by Faraz Butte

It’s our time. Not just because we are graduating, not just because our fifteen years of education have culminated in this moment, but because we now possess the power to make a change in the world. As we move on from high school, we seize control of one more facet of our lives. The prospect of leaving all that is familiar and taking charge is a daunting task, no doubt. However, I say with confidence that my four years at L-S have provided me with much more than the education needed for such a change; it has given the strength, inspiration and determination to tackle all obstacles that lay ahead.

For the past four years, L-S has been our home. We’ve spent most of our day for most of our year within its halls. It has provided a place to learn, grow and play. As the first class to spend all four years in the new building, we’ve come to know the place more intimately than all those who have preceded us. We were able to make the school our own and finalize and carry on the new traditions that permeate the strong L-S culture.
But this was not one sided. In fact, it was much more L-S shaping us than us shaping L-S. Throughout of our education, we’ve been encouraged to make our voices heard in our communities, embrace others and make a difference in the world, truly putting our education to use. We have had the support and encouragement to follow our interests, creating a passionate student body that has taken action on countless issues. As a member of The Forum, I have come to read about these impressive efforts and am constantly astounded by the dedication and creativity of the faculty, staff and my fellow classmates. From the interfaith tolerance promoted by Ms. Kramer’s Breaking Barriers, to the thought provoking and moving efforts of Ms. Peck’s Project Support, to Ms. Crawford’s enlightening Compassion Week, we’ve taken a role in not only sending aid and relief to those who need it most, but have brought parts of the world into L-S, allowing students to experience other cultures, and foster an open and accepting community. From professional record deals, to international wave skiing titles, the class of 2008 truly shows what L-S is made of. We have activists organizing movements in town and in Boston, we have debaters winning national tournaments, we have athletes becoming All-American. Our class is made of individuals, 413 unique individuals who stand for what they believe in.
Yet as we move on from L-S, it is, now more than ever, important that we never let this spirit fade away. A piece of L-S will remain in all of us no matter where we go, and that piece is the strength and courage to stand for what we believe in. Whether it be an end to genocide, equality for all, education, relief efforts, hunger, health care or one of the many problems that our world faces today, it is imperative that we continue our efforts and care. L-S has given us many of the tools we need to change the world and our privileged position among the world’s elite gives us that much more power. We must always keep this dedication and care at the forefront of our thoughts.
Reflecting on the past four years of my life brings a certain emotion that is hard to describe. Thinking of the excitement of going off to college contrasted with the nostalgia of growing up and my time at L-S, I find myself unsure of exactly how to feel. I think of the late nights studying for tests and writing papers, yet then I think of the stimulating discussions I’ve had in and out of classes with teachers who have played such a major role in shaping who I am today. Though the philosophies of Plato, the derivatives of sine, cosine and tangent, and the results of the 1876 election may all make us more intellectual individuals, the majority of learning came as we interacted with each other, discovered ourselves and looked for our place in the world. It’s the kind of thing that no textbook, no matter how well written or how many answers in the back there are, will ever be able to teach.
Because both the faculty and students truly believe this, L-S has truly become a different kind of place. It has allowed all of us to have our own unique high school experience as we learned, grew and found out who were are. As we move on, the opportunities will only become greater. The poet William Yeats said, “Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.” L-S has sparked that fire that will continue to burn within all of us for years to come.
As we stand at the edge of a new frontier, I wish the class of 2008 the best of luck wherever the future may take you.