Hegglin: Go Outside Your Comfort Zone

Good Evening and Congratulations class of 2011!!!

We should be really proud of ourselves for having accomplished something that 3 million other kids across the country already have this year, graduating from high school. But we are not 3 million random kids, we are merely 320 unique individuals that make up the awesome and multitalented class of 2011.

We have amazing athletes, dancers, actors, scholars, artists, volunteers, and just overall excellent people. Really though, one of the things that makes Fox Lane High School so great is that we have students from all walks of life.

I have had kids in my classes that were born and raised right here in Westchester and have never left the country, to students who just immigrated recently with their families.

Growing up in a home where we moved often when I was young, I learned to love traveling and meeting different people. One of the most exciting parts for me next year in college, and I’m sure some of you share the same thought, will be meeting new people and being part of a community that appreciates diverse backgrounds, cultures, and styles.

Some of us may be taking a big step by leaving Westchester for the first time, some of us have already traveled far and wide, but I encourage all of us to explore the world and go out of your comfort zone. Textbooks can never truly capture the essence of a culture. Experiencing a culture first hand is the only real way of learning anything about it and then making sure it sticks in your mind even after the Regent’s exam.

If you look at a globe, it’s amazing how far away things appear, yet how small our world really is. I think our school is proof that no matter where on the globe we come from, we are all really the same. I mean we all had the exact same struggle this past week of coming up with a spectacular outfit that would look great underneath these lovely robes.

But with technology reaching virtually every corner of the world today, students from all over have to deal with friends, teachers, homework, music, and clothes similar to the way we do. Unfortunately though, not all students get the opportunity to finish high school and pursue higher education. I think it’s important that on this day of celebration we also recognize how blessed we are to have gone to a school that supports and encourages every one of its students like Fox Lane High School has.

Anyways, I really enjoyed being at Fox Lane High School these past four years. I mean we can all think of a time when our teacher did something funny that made us laugh or gave an interesting lecture that actually kept our attention. Seriously, our school is great and we should all be proud of ourselves for having navigated our halls successfully. Our teachers, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are really proud of us today. In fact, if there was ever a good moment to ask for money, a new phone or a TV for your dorm, this would probably be the best time to do so.

But while some of us are celebrating the fact that we will never have to hand in another essay in high school again, most of us are celebrating the opportunity to go away to college and learn new things in the fall. You know we never really stop learning. So long as the world keeps changing there are new things to be discovered at any age.

Kids do not stop learning when they come home from school, they learn from rolling in the mud and playing in the snow. Nor do we now stop learning once we graduate today. We will learn tomorrow what’s it’s like to finally wake up and not have to worry about high school. We will soon learn what it really means to be a college student. I mean just a few years ago my grandmother learned the very important lesson of how to use a cell phone. A few months ago my mom learned how to text.

So I encourage everyone in the crowd to keep learning from the things that surround us, because we might just be surprised at what we find. Don’t be ashamed of exploring new things and being smart, as I know all of us to be. Never apologize for asking a thoughtful question, and never pretend to be less than you are.
My parents taught me that lesson early on and I always thank my parents for supporting me. Today, I also want to thank my friends and family, those that could and couldn’t be here today.

And before I forget, I would also like to thank my twin sister Carmen sitting down there somewhere. Please officially note, that I have publically acknowledged you in my speech, so you can’t get mad at me later, and my brother Oli too! 

Also for the Spanish speakers in the crowd, and I know that there are a few of you with us today: os quiero decir que es un honor estar aquí hoy dando este discurso. Agradezco mucho a los maestros y la facultad que nos han ayudado estos últimos 4 años. Todos los estudiantes que están aquí hoy deben sentirse muy orgullosos.

And for my aunt and uncle who came all the way from Switzerland to be here today: Ich wollte sagen dass ich sehr froh bin das ihr hier seit. Und das ich nicht warten kann euch diesen sommer zu besuchen.

Tto sum up the best bits of advice I can think of, these are the main things that I think are important: Have fun this summer, learn something useful in college, don’t embarrass your family, and always remember Fox Lane!!!!

Thank you.