The Potomac School Celebrates 118 Graduates

From Potomac Schools:After weeks of rain, June 8 dawned bright and sunny – a perfect day for an outdoor Commencement celebrating The Potomac School’s Class of 2018. Hundreds of family members and friends were on hand to cheer for the 118 graduates as they crossed the stage to accept their diplomas from Head of School John Kowalik and shake hands with Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Marjorie Brennan. William Duryea ’18 spoke on behalf of the graduating class, offering remarks that combined insightful observation with humor. He recalled being concerned about not fitting in when he came to Potomac at the start of his sophomore year. Initially resolved to blend in quietly, Duryea said, “I realized quickly that Potomac wasn’t going to let me keep my head down.” He described how being nudged out of his comfort zone and encouraged to stretch, both personally and academically, helped him become an engaged member of the school community. He expressed appreciation for the fact that “Potomac has consistently challenged me in ways that force me to be receptive to help and influence. Despite my efforts to tackle things on my own, I have had to open myself up to teachers and friends operating with the community in mind.”

English Department Chair Anne Nightingale gave the faculty address, offering some deeply felt observations. She spoke about taking her own daughter to college; along with all of the practical dorm supplies, Nightingale delivered two houseplants to her daughter’s new home – a bamboo and a bonsai. She explained, “Bamboo is a symbol of integrity. It is straight and upright. Bamboo reminds you to bend, but not break. It embodies the power of being flexible and firmly rooted in one’s beliefs. …As for the bonsai, I wanted to give her something thriving and lovely, to keep beauty and the joy of growing forever before her.” She told the graduates, “Amid the joy and thrill of college, there will be a few sad moments. And yet you will conquer and rise above. What you carry in your hearts is a special part of you that will enable you to grow strong and stay rooted through the rest of your lives. Do not be afraid to bud and bloom. Send out a new shoot. Open your leaves in the bright light. …Be brave like bamboo and beautiful like the bonsai.”

Head of School John Kowalik also offered the Class of 2018 some valuable advice. Citing the adage “What lies behind you and what lies ahead of you pale in comparison to what lies inside you,” he challenged the graduates to value and nurture what lies inside them. He noted, “Your inner core must be strong and healthy, vibrant and resilient.” While acknowledging that intellectual growth and career preparation are key aspects of the college experience, he asserted, “A more important dimension of college is understanding and refining that which lies inside you – your ethical, emotional, and psychological core and well-being.” Kowalik went on to speak of the value of maintaining equanimity in the face of both success and failure. He advised the graduates, “The wise thing is to live life in moderation, keeping your composure and an even temperament. Widen your aperture and see the bigger picture. You will be calmer in the face of stress; you will be more willing to take productive risks; and in the end, I believe, you will be happier and more successful.”

Photo attached credit to The Potomac School