Dear Class of 2014 –

You made it! Four years ago, you entered New Trier High School as vibrant and energetic freshmen with the

will to succeed. Over the past four years, you learned to take risks, step outside your comfort zone, and make difficult

decisions. Today, we are honored to celebrate your graduation from New Trier. As you embark upon your new journey,

it is important for you to reflect upon what you learned about yourselves during your time at New Trier and how these

experiences will remain with you in your future. Each of you paved a unique pathway through this institution, but you

also had many shared experiences within the adviser room, the classroom, and within extracurricular programs. It is the

combination of all your different experiences that has furthered your growth. I want to reflect upon these experiences

and how they will impact you in years to come.

Through the adviser system, I hope you found a constant source of stability and strength, a group of people who

were there to cheer your triumphs and support and encourage you through the challenges of high school. Your advisery

experience was something special and will remain with you for the rest of your life. As you leave New Trier, think

about what it was like to be there for a fellow advisee or have an adviser or friend be there for you. As you develop new

relationships throughout your life, think about the bonds of the adviser system and be that person who friends will call

several times a year just to say “hello” or “can I talk to you?”

Your classroom experience at New Trier heightened your curiosity and motivation for learning. Over the past four

years, you were able to experience a wide range of course offerings that allowed you to explore your interests and find

your passions. You learned to advocate for yourself, express your ideas, and voice your opinions. As you leave New

Trier, be that person in college who raises your hand because you have the curiosity to learn and the desire to understand.

And when you join the work force, be that employee who is inquisitive and remember to express your individuality,

even while working as part of a team.

Your extracurricular experiences at New Trier provided you with an opportunity to grow as individuals and

contribute to a larger group, such as a cast, a team, a committee, or a club. You met new people on a smaller and more

intimate scale, and from this setting strong friendships grew. You were able to develop your leadership skills and

enhance your ability to understand and respect different perspectives. After you leave New Trier, continue to explore

your passions and find ways to cultivate them by getting involved and staying committed. Inevitably, involvement leads

to more opportunities.

Now you are ready to leave New Trier and find your way in new places. Remember what you learned here and all

the students and staff who made a difference in your life. Use this knowledge to serve those around you. Class of 2014,

thank you for making us proud of who you are, what you have done, and what you will continue to do in the future. And

remember… once a Trevian, always a Trevian.

Congratulations, Class of 2014!