| Academy Prep in the News | ||
| From the site's "What's New?" page | ||
| May 2004 | ||
| Andrew
Williams Academy Prep's First Graduating Class - 2000 Graduation Speech, May 18th, 2004 Andrew Williams Addresses the 2004 Graduating Class As I look at all of you, the class of 2004, I cannot help but see myself. Four years ago, I sat in those very seats, and as you will do, walked across this very stage to accept my diploma, and left those doors an Academy Prep graduate, "The First Class". On that day the Class of 2000 was given a great responsibility; we made a solemn promise to pave the way for future Academy Prep graduates and to preserve that path for the journey that you will now be embarking on. You will be leaving this school, this family, as Academy Prep graduates and moving on to a strange and unfamiliar place. You are departing with the blessings, the love, care, and hopes of your teachers, trustees, fellow alumni, and underclassmen, as they will wait anxiously for their turn to follow in your footsteps. You will become trailblazers, pioneers, and one of you one day will be asked to come back and give the same speech I have been asked to give to you today. Like those that have come before you, on this day you will leave with a responsibility and a newborn sense of pride, joy, and sadness as you go forward into a new and unfamiliar world. Four years ago, as I arrived at St. Andrews School in Middletown, Delaware I was filled with anxiety, anticipation, excitement and fear. I had no idea what was ahead of me. I could net foresee the things I would experience, the places I would visit, and the lifelong friends I would make. I stand before you today sad because in less than two weeks, the St. Andrews Class of 2004 will be leaving our friends and St. Andrews family to begin a new journey - as we enter into colleges and universities across the country. Like you, I do not know what the future holds but I step out with faith. I do know that I have Academy Prep to thank. When you enrolled at Academy Prep, you became part of a permanent family. Academy Prep has given you all the tools you need, a sense of community, determination, maturity, love and a wealth of knowledge. Now you must learn to apply these tools, and become active and engaged citizens of the world, and vital contributors; so that you may one day be able to give back, to your community and to this school that has given us all so much. So I come before you today to wish you all the best, to encourage you to embrace the world you will enter, to build your own legacy as you proceed as "the first class of both boys and girls", and to let you know as I have learned that Academy Prep will always be here for you. I give my congratulations to the class of 2004. |
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