The days of "historic food fights and dramatic plot twists" have come to a "storied ending" for McLean High School's class of 2005, said Class President Abeer Desai during their graduation ceremony.
The graduates were reminded to laugh their way through life and enjoy whatever comes their way.
"Let's play a game that teaches you about life," said guest speaker Tom Shadyac, director of the "Ace Ventura" movies and "Liar Liar," all starring Jim Carrey. "The game is called 'Fact or Crap.' You will play this game for the rest of your life because it's up to you to figure out what is fact and what isn't in your life," he said.
Apprehensive teachers looked on as Shadyac continued in this vein, asking students whether such statements as 'Image is Everything' were true or plainly heresy.
"Sadly, that one's a fact, but it shouldn't be," he said. "Our culture has become obsessed with appearance. We lean heavily on how we look, but it's a lie we teach. What's inside you is so much more important."
He told the students to remember to thank their parents and friends, but the future is up to them and their decisions. "You need to live your life and do what makes you happy, what's right for you. There's a divine spark in each and every one of you, and you need to find it," he said.
Having the courage to address fears and finding success continued to be a theme in the speech of Margaret Roflfing, one of two students who addressed the class.
"Each of us has had a unique experience at McLean High School. We have all faced fears and struggles," she said. "When we started high school, just before 9/11, we saw and felt fear everywhere we looked and it only got worse, with the anthrax scares, snipers and terrorists. We learned to support ourselves and our families. Fear should never blind us or change how we live our lives."
The location of the school provided the chance to meet students and friends from cultures and nations around the world, said senior Ian Tendick.
"I hope that at least we've gained a sense of respect for other nationalities and a sense of tolerance for other cultures," he said. "If you have, congratulations. You're one step ahead of some of our leaders. We are entering a dark time in our world. Our nation has been riding a wave of intimidation, and people have become so adherent to their point of view that they cannot look past it to see the beliefs of others."
Being able to compromise with others is a great sign of strength, Tendick said. "One can stand resolute in his or her own opinions and still tolerate and respect other viewpoints. Never think in terms of absolutes."