Class of 2007 Graduation Highlights

Keynote Speech - Megan Abrams

There are approximately 989,000 words in the English Language.  I bet that between the three hundred of us, we know almost all of them.   Quodlibet? Got it.   Spifflicate? We know it.  Mundungus? That too.

But there is one word, here at BCA, that just about nobody knows. It's unheard of in the halls, it's rarely witnessed coming out of a student's mouth.  That word is "ordinary".

It's true that the school pulls the "best and brightest" students from around the county; more then 1500 students applied for the coveted 300 spots that we sit in on this stage tonight. Here assembled in front of you are the cream of the crop, and the best of the very best.

In the four years spent here at the Academies, this school has become my entire Universe, as it has for almost every student here. My family, willing or not, has become the 300 students within the class of 2007; the people whom I eat, breathe, and learn with for 7-10 hours a day.

Because of the excessive amount of time spent within these walls, there's an intricate bond within our class that can only be seen shallowly by anyone on the outside looking in. When faculty, family, and other people outside of our class's community take a glance, they see the brightest minds in Bergen County, with an average SAT score too high to be compared to others in Newsweek's Top 100. They see an extraordinary amount of talent pouring out of every facet, from theater to artwork to books being published. They see an unusual and somewhat disturbing amount of dedication and hard work, and they see list after list of college acceptances.

What they don't see, as with most cases, is much more important than what they do. We have been connected by four years of gossip and stories, four years of sleepless nights and school days that never seem to end.  Four years of fundraisers and class trips and friendships and arguments.  Four years of parties, especially study parties, of quick naps between classes and rushing to finish the work that couldn't possibly be done last night.  Four years of taking liberties and opportunities that few other schools in the United States permit,  Four years of expectations and standards that seem higher then what could ever be possible and yet we still persist in pursuing and oftentimes reaching.

You see, our school is not ordinary. In fact, it's quite extraordinary.

We, the class of 2007, have pushed the borders of this school and this community beyond the limits that have been set before. Our Freshman Year, we stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the ballpark, raising an incredible amount of money and support for a very special part of our family. Joey Marquez will always be in our hearts.

As sophomore and junior years progressed, our talent as a class and our sense of community has been demonstrated through countless showcases, fundraisers, and continual support through all sorts of difficult times. This year, our Senior Year, we stand united like never before, only finally to come to terms with the fact that, after tonight, we will never stand together as the Class of 2007 again.

Tonight, on this stage, there are students who can recite the Periodic Table of Elements backwards and students who can solve a Rubik's Cube with their eyes closed and students who can flambé banana foster and students who know what the Glossopharyngeal Nerve controls. On this stage sits students who are going to become self made millionaires creating ground breaking technology; students who are going to become brilliant doctors and pharmacists, students who will go on to become Professors or Heads of Companies or incredible actresses or fantastic artists.  Every student sitting on this stage has learned a thousand lessons in her chosen field that will lead to her success one day.

But there are other lessons here; lessons that will be remembered for years after we're old and grey and most other knowledge has receded. Over the course of the past four years, and in the process of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, we've learned what's truly important.

We have learned to care about each other,  we've learned to forgive mistakes,  and we have learned to love.  And although tonight we separate and may never again stand together as the Class of 2007, we will always have this;  we will never be ordinary.

To the administration, our teachers, and our parents -thank you for all you've done over the past four years. Heaven knows it hasn't been easy to deal with us.  To my extraordinary fellow classmates - I won't wish you luck, because you have too much talent to need it.  I won't wish you success, because I have confidence that every person sitting up on this stage will be successful.

Rather, wherever you go, whatever you do, and whomever you meet, I wish you happiness.

Class of 2007 ... Congratulations. We made it.