Good morning.  I’d like to start this morning’s speech by reviewing what we already know about Franklin students.

• We have narrow interests, and we are unbelievably rigid and inflexible.
• We don’t under ANY circumstance understand sarcasm.
• Not only do we know several of Batman’s alter egos and friends, but every one of us has all of their numbers on speed dial, just in case.
• We learn how to deal with issues through “processing.”
• We don’t transition well.
• We don’t like change.

Let’s talk about that last one.  Change.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the only reason any of us came here in the first place was to change, and the only thing we do is change.  Each student in this school has been transformed this year, but not just the students; the faculty and the entire Franklin Community have changed.  We bonded with one another and share experiences with the community that we couldn’t get anywhere else.

For example, I started Franklin in September 2005, Franklin’s 3rd year.  My first quint consisted of about 18 changes to my daily schedule.  Now, in our 6th year, we start with one schedule, and we end with the same one.  Thank you, Tom and Lisa.

The year before coming to Franklin, I spent the first half of the year on my couch, and the second half at a school in Poughkeepsie, NY that was “good enough.”  To give you a taste of “good enough,” at the end of the year, my roommate shook my hand and said, “It was nice to meet you.”

In the summer of 2005, we found Franklin.  We discovered that these students and families had gone through the exact same thing as we had, and the story was all too familiar.  I’m sure most of you know it.
 
There is no doubt in my mind that if I had been anywhere else these past four years, I would not be graduating this year.  There is also no chance in the world that out of 24 students, I would be the one picked to give this speech.

Marianne Williamson, a political activist and author of multiple New York Times Bestsellers once said "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."  We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”  Actually, who are you not to be? […] We are all meant to shine. […] And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. […]”

Seniors, I have watched each of you change tremendously throughout the time we have been here together, and I have seen every one of you take your light, or “narrow interest” and somehow share it with the community.   One of our graduates today spent the better part of this school year researching and developing a huge project purely for the benefit of Franklin Academy, with only a handful of other students.  They also kept it a secret all year.  Another one of us took his interest in graphic novels to the next level; he got a teacher to agree to teach an elective on them, and then got enough interest to fill the class.  The rest of us have also had our victories within the community.  Seniors, I am challenging you today to step it up after you leave here this afternoon.  Be the change. And shine.  Shine more often.

There are so many people here who I want to thank, but I do not have the time to thank you all by name, so I apologize.  Tom and Mary, thank you for allowing me to grow as a student and human being, and develop confidence and social awareness.  Kinsley, Bridget, and Joule, I don’t even know how to thank you three.  You have been through it all with me.  You are far beyond faculty members, mentors, and friends – you are all of those and more.  Gina and Tiffany, you two are the reasons I am up here today, and I would never have completed this year with such success without you two.  The admissions team, thank you for accepting me here.  To my Mom, Dad, and sister Emily, thank you for your unconditional love, and for being here with me every minute of every day and night for my entire life, and for supporting me the whole way without a hesitation or question.  To the entire Franklin community, all my teachers and friends, thank you for teaching me and being willing to learn from me.  Last but not least, class of 2009, thank you for being the class I leave Franklin with.  It is an honor.

Seniors, I urge you – be powerful beyond measure.  Shine.  Take your non-sarcastic rigidity on a new road, wave the flag of your narrow interest so everyone sees who you are and what you know… but don’t be afraid of change.  Strive for it.  Process the change.  Take your narrow interest, and process that too!  The more you understand it and the more you embellish in it, the less you will need to call Batman for help.  And while we’re on the topic of narrow interests, I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite bands.  “Oh, let’s tell the world we’re unheard, we’re unsure, we’re unstop- we’re unstoppable / Oh, let’s tell [them all] to be strong, to be sure, to be heard /we want to be heard.”

Remember that quote – because we all know that when we get to the top of what we love, we will be heard, and we will be unstoppable.  Class of 2009, Franklin Academy, it has been an absolute privilege sharing this time with you.  Thank you, and congratulations.