Tara Performing Arts High School: Commencement Speech: Class of 2011
June 22, 2011
Nomad Theater, Boulder CO
It is in HONOR and GRATITUDE that I stand in front of you, the Tara Performing Arts High School Class of 2011 – Tara’s 10th graduating class! Just as all of us here gaze upon you today, so too does the world gaze and wait with bated breath for your footsteps to grace its soil. Yes, you have travelled and explored already, yes, many a rich and magical experience you have had, and oh boy are there many, many MANY more that lie ahead of you.
I can remember and live into the feelings that you all must have right now. And I want to acknowledge them, in this moment - sink into them before taking the next steps forward today. Note your emotions of excitement, vision, accomplishment, peace, ripeness that stir in your heart and spirit.
Parents, Grandparents, family, teachers, and friends - you are most definitely filled with emotions as well –bittersweet tinges of excitement and nervousness, sadness, joy, and deep pride in these amazing beings that sit before you. I ask you all to breathe into these feelings, into their crevices, nooks and crannies and sink into the magic resonating in this incredible moment in time. I invite you to gaze at one another, meet one another’s eyes in relishment: this is a moment in all of our lives that will never be forgotten.
PAUSE.
A few months ago I had the pleasure to explore the world of the Transcendentalists with this senior class, and the terrain we traversed was inspiring and invigorating – quite possibly even more so for me as teacher than for the Senior class. Their insights, ideas, questions and curiosity blew me away and filled my heart and spirit. In spending time with them this past year, and the year prior, I witnessed their shining and their brilliance first hand. Who could not while in their presence? Over the course of the two week main lesson block that we shared this past Autumn, the light of truth and clarity that this senior class radiates – together and as individuals – sparked my soul, inspired me to strive harder, look deeper, and step more into alignment with my Truth.
When I was asked to stand here today and give this commencement speech, my thoughts drifted back to this Fall and our time spent together, mining the mind and soul and spirit for truth. I was delighted at the prospect of having the chance to give back to these beautiful souls a bit of the inspiration that they had given to me.
In thinking about this class, I am struck by two things. The dynamism of this group together, and the dynamism of this group as individuals. I don’t know that I have ever known an ensemble that is so cohesive in their interdependence. We witnessed this in shining brilliance in the performance of Guys and Dolls this past weekend, and as it was onstage, so it was in the classroom. In our main lessons, the discussions were deep, rich, varied and the opinions flew, but they were heard and each individual was recognized. This is a rare gift that you have as a class – to allow others their place even as you hold your own; to stay tuned to your own pitch even as a variety of melodies whirl around you. This ability will serve you immensely in all your years to come.
Every time I am in the presence of this class, I feel as if I am cloaked in a radiant, vibrating embrace of LIGHT. And now as they take their steps away from one another, we will see and feel even more clearly that the light is in all of them together, but this light indeed is EACH of them - and it will only get brighter and brighter as they live their rich lives. Every one of you is a MAGICAL FORCE of spirit. All of us here today see it, we feel it, and know it. In the time ahead, you might forget this magic within yourselves, you might lose sight of your path, your windows might get fogged by inner turbulence or despair. But look to one another, look to us, your family, friends, teachers and community, for we know and see and will always know and see you as the authentic WONDERS that you truly are. Even if you cannot see your own light, it is there, illuminating the world around you in brilliance and clarity. And all you have to do is just - be - you.
Class of 2011, my highest wish in speaking with you today is to instill within each of you the kernel of unbreakable self-knowledge that you are absolutely AMAZING. Every single one of you. And all of us FEEL this. It is clear, it is palpable. As you meet more and more people in your lifetimes, the urge to “assimilate” might fall upon you. The call of the rat race, the norms of society, the shouts and chants of “BE like US! SAME is good! Fit IN! Don’t choose difference!” These chants and taunts may be loud, they may feel overpowering, you may feel daunted, like an oddball, like a character from Hamlet suddenly plopped into a scene in Guys and Dolls… A desire to get back on the well-travelled path and “mindlessly fit in” may tempt and overtake you. “But this above all, to thine own self be true.” ”Trust thyself, every heart beats to that iron string.” When you are true to yourself, the universe vibrates with you. From your experiences at Tara - through your classes, your teachers, your peers, the plays and musicals, rehearsals and adventures, you have been given the tools of self reflection and self knowledge. And as the beat of the “normal” drum pounds in your ears in the years to come, trust in these tools, trust in your knowledge of your self, your wisdom of right and wrong, of what is best for YOU. You are not normal my friends. You are extraordinary. In Walt Whitman’s words: “You are so much sunshine in every square inch.”
As extraordinary beings, you have two tasks; to shed your light responsibly and conscientiously, assisting others in seeing their light and allowing them to shine, and, to take care of yourself. These two responsibilities rely on the other. As beings of light and goodness, you quite naturally assist others in shining – and when you shine brightest, you give others the permission and inspiration to do so as well. In shining, you may also attract some darkness, and those that want to take some of your light. Thus, taking care of your self is of VITAL importance. This seemingly simple act of self-care – keeping that light shining bright!- can be more difficult than it sounds. There is so much we want to DO and BE and strive for! But our bodies are our instruments, our spirits need tending to, and we need to keep them in primo condition for optimum play.
Some simple reminders and tools for self-care:
1. Ask for help. Asking for help is not “showing weakness”; think about every time some one has asked you for help, and how honored that made you feel. Never did you think, “Wow, they need HELP? Pshaww… that’s stupid”. No. In the asking for help, not only are you helping yourself, but you are also offering up an opportunity for someone to feel special, to feel needed. It feels good to be asked, and it feels good to give. True friends and loved ones always want to be there for you, and will be, especially when asked.
2. Listen to your body. This means resting when you need to, moving through the world at you own pace, respecting your body’s needs, and doing this with the surety that the world will not pass you by, you will not be left behind by slowing down and being gentle with yourself. In fact, you will come out ahead, because you will have greater energy, clarity and stamina in the long run – you will be fueled by self-love and inner peace. This simple act may be more difficult to manage than you might think. Our culture is a forward, progress and goal oriented one, and it is easy to forget about these inner goals –like happiness in BEING (not DOING), peace, contentment. YES – I know you want to do, I can feel that charging horse energy coming from your spirits! And by all means FOLLOW this, RIDE it when you have this energy! But note when it ebbs, and take a nap.
3. Another basic aspect of life that we all tend to forget about is breathing. Through the simple act of awareness of your breath, you can re-connect to your core in an instant. As performers, you know how breath aids in singing, speaking and dancing, and so it is in the play of LIFE as well. So, find quiet spaces and time for YOU. Take the time to take stock of what you have done, to look at and reward yourself for the seeds you have planted. Give yourself the recognition you deserve. You deserve the best, so go ahead and give it to yourself, do not wait for it to be granted. In times of self-nurturance, seeds of brilliance are planted.
4. Listen to your intuition. By being gentle with yourself, breathing, listening to your body, your intuition will be strengthened. You have all practiced your intuitive inner sense over the years here at Tara. It is indeed what led you to Tara in the first place! That knowing of what is RIGHT and GOOD for YOU.
5. My last little seed of practical wisdom is to know that CHANGE is constant. Everything changes. There is a deep surety in this knowing. Everything is impermanent, and although at times things may seem unbearable, overwhelming, they will pass. And what shall remain? YOU. You at the heart and center of it. “It” being LIFE.
My extraordinary friends, I am ecstatic at the thought of you, as beacons of light, stepping out into the world and setting it on fire. You are magical, inspiring, authentic, brave, soulful, and talented, may you always step with the deep knowledge of your unique gifts, may you know that you are always loved, and may you know that anything that you can imagine, you have already earned.
