Hi, my name is Maude Lehmann, I was at Parkside from 2010 to 2015. I was then at Summit from 2015 to 2018. And now I’m at the High School of Art & Design in the major of cartooning, I’ll be graduating from there next week and then in August I’ll be starting at Vassar College. I’m so honored to be speaking to you all today on the day of your graduation, Parkside is a really special school.
I have many wonderful memories from my time at Parkside–of fun and excitement and triumph. In 5th grade, my class held many mancala championships, a game where the point was to have the most amount of colorful rocks in your reservoir. I became the first champion and was one of the best Mancala players in 5-2.
In 4th grade the play I performed in was Les Mis, the story of a french peasant being chased by a relentless cop. I played Cosette, the adopted daughter of the french peasant. But I sang another character's song, On My Own, it was the only solo song I ever sang at Parkside, and I remember the feelings of pride and happiness I had in the couple of minutes of singing it.
I also have memories of playing in imaginary worlds, created by my friends like Irene or Benjamin. There were endless possibilities in these worlds, whether we were in a horror-esque school, or just creating a new civilization where pennies were worth the most of any form of currency. Either way, the worlds were fun and exciting.
Last time I was here I was graduating from 5th grade. I was really nervous, I would be leaving many of my friends for a brand new middle school where I only knew a select few people. I was worried how I would be received by all the people at Summit. Would they like me? Was I too weird to make any friends? All these thoughts floated around my brain from graduation all the way to the first day of 6th grade. But as soon as I got there, my fears vanished.
I’m sure many of the graduates here today are nervous about what to expect and have a lot of questions. But just like Parskide helped me prepare for 6th grade and beyond, I'm positive that Parkside has prepared all of you as well, not only for 6th grade but for everything after that. It was a long and challenging journey but I’m here to share it with you all.
When I first started middle school, one thing that helped me make friends and find a place at the school was art. Art was something I was good at and loved to do, so I was able to meet fellow artists who not only helped me on my artistic journey but also became some of my close friends in the process. Without Parkside's encouragement though, I would not be the artist I am today.
My art teacher, Ms Behar constantly encouraged me throughout my time here at Parkside, and being able to be in Studio Art really helped motivate me to draw all the time and be proud of my work, even if it was not my greatest. Without this encouragement not only would I have not made many of my friends. I also wouldn’t have dreamed of going to the High School of Art and Design, a large public high school.
A lot of the things I was passionate about my teachers helped nurture, specifically the librarian Mr Vargas. I remember talking to him and about books that I was reading and constantly going down to the library when I could to check books out. He even lent me a kindle to read on, which I did use. He had put all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books, and everything Dianna Wynne Jones ever wrote. If you liked Harry Potter, you will love Dianna Wynne Jones.
I read everything on that Kindle, and as time has passed I’ve become more and more invested in reading and my love for it has increased. I even wrote my college essay about Paradise Lost, an epic poem published in 1667 by John Milton, about the battle between God and Satan. My ability to and my love for reading began in and was nurtured by Parkside. I would have never have read as much or have become as invested in reading without the teachers and the librarians at Parkside.
Your journey at Parkside and beyond will be different from mine. But no matter what your personal journey ends up being, we have something in common. Parkside gave us tools and strategies that we can always remember.
Parkside’s strategies for self regulation, like big deal little deal, glass man, and others, continue to help me. A couple years ago I remember getting upset over the fact that my family were all using a soap my grandmother had gotten me for Christmas. While I was pretty upset initially, after looking over the situation and how little of an issue this was, I was able to calm down and establish some rules. And while I still often confuse small deals as big deals, I always use big deal little deal in those situations even though I’m rarely aware of it. I know I’ll face different challenges at Vassar, but I’ll rely on the strategies I learned at Parkside
Parkside has done a lot for me, and will do a lot for all of you in the upcoming years. Everything you’ve all learned and kept with you will help you in the future, even if you don’t realize it now. All of the things that may seem scary to you all right now, 6th grade, making friends, and even the uncertainty of the future, will all be answered in time and not so scary at the end of it.
I’m so proud to be here today, and I wouldn’t be here today without Parkside. Congratulations to all the graduates.