A Student’s Perspective

Graduation Address (excerpt)

By Mikaela, 2010 PHILLIPS School Graduate

As I stand before the proud parents, teachers and staff, I would like to start by saying what an honor it is to represent the PHILLIPS senior class.

We have all learned and matured during our stay at PHILLIPS. Though we all come from different cultures, lifestyles and backgrounds, we share one thing in common: we learned how to overcome our challenges and see our inner strength. We gained confidence, no matter how many steps it took. We worked hard to reach this point; knowing who we want to be was the drive that got us through the year.

Most of all, what helped us through our high school years were our staff, family and other supporters. Now as we go through graduation and leave our friends behind, we carry our experiences and memories with us.

“Lessons”

By Mikaela, read at 2010 PHILLIPS School Graduation

Some things we learn aren’t taught in school,

Life is our teacher, we follow its rules.

Looking back at who we were and who we are now,

We wished we could find the words, but we didn’t know how.

We were young, we were free, not a care in the world —

Until that fatal moment our world crashed around us.

One little word we couldn’t take back,

One little mistake that got us off track.

We knew in an instant our youth was over:

Adulthood arrived, childhood gone forever.

Sometimes I look at the girl in the picture, and wonder if she’s really me

She’s younger, innocent, and very naïve.

I want to tell her to hold on and fight,

If she believes in herself, she’ll come out all right.

But these are lessons she’ll have to learn on her own

But in this life, no one is ever alone.