Members of Thomas Edison High School’s class of 2007 celebrated the completion of their high school careers with a commencement ceremony at DAR Constitutional Hall Friday afternoon, June 15.
In her graduation address, honor graduate Mende Jo Wentzel encouraged her classmates to always give back to those around them.
"During my four years at Edison, I’ve come to discover that we are not alone," said Wentzel, noting that she and her fellow graduates had depended upon each other and on teachers and parents. "As impressive as your achievements may be, you did not earn your success alone," she said.
She noted that people do not always lend a hand when they should, as she recalled her first day at the school, when she showed up wearing bright plaid pants. "I went home in tears that day, after of group of giggling girls turned me away from their lunch table," she said.
However, Wentzel said, she had also seen "exceptional acts of service" at the school, including blood drives, toy drives and fund raisers for victims of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia.
"You have already shown your commitment to the world around you," she told her classmates, noting that success "is determined by the impact you leave on this world." She encouraged them to put aside personal desires and give priority to the needs of others.
"You can laugh at the kid in the plaid pants or you can invite her to sit at the lunch table," Wentzel said. "As you leave to tackle the world today, remember your eagle pride and your kindergarten lessons. And take your success and share it."
Browyn Flores said the graduates had made many accomplishments, both as individuals and in groups, "but none are as great as today." She recalled beating the last senior class in the powder puff game and strong seasons for the football team this year and for the girls’ basketball team over the past two years.
However, graduation, she said was an individual accomplishment. Flores advised her classmates, "Don’t worry about what other groups are doing, but finish strong as an individual."
Keynote speaker Del. Mark Sickles (D-43) recalled memories of the graduates’ high school years and encouraged them to participate in public life in the years to come.
"As you may have heard from your parents, the years go faster as you get older," he said. "Before you know it, you’ll be in charge."
SICKLES NOTED that the class was leaving the school with a new Eddie the Eagle mascot. He also pointed out that this had been the first class at the school to pass the SOLs in all four, subject areas. Sickle said that the class had "only six serious incidents and 15 fights" in its four years, "so we’ve got a little way to go."
He encouraged the graduates to become active citizens and to consider becoming public servants. He also asked that they return to Fairfax County. "We need you in public life because we have many hard problems we need to work on," he said, and he noted that he would like the graduates to "at least think about full-time public service," whether that was serving as a politician, a police officer or an EMT.
"Whatever you do," he said, "I would sure like to hear from you. Please let me know what you’re doing."
"You are really my first senior class," said Principal Gregory Croghan, noting that the graduates’ first year at the school was also his first year. "I’ve enjoyed every bit of it, the highs and the lows, and I can’t think of a better group of kids to have as my first senior class, so thank you very much," he said.