Bright skies and a refreshing lake breeze greeted graduates and their guests at Brewster’s 188th Commencement ceremony on May 24 at the Smith Center for Athletics and Wellness. For the fourth year, 14-year-old bagpiper Peter Campbell of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, preceded the procession of faculty and graduates to the delight of the audience. Class Marshals Emily Lesko (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) and Scott Cameron (Thornton, New Hampshire) led their classmates to their seats.

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Salutatory Address

Salutatorian Kate Shavel of North Yarmouth, Maine, spoke of the nature of time and how the majority of her stay at Brewster has gone by incredibly fast. Quoting Dr. Seuss she said, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” She went on to say, “For me, great memories came through sports and the amazing people I’ve met through them. Think about what your best memories were at Brewster and the people who helped make them so special.”

In closing she urged her fellow graduates to live in the present with dreams for the future. “But don’t forget to slow down, drink some tea, and listen to the birds sing.”

Valedictory Address

Valedictorian Sung Ji Choi of Seoul, Korea, apologized for beginning her speech in Korean then laughingly said that when she spoke her native language in front of her non-Korean-speaking friends at Brewster, they would ask, “Were you talking about me?” She assured them at the time that she wasn’t. But today she admitted that much of the time she had been talking about them – which elicited laughs from her classmates as well as the rest of the audience.

On a more serious note, Choi urged her classmates not to be afraid to set their dreams higher than they think they can achieve and honor the dreams of their childhood. “When I was younger, I wanted to be an astronaut but lost sight of that as the years and others’ ideas led me to other areas.” Choi hoped her classmates would all reflect on their own dreams. In closing, Choi said, “Congratulations, Class of 2008, you made it!”

After the presentation of awards, Board of Trustees Chairman Daniel Mudge introduced the Commencement Speaker, author Lizzie Post of the Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of author and etiquette expert Emily Post.

Lizzie Post

Post began her speech by sympathizing with the graduates, as she imagined they were wondering if she would talk about which fork to use and remind them to send thank-you notes. She assured them she wouldn’t.

She also said that writing a commencement speech is not easy, and decided after some thought to speak from the heart. “I would love to give you advice on living the next years – how to talk to a professor about a grade change, for example – but life will be different for each one of you. It’s your life and this afternoon is the first afternoon of your life that will totally be run by you – you’re on your own now.” She added, “Believe in your own talents – surround yourself with people who like you the way you are.”

Post went on to say, “Your families and closest friends love you unconditionally and are unbelievably proud of you and support you more than you know. The coming years will test you unbelievably so wrap yourself in their love and support. And don’t forget to write those thank-you notes.”

Post was followed by the performance of “Homeward Bound” by HOWL, Brewster’s choral group, and then the awarding of diplomas to the Class of 2008. Dr. Cooper offered closing remarks and asked all to join in the singing of “Emblems Divine,” a Brewster school song. The recessional followed the spirited benediction by Rev. Widman, and graduates and guests then enjoyed a luncheon under the tents on Brown Field overlooking Wolfeboro Bay.