May 26, 2007

Commencement Remarks
by Richard Smith P'00,04,05,07

photo by Bob Falcetti

Congratulations Class of 2007. Well done!

I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to share some thoughts with you about what the Taft experience has meant to me, my wife, Charlotte, and my four children.

But first, I would like to stop for a second and have each of you think for a moment about how Taft entered your life. What was it that brought you here? What was it about Taft that attracted you?

Let me share with you how I ended up here. My first introduction to Taft was with my eldest daughter, Emily, in October 1995 when most of the Class of 2007 was only about six or seven or eight years old. Emily and I were spending a few days visiting some of the finest secondary schools in the world. They were all amazing, but for both of us Taft stood out. There was a spirit, a sense of community, a sense of warmth in the corridor. We couldn’t then quite grasp why, but both knew this was a special place.

And so, Emily attended as did Nick, Alastair and Penelope in succession. Each always diligently evaluated multiple other institutions and each for their own special reasons decided that Taft was right for them. And fortunately, courtesy of Ferdie, Frew and others on the admissions team, each was offered the opportunity to join the Taft family.

Now, our eleven straight years of nearly weekly visits travelling the 150 miles between our home and Taft for sporting events, concerts, parents’ weekends, college guidance or even just a meal are coming to a close. Taft has been so much a part of our family for so long, it’s just hard to believe that here we are at Penelope’s graduation.

So, what has Taft meant to us?

Well, let me answer that by first asking you, the graduates, the Class of 2007, to think about what Taft has meant for you? As you sit there thinking about your time here, what sticks out? Foremost, I would guess would be all the people you have come to know – and not just your friends and classmates, but everyone else here that makes up the Taft family. Do you think of the roommates you have had? How about your advisor? How have the relationships you have formed here shaped your life?

Think back to the beginning of Senior year to Super Sunday and everyone covered in pies, eggs, Crisco, paint and who knows what reflecting just how much fun it was and screaming “Oh Seven’ while Mr. Frew shot the first picture of the class all together. Think back even further to this day last year and all the glee of just becoming seniors at the Hawaiian dance.

Do you think of Joseph Secor-Tadia’s piercing laugh, Dan the Mountain Man and his beard, Andrew Parks’ antics, or the incredible painting and drawing of Esther or Austin or Helen Gavin. Maybe it’s the latest fashion statement by Eve or that video by Kacey or Grace that became your acting debut. Perhaps the unique photographic images created by Bianca or Macie or Nate come to mind? Or maybe you just think about Petri, Ned and Kristin as members of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s red-headed league.

Do you think of Dayglow with Sam, Will, Nate and “Tina” jamming along at one of their many coffeehouse performances? What about the phenomenal music of Eric Kim who only took up piano when he arrived at Taft a few years ago or the singing of Jenay, Penelope or others. What about one of the many Collegium concerts, or for those of you in Collegium, the trips to Italy, Spain and San Francisco of the last few years? How about Steve Sclar and his songs or Billy Lovotti who is destined for greatness with his guitar. If not Collegium, perhaps it was the Jazz Band that you traveled with, or you went with Orphanage Outreach to the Dominican Republic, or you may have even flown to the Southern Hemisphere to learn more about South Africa.
Is it special for you that the class is a veritable United Nations with Liliana from Botswana, Khoa from Vietnam, Kit from Lebanon, Connor from Kuwait, HK and Esther from South Korea, Flora from Hungary, Jennifer and Lee from Taiwan, Risa and Marina from Japan, Adrienne and Wilson from Hong Kong, Alisha from India, Sarah and Deni from the Bahamas, Fronda from England, Pong, Oat and Pongsak from Thailand and Alex from Singapore, not to mention when you include the rest of the school another nine countries and 33 states besides Connecticut.

What about the writers in the class whether for Red Inc., the Pap, or the Free Press those like Jacque, Dave Player, and Jen Mediros? Or, community service leaders Kara and Furman. Or powerhouse minds like Rob Parisot and HK or chess fanatics like Gordon and Rigel.

Think back to the second “Senior Picture” that came at another memorable moment: Martin Luther King Day after you had just dined all together as a class in the lower dining hall. Think about the last sit-down just a few days ago and the new females that joined the class and strutted around the dining hall in short dresses and high heals: Austin, Joseph, Eli, Sam and Yeager to name only a few.

And I really haven’t mentioned athletes such as the amazing “ballers” AJ, George, Matt, Tim and Captain Thomas or others like Brian Curran, Alisha, Brendan Reich, Sweeney, Gus, Heidi, Jeremy, Meta, Teal, Mckay, Katie, Afolabi, Abby,  Emily, Petri and many, many others. Or, Snik making another incredible save as she led girls’ hockey to another win; or “Margo” doing the same for boys’ hockey. Were you perhaps an avid pre-study hall softball league member of the Space Antelopes, Wet Bandits, CPT Bombers or Spare Change?

Maybe you look back and think of the hilarious theatrical moments from the play Cara directed for her ISP and from “Black Comedy” this winter, or perhaps what sticks out in your mind is belting songs with Mr. Reiff in “Titanic” during the fall.

Perhaps you’ll never forget the obsession the grade has with Harry Potter, because who could forget the trivia showdown between Fertig and Caitlin? You’ve had people go to the Island School, like Toni and Yeager. Tyler Perry and Avery Chaplin lived in China all of last year and Emma, Anna, and Sara spent a year abroad in France.

Think of Furman’s highly original style, or the ridiculous chants of “Player” or “Mitch”, maybe you’ll wonder about the hidden talents of the grade such as the voices of Jeremy and Nate, or Charlie Mitchell’s race car driving?

Yours is a class with the big such as Nkem and Mike McCabe and shall we say the less big, Dante, Lizzie and Kristen Stonehill. But no matter what size you are, what nationality, what your passion, you are a special class, a unique group, a special family. You supported each other in innumerable ways. You were sensible and mature making sure that not a single member of your class this year had to be asked to leave. And, of course, 2007 is the last class to have experienced four years of the “Scene.”

Finally, think of two days ago when the third and last class picture was taken and how far you have come since the chaos and rowdiness of the photo taken on Super Sunday last September.

So yes, 2007, yours is a unique class, but remember you are surrounded by a special environment with educators, coaches, advisors, dorm heads, college counselors, physical trainers, staff and so many who dedicate their entire lives with all their hearts to enriching your life here in this community.

Now, as you prepare to leave the words of that great baseball sage, Yogi Berra, come to mind: “You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you are going, because you might not get there.”

Well, I have eleven words for you to remember to help you on your way.

First, honesty. Continue to make honesty, truthfulness and integrity the bedrock of everything you do. These, along with perseverance and self-reliance, are the heart of character. You will never, ever, ever regret it.

Second, openness. Always be yourself; be forthright; be receptive to change. Most people don’t fully understand Darwin on the survival of the species. While he did write that “the fittest win out at the expense of their rivals,” more importantly he wrote: “It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”

Third, respect. Always do your best to earn the respect of others. Respect everyone, but particularly those less fortunate than you.

Fourth, appreciate diversity. If knowledge is power, diversity is strength. Just as any financial portfolio is stronger through diversity and as James Surowiecki points out in his recent book, The Wisdom of Crowds, any decision is better made with a well chosen, diverse group, be sure to make diversity a part of your life. Does not Taft gain so much from diversity? Have not you, has not your class benefited from its diversity?

Fifth, courage. Be thoughtful, not reckless in taking risks. Always have the courage to do what is right, not what is easy. But push the envelope; challenge yourself and those around you. As TS Eliot said, “Only those who take the risk of going too far, find out how far they can go.”

Sixth, excellence. Set a standard of excellence for yourself and make up your mind to live to that standard. As the great football coach Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Strive for excellence in all you do.

Seventh, dedication to service. If there is anything inculcated in a Taft student, it is the concept of service to others. It is in giving that we receive. You will have more happiness in your life through service to others than anything else. As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Or think of your everyday actions the way Ettiene De Grellet said, “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Eighth, tenacity. Be determined, resilient and engaged. You will not have anything like the support infrastructure in college that you have had here at Taft. You will have to be much more self-reliant. But take advantage of your new opportunities to be engaged and in the fray. I think Teddy Roosevelt said it best. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, as least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” With all your talents and with all your opportunities you will surely know more triumphs than failures if you are tenacious in achieving your goals.

Ninth, attitude. How you approach issues, problems and life is as important as what you actually do. Don’t have an attitude, have the right attitude. Your attitude is your choice; it can’t be forced on you. Wake up every morning ready to make a difference. But also know that there isn’t a moment to lose. Most of the time, you don’t get a second chance. So, make every effort your best effort. Don’t let the daily opportunities to do the right thing in so many small ways slip through your fingers.

Tenth, family. We all have our parents and perhaps brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, but the Taft community is your family too, a family you can rely on and you will forever be a part of that family.

Finally, trust. Trust others and they will trust you. Hard to earn and easily lost forever, earning trust should be part of your very essence.

There are many other words and thoughts and quotes I could share, but let me leave it at that.
So, Class of 2007 I hope as you head off on your many different paths today you will remember these eleven words and I’ve even made it easy because all you have to do is take the first letter of honor, openness, respect, appreciation, character, excellence, dedication, tenacity, attitude, family and trust to come up with the name of a very special person we all owe a great debt of gratitude to. And it is? Horace D Taft.

In closing, let me tell you what Taft has meant to me, Charlotte and Emily, Nicholas, Alastair and Penelope. It has meant the opportunity to participate and share in a most special family. Charlotte and I entrusted the care and nurturing of the mind, soul and body of our most precious treasure, our four children, to this institution, this family. And what we have found is not just a magnificent education in so many ways in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the concert hall, in the dorm and elsewhere, but truly a wonderful spirit, and love and caring as deep as one finds in any family. We feel humbled to be so fortunate. So, to all you seniors, you the Class of 2007 treasure this, your Taft family, go out and achieve greatness through service and always know you will be welcomed back here because families are bonded forever.
Thank you.