked endings - the dolls, toy trucks and goldfish.

Let us also mark today as the beginning of the highest influence of those who have nurtured us and that which we have overcome.

My mother has been the best teacher I ever could have asked for. My entire life, she’s said to me, “Rachel…don’t forget who’s you are!” as I went off for a sleepover or birthday party. 

My mother did not just mean, don’t forget you’re my daughter.  She also meant: Don’t forget Go. Don’t forget your values. Don’t forget your history and don’t forget me.

We may find the very thing we are sad to be leaving is exactly what we will not leave without.

Today the past is brought fully into the present, as we allow the moments which we have enjoyed, the hardships which we have conquered and those whom have loved us and we have loved, to continue to influence not only who we are, but who we will become.

About the author:

            This is Rachel Hamilton’s address to her fellow Royal Academy graduates at the commencement exercises in June, 2006. She is attending Anna Maria College in Paxton, MA, where she won scholarships, and is studying musical performance/pedagogy.