NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffAlumniPre-K to 8AdvancementServiceAcademicsFine ArtsResidential Life
The Class of 2005: Anne Montgomery's welcome remarks
May 16, 2005 1:30 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Read the full text of House Senate President Anne Montgomery's welcome remarks at the Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2005 Saturday, May 14:
Good morning President Hendrix, Headmaster Rhodes, Mr. Drummond, Board members, faculty, parents, family, friends and, of course, most importantly members of the historic Centennial Class of 2005. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here this morning. I have been privileged to serve as president of the student senate this year. There are many among our senior class who are as deserving of this position, but none as honored and humbled as I have been to serve. Thank you for the opportunity and the honor.
As some of you may remember, last year my grandfather, Frank Barron – “Big Frank” we call him – delivered the shortest commencement speech in Darlington’s history, running about 6½ minutes. Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to live up to him, with my welcoming remarks but I will certainly try.
Our class has always known it was special for being the Centennial Class. Some of us, even from the time when were in Darlington’s lower school, knew that we were going to be the historic 100th class to graduate! We have lived all this time with this knowledge.
So, in preparation for my speech, I decided to do a little research. My history teachers, Mr. Hight and Mr. Foote, can tell you that history is not at all my best subject. Nevertheless, I thought it was a good idea. I read Mr. Hanks' book about the history of Darlington. I know, right!! And as I read about the early graduating classes, I noticed that what historians focus on are academic achievements, great performances, athletic victories, and kinda boring statistics. After getting through about half of the book, it got me thinking! What will the next “Darlington History” book say about us? Of course, we will have pages and pages of our academic achievements, great musical and theatrical performances that set new standards, and that won’t compare to the chapters of victories our Darlington Tigers have won with this class! But what I would hope the historians would write about is the fun times our class has had together along the way!
Even all the way back in lower school when we had pecan wars on the playground and danced all day in the boo review; or, in middle school when we all loved Mr. Ivester’s tie and the Pels sisters were one of us as we competed with our homemade CD cars in the Science Olympics!
As we moved into high school, things changed. The teachers changed, the homework load definitely changed, and we changed! But some things just never change!
History books ALWAYS leave the good parts out! They never tell the good, juicy stuff!
Like when the wonderful “Dar boys” of this senior class just up and decided to have a “Bleacher Creature” day! If you don’t know what a bleacher creature is, just imagine about 15-16 boys dressed up like it is a WAY TACKY Halloween in the middle of February! William Richardson was even dressed as a “corn cob.” And who will ever forget Michael Webster dressed in neon green leotards. Really! Even though they did this in honor of our boy’s basketball team, it took Mr. Griffeth till about 6th period to figure out what hit him!
Some of the lessons you learn at school, you don’t learn in books. I learned the HARD way not to bring my phone to chapel my freshman year! And, rest assured, I can now safely say that I know how to try to have the “Perfect” wreck thanks to Mrs. Waddell. Mr. Powell definitely solved all problems when he found the ultimate senioritis cure—a balloon!
Our class LOVED being outside! I mean, our junior prom theme was hunting and fishing! And, I have never seen so many seniors in high school so pumped up about finally identifying the magnificent frigate bird and listening to Mr. Kinney make bird calls.
Whether it was outside or inside, the class of 2005 has loved to party! They even threw a party for us on the 100th night before graduation — 100 nights ago. Matthew Payne was the star of the night when he sang “All-Star” to break the ice! When we were in middle school, we had a dance party every Saturday and sometimes on Friday, too, for the first, at least, three months of school. We thought our social life was so crazy we could not imagine high school! Whether we partied in small groups or in big crowds, we have loved being together.
This togetherness has helped the class of 2005 build a love between each other! Of course, the girls have had their share of petty fights, but our true friendships have always prevailed. It is so comforting to come to school and see everyone’s smiling face, hearing sweet compliments in the hall, like “Oh how cute!” ... I know that I will never find another group of girls that are prettier, more fun, and sweeter than the ones in my senior class. Now, the boys, I have to say, I have never seen any group of boys LOVE each other as much as the boys do! These boys love to wrestle, intensely. They love each other's cars, each other's brothers and sisters, even each other's moms!! These boys love everything about each other! But, I think most of all they just LOVED to get under each other's skin! I will worry about them being separated this next year.
There are many MUCH more interesting things about the 100th class that a historian could write about. I mean we even had a president this year named after a famous rock star - Jimi Hendrix! And, may I say he has been great!
For him, this year has been about the students – about us. He has eaten with us in the cafeteria, he has consoled us in his office, he has cried with us through tragedy, he has celebrated with us on the athletic field, and he has even partied with us at our centennial bash! He has been one of us! As for me – he has been a mentor, a counselor and, most of all, a friend! ...
As I close, I am going to leave you with one last message that I believe is really what I want to say to you this morning! A few Christmases ago, my dad gave me a Christmas present. For my sisters and me, he typed up a poem and put it in a small frame. It was maybe, I mean, MAYBE 10 dollars. Dad is a big spender. You can only imagine what I was thinking – a POEM! My sisters and I, of course, were just a bit confused. All he told me was to just read it. I would like to read it to you now. It seems fitting for this occasion.
If your outlook on things has changed,
This is not the main thing,
If you feel like laughing at old dreams,
This is not the main thing,
If you recall errors of which you are now ashamed,
This is not the main thing,
Even if you know that what you are doing now you may regret at another time,
This is not the main thing.
But, beware lightheartedly, to conclude from this that there is no such thing as the main thing,
This is the main thing.
Well, what does that mean? It was very touching, but it flew RIGHT over my head, as Mr. Powell can only imagine. What is the main thing? Here goes my guess. As we start something new – really new – all we need to remember is to be grateful. The main thing is gratitude! We have a lot to be grateful for as we start this new chapter in our lives. We are grateful for those that got us here — for faculty that cared enough to get us where we are today, administrators who supported us, for coaches who pushed us hard … very hard sometimes, and for Darlington for creating a world for us to grow and learn in, for our family who stood by us, loved us and did nothing but care for us the whole way through, for friends and for memories that will forever touch our hearts and always make us smile when we look back! And, most of all, for our future – for looking forward and growing into the people we are to become!
Thank you all for the friendships and memories! I am grateful for each of you!
During Montgomery's speech, she and fellow graduate Payton Bradford presented President Jim Hendrix with a diploma from Darlington School, making him an honorary member of the Class of 2005.
Good morning President Hendrix, Headmaster Rhodes, Mr. Drummond, Board members, faculty, parents, family, friends and, of course, most importantly members of the historic Centennial Class of 2005. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here this morning. I have been privileged to serve as president of the student senate this year. There are many among our senior class who are as deserving of this position, but none as honored and humbled as I have been to serve. Thank you for the opportunity and the honor.
As some of you may remember, last year my grandfather, Frank Barron – “Big Frank” we call him – delivered the shortest commencement speech in Darlington’s history, running about 6½ minutes. Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to live up to him, with my welcoming remarks but I will certainly try.
Our class has always known it was special for being the Centennial Class. Some of us, even from the time when were in Darlington’s lower school, knew that we were going to be the historic 100th class to graduate! We have lived all this time with this knowledge.
So, in preparation for my speech, I decided to do a little research. My history teachers, Mr. Hight and Mr. Foote, can tell you that history is not at all my best subject. Nevertheless, I thought it was a good idea. I read Mr. Hanks' book about the history of Darlington. I know, right!! And as I read about the early graduating classes, I noticed that what historians focus on are academic achievements, great performances, athletic victories, and kinda boring statistics. After getting through about half of the book, it got me thinking! What will the next “Darlington History” book say about us? Of course, we will have pages and pages of our academic achievements, great musical and theatrical performances that set new standards, and that won’t compare to the chapters of victories our Darlington Tigers have won with this class! But what I would hope the historians would write about is the fun times our class has had together along the way!
Even all the way back in lower school when we had pecan wars on the playground and danced all day in the boo review; or, in middle school when we all loved Mr. Ivester’s tie and the Pels sisters were one of us as we competed with our homemade CD cars in the Science Olympics!
As we moved into high school, things changed. The teachers changed, the homework load definitely changed, and we changed! But some things just never change!
History books ALWAYS leave the good parts out! They never tell the good, juicy stuff!
Like when the wonderful “Dar boys” of this senior class just up and decided to have a “Bleacher Creature” day! If you don’t know what a bleacher creature is, just imagine about 15-16 boys dressed up like it is a WAY TACKY Halloween in the middle of February! William Richardson was even dressed as a “corn cob.” And who will ever forget Michael Webster dressed in neon green leotards. Really! Even though they did this in honor of our boy’s basketball team, it took Mr. Griffeth till about 6th period to figure out what hit him!
Some of the lessons you learn at school, you don’t learn in books. I learned the HARD way not to bring my phone to chapel my freshman year! And, rest assured, I can now safely say that I know how to try to have the “Perfect” wreck thanks to Mrs. Waddell. Mr. Powell definitely solved all problems when he found the ultimate senioritis cure—a balloon!
Our class LOVED being outside! I mean, our junior prom theme was hunting and fishing! And, I have never seen so many seniors in high school so pumped up about finally identifying the magnificent frigate bird and listening to Mr. Kinney make bird calls.
Whether it was outside or inside, the class of 2005 has loved to party! They even threw a party for us on the 100th night before graduation — 100 nights ago. Matthew Payne was the star of the night when he sang “All-Star” to break the ice! When we were in middle school, we had a dance party every Saturday and sometimes on Friday, too, for the first, at least, three months of school. We thought our social life was so crazy we could not imagine high school! Whether we partied in small groups or in big crowds, we have loved being together.
This togetherness has helped the class of 2005 build a love between each other! Of course, the girls have had their share of petty fights, but our true friendships have always prevailed. It is so comforting to come to school and see everyone’s smiling face, hearing sweet compliments in the hall, like “Oh how cute!” ... I know that I will never find another group of girls that are prettier, more fun, and sweeter than the ones in my senior class. Now, the boys, I have to say, I have never seen any group of boys LOVE each other as much as the boys do! These boys love to wrestle, intensely. They love each other's cars, each other's brothers and sisters, even each other's moms!! These boys love everything about each other! But, I think most of all they just LOVED to get under each other's skin! I will worry about them being separated this next year.
There are many MUCH more interesting things about the 100th class that a historian could write about. I mean we even had a president this year named after a famous rock star - Jimi Hendrix! And, may I say he has been great!
For him, this year has been about the students – about us. He has eaten with us in the cafeteria, he has consoled us in his office, he has cried with us through tragedy, he has celebrated with us on the athletic field, and he has even partied with us at our centennial bash! He has been one of us! As for me – he has been a mentor, a counselor and, most of all, a friend! ...
As I close, I am going to leave you with one last message that I believe is really what I want to say to you this morning! A few Christmases ago, my dad gave me a Christmas present. For my sisters and me, he typed up a poem and put it in a small frame. It was maybe, I mean, MAYBE 10 dollars. Dad is a big spender. You can only imagine what I was thinking – a POEM! My sisters and I, of course, were just a bit confused. All he told me was to just read it. I would like to read it to you now. It seems fitting for this occasion.
If your outlook on things has changed,
This is not the main thing,
If you feel like laughing at old dreams,
This is not the main thing,
If you recall errors of which you are now ashamed,
This is not the main thing,
Even if you know that what you are doing now you may regret at another time,
This is not the main thing.
But, beware lightheartedly, to conclude from this that there is no such thing as the main thing,
This is the main thing.
Well, what does that mean? It was very touching, but it flew RIGHT over my head, as Mr. Powell can only imagine. What is the main thing? Here goes my guess. As we start something new – really new – all we need to remember is to be grateful. The main thing is gratitude! We have a lot to be grateful for as we start this new chapter in our lives. We are grateful for those that got us here — for faculty that cared enough to get us where we are today, administrators who supported us, for coaches who pushed us hard … very hard sometimes, and for Darlington for creating a world for us to grow and learn in, for our family who stood by us, loved us and did nothing but care for us the whole way through, for friends and for memories that will forever touch our hearts and always make us smile when we look back! And, most of all, for our future – for looking forward and growing into the people we are to become!
Thank you all for the friendships and memories! I am grateful for each of you!
During Montgomery's speech, she and fellow graduate Payton Bradford presented President Jim Hendrix with a diploma from Darlington School, making him an honorary member of the Class of 2005.
