Ella Zomber ’19:
More seniors should give senior speeches, as often they can be eye- opening for the entire Episcopal community. The lack of senior speeches this year has been discouraging, and many juniors and sophomores have noticed. Senior speeches are something most of us look forward to hearing and eventually sharing. Often, the speeches can impact students’ experience throughout high school.
One senior speech that had a considerable impact on me was given by Sarah Barr ‘16. She spoke about her experience with sexual abuse, and although I have never had a similar experience, I thought it was incredibly courageous of her to share her story in front of the entire Upper School. It reminded me of the far too truthful cliché, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”
Every time a speech like that is given, I am reminded that how I behave could impact someone and that everyone has something that they are going through that they may be afraid to share.
With the lack of senior speeches this year, underclassmen are missing this opportunity to learn from their peers.
Senior speeches also serve as community unifiers. Lindsay Walling ‘19 reflects, “Hearing the experiences of so many different seniors as freshmen allowed us as individuals to find someone or some experience to identify [with]. Knowing that the speaker overcame their personal obstacles and was now looking forward to graduation and college was reassuring.”
The seniors that have spoken this year have done so in a manner that truly affected the student body. Schuyler Kresge ‘18, who shared his senior speech this past fall, stated, “I just felt it was my responsibility to share my story, honestly.” Just like this, it is the responsibility of seniors to pass lessons onto the younger classes. Members of vestry share that seniors this year have had the opportunity to speak yet have not taken it; Vestry Member Scottie Crockett ‘19 states, “Reverend Tim has given a generous deadline of “simply submitted before Spring Break.”
Not only do senior speeches impact the underclassmen, they can also help seniors express themselves and reflect. Chapel is a space so distinctive to our school in that it offers students the unique chance to give a personal statement on virtually any issue in front of their peers, teachers, and family. This is something that one may not have the ability to do later in life. It would be a shame not to capitalize on the opportunity. With this, I urge the Class of 2018 to speak in chapel before they graduate and consequently better themselves and the EA community as a whole.