Valedictorian Draws Inspiration From Superheroes

Kurt Wasserman delivered a valedictory address at the Below is the full text of his speech.

Good afternoon, and congratulations, Class of 2012! To be sitting on these chairs at Caramoor today demonstrates that we have survived four years of classes, sports, and extracurricular activities. Our diverse successes are now celebrated collectively. Enjoy today because it belongs to you!

We all grew up in an age when superheroes were part of our culture. Not only did we have the heroes of our parents’ time, such as Batman, Spiderman, and Superman, but we were also introduced to some of our own. When we were 10, it was The Incredibles, a family of “Supers” who defeat a robot on a distant island; when we were 11, it was Sharkboy and Lavagirl who help bring peace to a dream world; when we were 14, it was Hancock whose behavior transforms from rash to refined. As children, we wanted to be these people.

Now, we understand that we don’t have super strength like the Incredible Hulk
or super speed like the Flash, nor do we have the ability to stick to walls like Spiderman or tremendous wealth to buy expensive gadgets like Batman. There are, however, many super qualities that apply to each one of us. The superhero fantasy was originally one that thrilled, and now, it serves as a continuous force of inspiration. Superhero parallels encourage us to aspire to greatness and leadership and to protect what we care about.

A superhero can be defined as someone with super abilities that are used to
triumph over obstacles. On the surface, we may be Bruce Wayne or Peter Parker, but inside, there is something more powerful. We have overcome a task that many individuals in this world will not. For Batman in Gotham City, this challenge was the Joker, for Superman in Metropolis, it was Lex Luther, and for us in Bedford, it was the pressure to make it through high school and to graduate successfully.

We grew from the awkward freshman we were when we first entered the building in September 2008. At that time, the first panel in our comic book, many of us were unsure of ourselves and of our powers. BOOM! At a later panel in our book, we are more comfortable and willing to take advantage of clubs, sports and work opportunities.

CLASH! And at the current panel in our book, we are brought here today. POW! The transition may have seemed to take place at lightening speed, but each student here has worked for more than 4,740 hours to become that new hero represented only a few inches away from the first in the comic book.

We were able to do so much in four years without a cape or tights; we utilized an average set of tools and put them to use in an extraordinary way. I know that each of us has a power that distinguishes him or her from the rest of the class. Together, we have seeds of greatness, and we haven’t even realized all of our potential; we are still maturing and finding our strengths.

In many stories, a superhero has a base from which they carry out their
operations. Many of them also have a stable past where morality is formed and values are instilled. Superman was raised in small town in Kansas, and Spiderman had a seemingly average childhood as he grew up with his aunt and uncle. Over the past years, the Pound Ridge, Bedford, Mt. Kisco, and Bedford Hills consortium has become our headquarters; it was our Kansas cornfield. Most of us appreciate and protect where we live.

The Bedford Deli is where we go during double frees, Frannies is where we enjoy frozen yogurt after school, and the Mt. Kisco movie theater is where we watch recent films. From this solid foundation, we will now expand further, and perhaps, we will leave our marks in all corners of the world. Always know that you have a Batcave here where the area code is 914.

Every superhero story has a few more parts. There is always something that
seems to make the hero’s task worthwhile. Commonly, this is a pretty girl that the superheroes meet by the end of their stories. Our stories are still being made; however, our intermediate reward from this four-year challenge is a sense of preparation for the future. For some, this may mean gained confidence in abilities. For others, it may be lasting friendships and bonds between classmates. This is only the beginning of our journey, and we will continue to take back more as we progress forward.

Most superheroes also receive advice from their associates. For instance,
Batman’s wisdom stems from an elderly caretaker named Alfred. Compared to Batman, Alfred appears to be powerless, but the underlying reality is that he is the one responsible for Batman’s achievements. With this, I want to stress the importance of being attentive to the entire world around you. You never know when or from whom you will learn, but you must be open to receiving new knowledge to grow and to become a stronger person.

As you grow stronger, avoid being overconfident in your abilities for you risk
overlooking new sources of wisdom. Every good superhero would not have been successful without their fellow heroes, teachers, accomplices, and sidekicks. My network here in Bedford has grown so strong, and my accomplishments would not have been possible without it! I know that
I have had many partners in crime over the past years. Haven’t we all had these people who have helped us pass over the bumps in the road?

For me, the bonds that I created with so many of the students and teachers in the audience will never be forgotten. Looking out on the class brings unique memories that I have shared with many. Everyone has honestly made me feel so welcome across the school.

I would like to specifically thank my dad, mom, sister, Raquel, Grandpa and
aunts, all of whom came to be with me on this special day. Your invaluable support and encouragement has helped me become who I am. Finally, I would like to thank the entire class of 2012, the Justice League that I will never forget. We don’t know our story endings, our conquest over archenemies,
or the magnitude of our powers. It is clear, however, that each of us will continue to be amazing in our respective fields of study and choices of career. We will open our hearts and minds as humanitarians with a vision for the greater good.

As Buzz Lightyear always says, we will go “to infinity and beyond!”