Alexander Welbeck '12 (left) and Jonathan Mendoza '12 at the 2012 NMH Baccalaureate Service. (Photo: Glenn Minshall)
As a kid, I was taught to always be thankful for the things that I had. At first, I didn’t really understand why I had to do these things because I wasn’t exactly happy with everything I possessed. However, what I failed to realize was that saying thank you really does go a long way. My mom, who is a single mother taking care of both my sister and I, has done plenty for us to make sure that our lives are going the way we please. When I was younger I believed that this was her duty and that saying thanks as well as showing our appreciation was not entirely necessary. Although it is a mother’s duty to care for her child, everyone loves to feel appreciated and in my mind, our parents are the number one people we forget to thank every day. Showing gratitude makes them want to continue the great things they’re doing. Think about it. How often do you thank your parents and loved ones for all that they’ve done? Equally, as our time here at NMH slowly comes to an end, it is important that we all show how thankful we are to those who have made a positive impact on our lives during our time here.
Whether you have been here for four years or only one, there are certain people that deserve your thanks, for whatever the reason may be. During my time here at NMH, I’ve had my ups and downs. Freshman and sophomore years, I needed help adjusting to life at a boarding school and almost never being at home. Junior year, as the workload became much more significant and college was much more relevant in my life, I needed help handling that. Finally, this past year, going through the college application process and coping with the bittersweet emotions that come with being a senior, I was given help for that as well. We have all struggled or needed something during our NMH careers and there was almost always someone by our side when it was most necessary. Those people deserve a thank you. So to all of my teachers, DLs, dorm heads, dorm mates, the deans, dining hall staff, P&P, financial aid office, admissions, and anyone else I may be forgetting: thank you. To my friends and family especially: thank you as well. You are the people who have changed my life forever and there is no possible way of me forgetting that. To all my seniors and PGs, thank you as well. You have come a long way and I congratulate you, but I advise you not to be so quick to leave after we graduate. Instead, take the time to say thanks and show your gratitude to those who have had some impact on your NMH career. You have no idea how great it will make them feel.
Finally, thank you NMH. You saved me, gave me hope, and educated me by way of the head, heart, and hand. And this, I will never forget.
Let us be silent.
View more photos from the Northfield Mount Hermon 2012 Baccalaureate Service here.
For more information about the 129th Commencement, visit the NMH website here.
