Principal Parga Describes Grads as "Caring, Hardworking, and Talented"

A speech given by Medfield High School Principal Robert Parga to the graduating Class of 2013 on June 2, 2013. 

Message from the Principal, by Robert Parga 

Good afternoon. Before I make my closing remarks, I want to take this opportunity to thank several people for making today such a special one for you.  An event such as this does not happen without the hard work of many individuals. I want to start by thanking my administrative assistant, Mrs. Maryjean Ingram who has spent a considerable amount of time making sure your gowns were ordered and distributed, and making sure the diplomas and programs were printed and ready to go…and that’s not even half of what she has done.  Today’s program has her fingerprints all over it, and she’s worked incredibly hard to make this a special day for you.  Please join me in thanking Mrs. Ingram for all her efforts.

There are many others who helped with today.  Our maintenance and custodial staff worked hard yesterday and this morning setting up the staging, chairs and tents.  Ms. Nunes and Mr. Sperling assisted me in making sure the events of this past week went off without a hitch. Ms. Nunes wanted me to be sure to send you her good wishes, since she is attending her own daughter’s graduation this afternoon and cannot be with us. And let’s not forget our senior class advisors, Mr. Adam Coyle and Ms. Karen Renaud for all of their hard work. Finally, I want to thank all of our parent volunteers who have prepared the All Night Grad Party.  This is a special event, one that I know you are all looking forward to.  So once again, please join me in offering thanks to all those who have made this past week a special one for you.

Friends, parents, honored guests, and to the wonderful Class of 2013: I am honored to have this opportunity to speak to you today.  As the principal of Medfield High School, I have had a unique perspective over these past 6 years.  Our paths first crossed in September of 2007.  You were 7th graders at the Blake Middle School.  I was beginning my first year as a principal in Medfield.  My first impressions of your class were as follows: you were caring, hard working, and talented.  You demonstrated your care by helping the younger students.  Transitioning to middle school can be challenging for some 6th graders.  I remember several of you stepping up to make them feel welcomed at Blake.  I witnessed your hard work and stood amazed as you dedicated yourself that year to becoming better writers.  And your talents were displayed during your theater performances with Mrs. Porter-Fahey.

As I stand here today, I’m not sure I can come up with three different ways that would better describe you.  Many of your accomplishments have been well documented.  During your four years at Medfield High School, we have received recognition as being one of the top high schools in the Commonwealth.  We’ve had the top MCAS scores in the state, ACT and SAT scores that rank among the highest in Massachusetts.  US News and World Report recently awarded Medfield High School with its highest recognition, the Gold Award.  A look at the colleges you are attending is a virtual best of the best colleges in America.  Because of your hard work and commitment, our music department has received awards as being one of the top departments in the state.  Many of you have had your artwork displayed in galleries across the region and our Theater Society provided many of you the opportunity to shine on stage, which included two high quality productions each year.  Finally during your four years, many of you have contributed to 8 Massachusetts state athletic titles and over 40 league championships in various sports. 

Among you the graduating class of 2013, are more than 10 Eagle Scouts and Gold Award winners, all have been recognized for your contributions to this community.  Among you is a student who was recognized for her hard work by being named the 2012 Medfield Youth Volunteer of the Year.  Many of you have donated your time to worthy causes outside of Medfield.  For example, one student and her family have volunteered in an orphanage in Tanzania and others have volunteered in Guatemala, Haiti, and Uganda to name a few.  You have proven to be caring, hard working and talented.

Many of you who are graduating today, have given your time to those in need.  One of you volunteers your time to an organization that provides intensive support to teens in crisis.  In an unbelievable show of hard work and dedication, one of you played a huge role in organizing the Special Olympics activities that took place here in Medfield back in April.  Others volunteer for organizations such as Best Buddies, Helping Hands, Cradles to Crayons, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Friend in Me program and the Medfield Food Cupboard.  You are caring, hard working, and talented.

How talented?  Several of you speak three languages, one of our graduates teamed with an under classmen to win a state science Olympiad competition; many of you have been recognized for your skill in dance and one of our students holds a black belt in karate. Two of you wrote novels, another writes for a very popular sports blog in Boston and several of you have started your own business.  You, the graduates of 2013 are indeed talented. 

I left out the names associated with the aforementioned accomplishments for one reason.  Recently, I asked one of you to explain to me why you have committed so much of your time to such worthy causes, the response was “we don’t do this for the recognition, we do this because it’s just the right thing to do.”

Our student speakers today have thanked your teachers for helping you learn and succeed.  We know that you want to be inspired by your teachers; yet, it is often we the teachers who are inspired by you.  As you leave us today, I ask that you continue to believe in yourself and your dreams.  There will be obstacles along the way, sometimes referred to as the brick walls.  I will always remember what the late Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch said about brick walls in his famous “Last Lecture.”  He said that brick walls are there for a reason; it’s to stop those who don’t want it enough.  Because you care that brick wall will not be an obstacle; rather, it will be a gatepost on your way to success.  Because you work hard, that brick wall will soon be a distant memory only to be replaced by the next challenge.  And you will navigate past that brick wall by using your many talents that you developed long before that 7th grade year.  My impressions of you have not changed over these past six years and I am proud of who you are and what you’ve become.

On behalf of all of the teachers in Medfield, I congratulate you the Medfield High School Class of 2013.  I wish you good luck and good health.  Thank you.

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