Former Broad Run High School English teacher Jason Bryant began his commencement speech, June 20, recalling a defining moment in his life.
Referring to a job he had prior to teaching at Broad Run, he spoke of a student named Leon, who seemed completely disengaged in the classroom. Each day Bryant tried to get through to this student, but to no avail. One day, Leon told Bryant that he had to quit school, that sometimes you have to do what you have to do. He introduced his girlfriend, their 2-year-old child and a newborn baby. Handing Bryant a sketch he had made, Leon said, "Thanks for never giving up on me."
Bryant still has the sketch. "Leon left his imprint on my heart," he said. Describing the 293 Broad Run graduates as the best class of his seven years of teaching, he said that they too had left their imprint.
Naming individual students and the roles each played when he taught English at Broad Run from 2002 to 2005, it was easy to understand why the Class of 2007 had asked him back to give the commencement speech. Bryant had indeed made a difference in their lives
VALEDICTORIAN NICOLE Ashley Poltash, who had introduced Bryant, described him as passionate. "He has the ability to make words come off the page and come to life."
She said Bryant was the type of teacher who could make students believe in themselves. "He is a motivator. He inspires students to get involved and give their best work. … Teaching is what he was born to do."
Bryant is now the head of the English Department for the St. Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts and an affiliated professor at the University of Minnesota.
Before delivering advice to the class, he recognized the outstanding qualities of Edgar Markley, principal, and Jo Ann Pearson, head of the English Department. He bestowed a heartfelt compliment to Pearson, saying, "You are an amazing person. I can only aspire to be a teacher like you."
Then he turned his focus on the graduates, telling them to inject passion and integrity into everything they did. "Despise mediocrity!" he said. "Be more than a warm body. … You have so much capacity in you for love."
Bryant also emphasized the need to give to others. He cited Dr. Luther King Jr., "You must seek to be selfless."
He told the graduates to "go make something happen. Make your mark. Leave your imprint. … We, the world, need what is inside you."
THE BROAD RUN High School Class of 2007 had already made its mark over the past four years. Their accomplishments included district championships in boys track, boys and girls lacrosse, girls softball, girls soccer and baseball; regional championships in debate, girls softball, girls lacrosse and girls soccer; and state championships in girls softball.
Poltash earned the graduating class' top spot as valedictorian and Benjamin Noah Lucas earned salutatorian.
Assistant Principal Douglas Anderson announced the recipient of the $1,000 faculty scholarship. He built up the suspense, reading a list of descriptions that teachers used in selecting her, including "a kind, caring soul." He presented the scholarship to Alissa Michelle Bowman.
Markley provided four insights. The first was that everyone needs a plan or purpose to feel good about themselves. "We need to lead disciplined productive lives," he said. Second, the graduates should keep a perspective on life, he said. They should strive for balance, maintaining a sense of humor along the way. Third, they should give back to their communities. "It creates positive character in people and lifts our spirits," he said. Fourth, "don't take anything for granted," he said.
And with that final insight, he remembered two students who would have graduated but their lives came to an end, Kaela Wegner and Donald Nicholas Shoemaker.
REFERRING TO CELEBRITY Oprah Winfrey, Markley gave one last piece of advice. He said students could borrow a page from Oprah who keeps a "grateful journal" and writes five items she is thankful for each day. "This simple act changes her perspective, both of her day and her life," he said.
Markley told the graduates, and their family and friends in the bleachers, that it was commencement tradition to incorporate music into the ceremony. He turned the stage over to Rachel Dorsey and Macki Weaver, who sang "For Good," accompanied by pianist Michelle Laurent. The lyrics captured the emotions behind the possibility that the classmates might never see one another again. They sang, "So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. … Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."
JOVON WHITE, in concert with Broad Run tradition, was selected from a group of seniors vying for the honor to deliver the senior address. In his speech, he presented three keys to living life. The first was to never doubt oneself and the second was to never regret anything. "You'll no doubt make the best decision you can," he added. "It's never too late to make things better, to improve yourself or your status."
The third was for the graduates to never undervalue anyone around them. White, who had started his speech with an acknowledgement that he and his peers were not sure where to go after graduation, ended it on a note of reassurance. "We are ready. You are ready, every last single one of you.
"We are the future and the future is right now."