Good evening, Class of 2021, family and friends, both here and at home. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible, and a very special thanks to the graduates, who have worked so hard to get here, including melting in the swampy heat on Monday for graduation rehearsal just hours before their prom. They are the reason we are all here today. It is an honor to address you as you close this important chapter of your life. 

As I thought about what to say today, thousands of memories of your four years in high school flooded my mind and I did not know where to begin.

But then I saw Millie's senior thesis, “2021 as 92 frogs,” where she so lovingly and accurately portrayed every member of the Class of 2021 as a frog. It was so sweet, hilarious, and touching. It filled me with hope. And I was like, this is it: we start with a gesture of love. This is how the world becomes a kinder place and influential people use their power for good. With frogs. Thank you for the inspiration, Millie.

You may remember you had a dean before I became your Dean, Ms. Evanoff, and that we both addressed the class at the end of your freshman year, at the Moving Up ceremony in the Chapel. Ms. Evanoff talked about what a powerful class you were and how we could see that when you were just freshmen. Her parting wish was that you would use your power for good. I never forgot that; I thought it was such a crucial message. I hoped with all of my heart that I would fill her shoes over the next three years and guide you successfully to this very day. 

I saw your potential as a class and as individuals immediately. I wanted to be your dean so much. My hope was to instill in you three core values to live by that I believe mean you have used your power for good. Those three core values are: 

Number 1: Be Kind
Number 2: Be Kind
Number 3: Be Kind

Of all the life lessons I have learned that I could impart, I found kindness to be at the root of them all. 

I debated whether I wanted to bring up my father in this speech today. I didn't want to make it about me and I worried I have talked about him too much already over the years. But, ultimately, a speech from me is not complete unless I mention my father, especially if I am talking about kindness. He was my guiding light and, over the past three years, when I didn't know what to do as your dean at any given moment, I stopped, closed my eyes, and channeled my kind, loving dad. Be kind, he would say. Everything else will fall into place. An excessive optimist, he was known for saying that the glass wasn't just half full, the other half was also full, full of potential! So when I had to give you detention for talking during fire drills and you kind of hated me for a few days, or when I kept drilling this kindness message in graderoom and you rolled your eyes, I said to myself, don't dwell on what's hard, just focus on the potential.

Parents and families, I want you to know that you raised really loving, kind children with boundless potential. 

Class of 2021, I know you have had your doubts about each other and yourselves at times, but rest assured: each and every one of you is capable of genuine kindness. 

It takes intention to use one's power for good and kindness is a choice.

I have seen you all live up to that challenge. 

There were the big moments, like the walkout and rally against gun violence in 2018, which our very own Abe took part in organizing, a leader already as a sophomore. Khaja spoke so beautifully that day to a crowd of hundreds, inspiring so many people to take action. I remember standing in the crowd with other teachers, beaming with pride. 

There were smaller moments, like Tony taking over as DJ in our weird zoom worlds and the entire class showing him our full support. Or Frayda bringing us joy at every Chapel this year. 

I also saw you all recognize the impact of kindness during our international symposium trips. We were the guinea pigs, and it was hard -- Sara found a tarantula in her shoe as well as her Jungle Sara self, Alex learned three words of Spanish in ten days-- but I know we all cherish those trips because they taught us that the unwavering kindness of others, the kind that expects nothing in return, can make us better people with much bigger hearts.  

And then there was prom the other day, right here. Against all the odds, a pandemic, a DJ that couldn’t make it, a backup DJ that didn’t have all the necessary equipment, me, your own Dzegs, turning into DJ Crumbcake, until my phone also broke, there were ten minutes of no music but everyone remained calm, and then Crys and Zoe found a way to bring the music back, there was no ice, and then there was too much ice and nowhere to put it, and it was so hot and humid that no one’s deodorant was working anymore-- I mean, literally everything that could’ve gone wrong went wrong, and still, still we had So. Much. Fun. Daniel and I looked at each other, we were twinning in pink, and we said, “this is such a good vibe!” and it was. It turned out to be the pandemic prom of our dreams and I am certain we will never forget it. 

I asked you several times over the years to think about who you wanted to be on this day, individually and as a class, as you collected your diplomas. 

Take a moment now to look around you. Squeeze the hands of the people you are sitting next to. Take it in. Who are you today? How did you get here? And take a moment to think of one thing you are grateful for. 

The chapters of your life so far have been at times written entirely by other people. Your family, teachers, and other important people in your lives have done a lot of the writing. This past year, as a senior, you had more of a say in what happens next. You were the lead author, though you still had plenty of help and support and, dare I say, meddling. And you’ll always have that help and support and meddling. We are always here for you and we cannot wait to see how your lives unfold. 

But now the pen is in your hands. 

It has been my life’s greatest honor to be your dean, my sweet “Dzegees,” and it is now my greatest privilege to write the final lines of our chapter together: 

The Class of 2021 used their power for good, and they lived kindly ever after.