Jaden (’18) was selected by her class to speak at the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, June 5.
My name is Jaden and I have been at Hillbrook for 10 years. I am a part of the final 5 from Junior Kindergarten. Jenny, Maddy, Quinn, Bailey and I have truly grown up on this campus and graduating today is like leaving behind a part of us, but we know that Hillbrook will always be our home.
On behalf of the class of 2018, I would like to thank our parents, teachers, and friends who have supported us throughout our Hillbrook journeys. The hydro flask squad would like to formally thank our parents because we understand that it is an investment you have made. English Red would like to thank Ms. Holck because she can vouch for me when I say that keeping her sanity while teaching us was a challenge. And the whole class would like to thank our friends for letting us complain constantly about how much homework we have. Let’s all hope we survive high school. So thank you to everyone who let us be ourselves by creating a home for us regardless of how long we have been here.
Every one of my classmates sitting beside me today are unique individuals all having their own strengths, weaknesses, and quirks, most of which have developed during our time here at Hillbrook. I am my own unique person, but I can truly say I have learned something from every single one of these people.
Just to name a few, I learned gratitude from Maddy in Junior Kindergarten when she would thank me countlessly for removing her splinters after she fell off the swing every week. I learned confidence from Josh when he owned the Winter Concert solos he got every year no matter how big or small they were. I learned reliability from Jenny throughout the five years of Spanish class when I never sat with anyone else. I learned positivity from Raya regardless of what year, month, or day it was when she came to school with a smile on her face. I learned the true meaning of friendship from Jackson who showed me that sometimes it’s better to have one really amazing friend rather than a whole ton of just alright ones. I learned that it’s okay to argue from Audrey ever since 3rd grade when we could fight like sisters and be best friends the next minute. And finally, I learned the gift of laughter from Olivia and Zahra in eighth grade when even on the worst of days, a good laugh is always the best medicine. Although not every single one of my classmates are my best friends, I could go on and on about the way each one of them shaped me into who I am today. I will take everything I’ve learned from them with me through high school and beyond.
The thought of leaving the home I’ve had for ten years of my life in just a few hours, well let me tell you, I’m terrified. But I honestly know that my parents, teachers, and the friends I’ve made have prepared me for this very moment. Hillbrook is a life preparatory school. Now, this is a big claim to make, but throughout our careers here my classmates and I have found it to be nothing but the truth. We knew this was true in junior kindergarten when Ms. Lawrence taught us how to brush our teeth and Ms. Hanley taught us about global warming. We knew this was true in 4th grade when Ms. Butler taught us to let go of things we cannot change. We knew this was true in 7th grade when Mr. Ravizza taught us to be accountable for our own messes. And we knew this was true just last month when Ms. Greene, Mr. Brocchini and Ms. Holck taught us the power of our voices both as a group and as individuals.The teachers here at Hillbrook are the reason I am able to stand up here and speak to you all today. Along with all the life skills I learned, they have taught me to take risks and be myself.It looks like today is all about us, but I’d like to take a moment to recognize the families ending their Hillbrook journeys. The Moore family sends off their final graduate to Mitty in the fall after 19 years in the Hillbrook family. The Yuen’s leave today after 18 years sending their graduate to Saint Francis next year. The Chandra family graduates after 14 years sending their graduate to Bellarmine in the fall. My own family graduates today after a mere 14 years sending me to Saint Francis. Go Lancers. These families have made incredible impacts on the Hillbrook community and we are forever grateful for their many years spent supporting students, parents, faculty, and staff.For the future graduates, if I could give you any advice it would be to cherish the time you have here. Trust me, you’ll be graduating on this stage before you know it. It feels like just yesterday, I was here on my first day ever as a student at Hillbrook. 5 year old Jaden waltzed up onto the stage to tell a winning joke about a chicken. The round of applause I got after my hilarious rendition of the classic joke lit something within me. I believe that moment pushed me to become the person I am today. From there, I immediately knew I had to be on a stage, regardless of what I would be doing. 10 years later, I stood on another Hillbrook stage as the lead in The Music Man. Without my
experience on my first day of school, I never would have been able to do that.
The supportive Hillbrook community has made me a confident young woman and I know I can do whatever I put my mind to. I’m sure all of my classmates can pinpoint the defining moment in their Hillbrook career as well that makes them the person they are.
Hillbrook has made us who we are as a class and as individuals. The things I have learned from my friends and teachers would have never been available to me if I was not in this loving, supportive environment. On behalf of the Class of 2018, Thank you to everyone who helped us along the way for shaping us into the people we are.