Good afternoon and welcome, family, friends, and my fellow classmates. My name is Isabelle Harris and I am the senior class president. Congratulations to the class of 2014. We made it!
Thinking back on our past 13 years in ACPS, a lot has happened in the world. In kindergarten, we experienced an American tragedy on 9/11. Even though this event happened during our first week of school, we did not let the sadness overshadow our willingness to learn. We the class of 2014 have also experienced the beginning and end of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have witnessed President Barack Obama’s two terms as the first African American president of the United States. We watched Michael Phelps shatter Olympic records by earning the most gold medals in the history of the games. And social media has exploded. Think about it. While we have attended school in ACPS, the iPhone, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram were all invented and revolutionized the way we communicate with one another.
As the world evolves, so do we. At T.C. Williams, we represent the change that is happening in the world on a smaller scale. We are one of the largest graduating classes in the history of our high school, and as a school, we represent over 80 countries and speak over 60 languages. This year, we administered 1,977 AP exams, which is the most ever taken at T.C. Our class has completed 3,001 college applications and with the support of the city of Alexandria, parents, and teachers, our students have collectively earned over $1,000,000 in scholarships.
T.C. Williams has fostered growth in us as individuals, and it is here that I have met remarkable people who have positively changed my life. To name just a few … Sam Davies will be attending Princeton this fall. Dagim Girma, also known as creator of the Audible, received $200,000 from a national entrepreneurship competition. And last but certainly not least, Erin Williams was a special friend of ours who is no longer with us; but if she was here, I am certain she would be attending the most prestigious fashion school in New York City.
It is the individuality and diversity at T.C. that has made my experience so unique. As a result, I have learned so much from each of you. Thank you for allowing me to be your class president and more important, thank you for changing me for the better. As this chapter of our lives comes to an end, I know that each of us will carry our own piece of TC as we continue on our journey.