MHS Senior Speaker Blake Brown Says "Help a Turtle"

The following speech was given by Medfield High School Class of 2013 senior speaker at graduation on June 2, 2013. 

By Senior Speaker Blake Brown (MHS '13)

When winter’s clouds dissolve into blue sky and the sun’s rays gently poke at the Earth, our little town of Medfield comes alive again. A few weeks ago, I drove down Causeway Street towards the Charles River with the windows rolled down and my dog in the passenger seat. Her ears flopped in the wind as her nose tried to absorb all of the new scents that the change of seasons welcomed. As I turned a corner, a turtle tumbled into the street, directly in front of my car. I quickly got out and approached the turtle, which lay upside down on its shell. Picking it up from the pavement, I walked down to the river’s marsh and placed the turtle in a safe spot. As I stepped back and stood watching the turtle, it struggled down the slope toward the water, unable to muster the strength to cover the distance. I reluctantly walked back toward my car and drove away, looking in my rearview mirror at the turtle lying in the marsh. But as I drove further down the street, the view of the turtle faded and I could only drive forward, wondering what may happen to the turtle. His fate was uncertain. 

But both on that day as I glanced back and didn’t see the turtle, and today, as we glance back at four years at Medfield High School and toward the uncertain future, we can be confident that we will continue to make an impact within our communities and the world because of our legacy of excellence that will forever remain unique to the Class of 2013.

On the uncertain road ahead, we have 239 reasons to be confident. We can be confident of the future because we have memories of victory. We have memories of girls’ volleyball, girls’ and boys’ lacrosse and soccer state championships, of Bethany Komine and Billy Jensen attracting record-setting audiences at Seussical the Musical, and of the band, orchestra and chorus programs winning gold awards at national competitions and playing on the world stage.

We can be confident because we are innovative. Innovation emanates from Julia Luft’s illustrations, Emmajane Kanter’s paintings, and Ali Gold’s doodles. It shines from Robert Sylvia’s pencil as he masters a physics theorem, it beats from the bass of Ryan Shelley’s remixed songs, and it proves Jaime Blackmon’s complex, yet cohesive literary thesis. 

We can be confident because we are compassionate like Ashley Campisano, a volunteer for the Samaritans suicide-prevention organization, and Gehrig Schilling, a proponent of Best Buddies and a voice in the autism awareness campaign, or Erin Touhey, founder of Warriors for a Cure. We have a heart for serving others like MaryEllen Krah who traveled to Nicaragua to care for orphans, and like Joey Tella who provided much-needed relief to victims of the earthquake in Haiti. We strive to spread smiles, like Charlie Aversa who can brighten anyone’s day with his wry sense of humor, and like Lilly Beardsley whose infectiously optimistic attitude can cheer up the lowest of spirits.

We can be confident because we are dedicated and self-motivated

• like Brenna Dorgan, who swims an extra lap so she can place first in a national swim competition,
• like Henry Dickinson, who rows early in the morning on the Charles, rain or shine,
• like Olivia Foster, who rehearses her musical numbers until every note is perfect,
• like Dan Cher, who spends an extra hour on the tennis court to improve his serve, and
• like Krista Pinciaro, who recovered from two ACL injuries and returned to soccer as a key player on last year’s state championship team. 

We can be confident because we have each other. Loyalty shines from a hug with a close friend or a wave to a new one; camaraderie fills the locker room before the Homecoming football game and it resonates throughout the gym at Pep Rally. Unity brings the class together on the dance floor at prom and it compels us to invite others to the lunch table. 

Most importantly, we can be confident about the road ahead because of where we come from. Not only does Medfield High School rank among the highest in the nation for student performance and test scores, but we have the most committed and passionate teachers who know no boundaries in fostering intellectual development and imparting life knowledge. The road we’ve traveled is where we’ve learned authentically, wondered profoundly, and explored curiously. It’s where we’ve been challenged, impassioned, and inspired. We can be confident of the road ahead because of the teachers, coaches, advisors, instructors, directors and mentors that have merged paths with our class and enriched us infinitely. 

As you drive off into your future, glance into your rearview mirror and remember that though life is as uncertain as the turtle’s fate, it holds vast possibilities. Always progress forward toward the uncertain future with your distinct Class of 2013 confidence. Your innovation, your passion, your dedication, your loyalty, and our collective identity will lead us all towards personal fulfillment, so embrace your inevitable tumbles along the road. Share your confidence with others; we can’t conquer the road ahead or even predict its turns, but we can certainly pull over to help a turtle.