Commencement 2026: Speech by Head of School Mark Anderson P’27

Good morning!

Welcome to Wheeler’s 137th Commencement ceremony.

We gather to celebrate the Wheeler class of 2026.

Welcome family and friends, and faculty and staff who are joining us for this celebration of Commencement. Many of you have traveled to be here with us today.

I’d also like to take a moment and remember our family members – Wheeler grandparents and parents – who are no longer with us in this world. But they are most certainly with us in spirit each day and especially on this celebratory occasion. As we think of them and their continued presence in our lives, please join me in a moment of silence.

As we begin our ceremony, seniors, join me in thanking several of my colleagues.

Those who helped organize today: Dana Watkins, Abraham Henderson, our Operations and Facilities teams who worked so hard to make this ceremony possible. Ms. Neeltje Henneman, who led the Upper School during your high school years. Your class dean, Dr. Donna Lizotte (who is also Biology Teacher of the year!). And of course all of your Wheeler teachers and advisors who tirelessly guided and mentored you during your Wheeler years.

Joining me on this stage are four Wheeler leaders of some renown.

Alisia St. Florian ‘86, our Wheeler Board chair, who this month concludes her decade-long service to her alma mater as a member of our Board of Trustees and the last seven as board chairman.

Delivering our invocation will be Young Un, director of strategic Innovation, former Middle School head, and former Wheeler classroom teacher. Young is retiring this year after 36 years of extraordinary service to Wheeler.

Princess Bomba, Wheeler’s director of equity, community, and belonging, will offer closing wisdom for our graduates by delivering the Benediction.

And our 2026 Commencement speaker is Jon Green, Wheeler’s longtime former Head of the Hamilton School at Wheeler. We very much look forward to hearing Mr. Green’s thoughts for our graduating seniors.

Alisia, Young, Princess, and Jon, thank you for preparing your remarks for the class of 2026. Thank you for the support each of you have given me during my first year of headship at Wheeler. I’m honored to share the stage and podium with each of you today.

As Wheeler tradition calls, we will also hear from the two co-presidents of the senior class, Caleb Isenberg and Lila Stone, who will offer insights to their fellow graduates.

We will also hear from a musical number from our 18 Wheelers.

One last time, our seniors will show us that they deeply live our Wheeler mission, and that they have “Learned their powers and are answerable for their use.”

Our founder, Mary C Wheeler, started her school in 1889 and purchased this second farm property in 1911. Today, as we celebrate an accomplished group of graduating Wheeler seniors, we honor and remember Mary C Wheeler’s iconic vision and leadership. I’m certain she would be extremely proud of our talented Wheeler Class of 2026 – just as we are.

Class of 2026: I’m grateful to you as Wheeler’s new head of school. We only had one year together. And what a year it has been!

I’m not even talking about the times that challenged us and our community – the tragic events at Brown and the historic blizzard this winter.

When I think about the 2025-26 school year – and the Wheeler Class of 2026 in particular, my mind goes to the times I saw you rise up individually and collectively.

In the beginning of the year, I challenged you to make the most of your senior year and be role models for Wheeler Warriors – of all ages.

Seniors, that’s what you did. On sports teams, in our performance groups, in our clubs, in classrooms, and hallways…you set the tone for our student body. You were positive, hard working, kind, and empathetic. And you did all of this while having a lot of fun too.

I know you had fun because my office is right next to the Cummings Room where many seniors congregated most school days. Shout out to Odysseas, who was often at the piano in Cummings playing a lovely tune.

In addition to Mr. Un, Ms. Bomba, Lila, Caleb, and Mr. Green, I have an opportunity to offer a bit of advice to you.

Receiving diplomas today are 99 Wheeler seniors. You are a unique and talented group – each with different interests and Wheeler experiences. Some of you are actors, others athletes. We have robotics wizards and gifted authors, dancers, and more.

What you all have in common are really two things: You have a shared Wheeler experience. And as of today, you’ll all be at NEW schools all across the ocean very shortly. You won’t be here – with us – at Wheeler.

As you all know – I am NEW – this year at Wheeler. So while you are my 22nd group of seniors I’ve had the privilege to sign diplomas for, you are my first Wheeler graduating class.

A lesson I re-learned this year…Being new is HARD. Starting over is difficult. Pushing off from this comfortable and safe dock is kind of scary.

Last June I chose to leave my home of 14 years and start over here at Wheeler. And while my transition has not always been easy, I’m glad I took the brave step and decided to move to Providence and lead our wonderful school.

Being NEW…a new head of school, coming to Rhode Island, Providence, and Wheeler, making the choice to move, has provided me with endless opportunities to learn, experience a new school community, and live in a new part of the country…and most importantly, it’s given me time to meet wonderful new people.

Had I not made that decision a year and a half ago, I would not be standing here today – and I would not have met any of you, the class of 2026 and our families and my Wheeler colleagues. Getting to know you seniors has been one of the highlights of my year – and I believe will be part of my Wheeler tenure that I cherish forever.

For the Wheeler lifers, and even those who have been here since lower school – going to college will be your first time being new ever – or the first time in a very long time.

So… how do you start again? For all of you – I talk about the emotions you might be feeling about the prospect that your days as a Wheeler student, as of today, have officially come to an end. I’m guessing it is a combination of nervousness and excitement, perhaps in equal measure.

Deep breath – all of those feelings and emotions are normal and natural. And… accept and trust that this transition is going to be challenging for all of you.

As this is my first graduation speech in the OCEAN STATE, my thoughts and advice about moving on from Wheeler lean into a bit of a nautical theme. I’m reminded of two quotes from one of my favorite US presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” (Spoken during his April 14, 1938 Fireside Chat, this is his most celebrated sailing analogy). “To reach a port we must sail — sail, not tie at anchor — sail, not drift.”

Roosevelt is telling us that we must embrace the difficult. Human nature tells us we want a smooth sea- but that is not what we need. It is in those challenging times that we grow most.

We must sail – not tie anchor. We can’t remain stagnant. The world is a dynamic place – and in order to become our best selves, we must sail. You chart the course!

Just as we should not tie anchor, FDR is reminding us to not drift. Be purposeful in your next chapter. Go out and find your new passion, direction, and people. It’s all there for you when you look.

I hope Wheeler has been “your place” these past four, six, 10, or 15 years…however long you have been a Wheeler Warrior. I hope you have felt safe and supported at our school. I hope you leave here today with a heart and head full of Wheeler memories of friends, teachers, and coaches…times of your life that you will carry forever.

And I also hope you feel deeply ready for what lies ahead for you.

So while Wheeler will always be “home” for the Class of 2026, it is time to push off the dock.

Author and businessman John Shedd wrote, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Class of 2026, you are built for what’s next. You are ready to sail.

I close with a poem by Henry Van Dyke, “Gone From My Sight” (and sticking with my ocean state theme) It’s about leaving… and arriving.

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, “There, she is gone.”

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me — not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, “There, she is gone,”
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”

As I invite my colleague, Young Un, to the podium, please let me be the first to offer the Class of 2026 a richly deserved round of applause