Commencement 2024: Speech by Sophie Hamilton ’24
Good morning Wheeler families, faculty, trustees, and most importantly, the senior Class of 2024.
Today’s a special day, one transition and reflection. When looking back on my six years at Wheeler, “On Children” by Kahlil Gibran comes to mind. This poem has been a touchstone in my life. My mother read it to me as a child, and it was taped to her pantry door. I will begin by sharing an excerpt from this poem:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may strive to be like them but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His
might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Throughout this poem, Gibran references bows. A bow transfers its strength into the arrow before sending it off, flying on an arc to its destination. Wheeler has been this bow, a strong foundation that has readied us for flight. Teachers, parents, and classmates, you have served as a much needed tension in this bowstring.
We began high school amidst the chaos of a global pandemic, facing uncertainty, isolation, and a new way of learning. Yet in the eye of the storm, Wheeler became more than a school. It became a place where we built resilience, found support, and grew together.
Each of us will fly towards a different destination on our own unique arc, yet we share the same origin point. Our time at Wheeler has profoundly shaped us into who we are today, igniting our curiosity, encouraging our creativity, and nurturing our growth.
In the spirit of this poem, let us embrace the uniqueness of our journeys. Let us strive to be true to ourselves, to pursue our passions, and to create a future that reflects our individuality.
The world is constantly evolving. As we step into it, we must remember that life does not move backwards. And we cannot linger in the past, but we must fly forward with courage and optimism.
Families, teachers, and friends. Thank you for being the study bows in our lives. You’ve prepared us to face the challenges ahead. Fellow graduates, let us take flight with confidence, knowing that we carry the love we’ve been shown and the lessons we’ve learned. Let our bending in the archers hand be for gladness as we embark on this new adventure. We are the arrows poised on the brink of our futures, ready to carve our paths into the world. Congratulations, Class of 2024.
