Commencement 2020


Remarks excerpted from the commencement ceremony for the class of 2020 


The arrival of the graduation tent has always given me a much-needed boost during the last week of school. For every class, no matter the highs and lows, the year would come to a fitting conclusion under a magnificent circus-like structure that stretched the length of Babcock Field. Over one thousand members of the extended Poly community tucked themselves into the carefully labeled seats, most numbered and assigned to the families of our graduates. Our own Chris Halsted piped in the faculty and seniors from the back, letting the sound of the bagpipes that burrowed into our souls cut through the crowd marking the ceremony’s beginning. 

This year’s ceremony is different, markedly so. The tent that we raised on the field is small—just big enough to provide shade for a few of us and your diplomas. There was no crowd; instead, each of you in your car wound your way from the Garland Parking lot onto the field in a carefully choreographed parade reminiscent of Noah’s Ark, two by two. I cannot imagine what it feels like to watch this pre-recorded ceremony while scattered throughout Pasadena and the surrounding communities. What I do know is that graduations are never really about how impressive the tent is or how many people cheer you on; they are meant to serve as a reminder to you and to all of us what you have become. Don’t get me wrong. All of us coming together for celebrations like these is important, and when we bring you all together next June, the tent will struggle to hold the festivities. But for now, a bit of shade, a historic parade, and a virtual celebration will mark this year’s graduation.

Today has brought to the end your years at Poly—for some, thirteen years—of hard work, bumps and bruises, friendships discovered, and relationships cemented with people who will stand by you for a lifetime. 

One of the advantages I have had in the past was my view looking out over the rows of your teachers who inspired you, your families who raised you, and your friends who also raised you. Wherever they are today, their cheers are no less important, and their pride in you, perhaps even greater.  

You have all been through a lot, and you have had plenty of time to imagine what might have been. We all have. And yet we wouldn’t honor the promise of our mission and the legacy of this institution if we let our experiences and the heartbreak from the last ten weeks dim the celebrations, large and small, we have participated in this past week.  
 
To all of the parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends of the class of 2020, today we are graduating a group of young people who will be better prepared for the world than perhaps any class before them in this school’s illustrious history. They have acquired the wisdom from their time to reflect and the resilience that will fuel their efforts to tackle the seemingly intractable problems and dilemmas facing us. We are in good hands!

Thank you.

JWB
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