May 26, 2007

Commencement Remarks
by Emily Neilson '07

photo by Bob Falcetti

To begin, I would like to say some thank-you's. I would like to thank the members of the faculty for their time, their feeds, their extra help sessions, their coaching, their advising, their teaching, their dedication, and their inspiration. Without your guidance, I can say with affirmation that you have in some way, and in probably every way, touched the lives of those sitting before me.

Second, I would like to thank the parents for sending your children off to ostensibly grow to adult-hood, or close to it, for your support, and for your trust in Taft.

I am honored to stand before you, Class of 2007. I’m not going to impress upon you every moment of significance or insignificance that made my Taft experience, nor am I going to give you a speech that is frosted with frivolity. On behalf of you, my fellow classmates, I wish to endow you with the realization of where we are in our lives, and the empowerment that stems from it.

Roger Fry once wrote in a letter to Virginia Woolf, “Some people … always look for some meaning that can be attached to the values of actual life. They always hope to translate a work of art into terms of ideas in which they are familiar. Nonetheless, in proportion as an artist is pure he is opposed to symbolism.” We, the class of 2007, are artwork in our own accord. Taft has left an indelible mark on each and every one of us – whether we like it or not. We are Tafties. We have had the privilege of laughing and crying and growing and thinking within these brick walls.

We have probably had innumerable moments of being weirdos, too – whether it was at Dress to Impress, or in listening to JoJo in the Jig, or playing in Centen Quad, or acting in Bingham, or running down the halls in the dorm. While it has been high school, complete with the good and the bad and the embarrassing, it has also been Taft – with many avenues of support and encouragement, with many examples of inspiration and passion, with many instances of risk and failure. While we sit in these navy gowns, soon we will be handed our diplomas and walk through that Centennial Arch, to a whole new place.

It is commencement, in every sense of the word – the beginning of a new chapter, the end of an old one.
It’s scary. I’m sure our parents are nervous – to let their children into the real world: a place, that we all have heard is a dog-eat-dog world: a place that is evermore competitive and infinitely less forgiving, and perhaps worse, infinitely less caring. We venture into the unfamiliar – one upon which we cannot pin any comfortable Taft term to: no walk-backs, no scene, no Jig, no Hotchkiss day. Likewise, I do not want to insinuate that there exists no fun in where we are going, but instead suspect that we must be courageous and passionate nonetheless.

Yes, Taft has been a nursery to us of sorts. But, the time has come to finally leave the nursery. Before you leave, I hope that you take with you two things: passion and affiliation. Without these, none of us can hope to find true happiness. A very wise person once said one very late night to invest in what you love and whom you love, and that is all that matters. I hope that in ten years, I can see that each of you has been true to your own passions – maybe you will be politician, a professional athlete, a nurse, an actor, an engineer, or maybe a famous writer. Taft may have sparked a passion for you; and for others, I hope that you leave knowing you can be passionate about something.

Our time at Taft has inevitably led to the formation of friendships that will last forever. This brings me to affiliation. The root of affiliation derives from the Latin verb affiliare, to adopt; and to continue, filius in Latin means son, while filia means daughter. We are the sons and daughters of Taft. We are a family – a group of kindred spirits, infinitely connected by this institution that has willingly adopted us. Affiliation affords us the ability to return, in some way, to a place that has been our home. Cherish this kindred connection. Its value is worth more than whatever fame or fortune may come our way.

I hope that you cherish your time spent at Taft: remember the moments of hilarity, of deep thought, of fun. Because before long, we won’t be in Kansas anymore. One can only be proud of the accomplishments that we, the Class of 2007, achieved. So, let us commence. As Led Zeppelin once sang, “And so today, my world it smiles, your hand in mine, we walk the miles.” Peace be the journey.