Alumna Shares Wisdom with Graduating Class of 2016: Initiative and Patience

Good morning. My name is Izzy and I graduated from Hillbrook in 2012. I just recently graduated from Archbishop Mitty and I will be heading to Vassar College in New York in the fall.

It is so lovely to be back on the beautiful Hillbrook campus and see all of my favorite people once again. I still remember my Hillbrook experience like it was yesterday. Through the various class trips, the art shows and plays, all the fun school-wide activities, and of course the rigorous interactive classes, I sure did have a lot of fun here, but most importantly, I was challenged, and given a wonderful sense of community. With this excellent education, there is no doubt in my mind that Hillbrook prepared me for high school, and for life.

Coming from this small, tight-knit community, I have some important advice I’ll impart to you, the class of 2016, that I wished I would have known going into the giant world of high school.

First of all, I didn’t realize this when I left Hillbrook but high school is very different from middle school. It’s bigger, harder, and a little more lonely. You are not within the Hillbrook bubble anymore. There is no one looking out for you to the same extent so you have to make your own decisions.

So in this big world of high school, how do you find your place? How do you succeed?

In writing this speech, I really had to think about this. What pieces of advice would people remember, what would really help them?

Almost everyone will tell you that to be successful in high school you should get involved, work hard, don’t be afraid to ask for help, follow your passions, and have fun. These are definitely important pieces of advice, but looking back these are not the first things that I would have wanted to know going into high school.

From my experiences in high school, I have two pieces of advice that I would have benefited knowing as a Freshmen…

The first is to take initiative. At Hillbrook, getting involved is not hard to do. You have wonderful, empathetic teachers who want you to do well, who pay attention to when you are succeeding or doing poorly, and will get involved if you lose your focus, concentration, or confidence. In high school, you may often feel that no one is doing this. You have to be more proactive to get what you want. If you want to have good relationships with your teachers, go up to them after class and start a conversation. If you want to be friends with someone, ask if you can sit with them at lunch. If you want to join a sport, practice beforehand and show up for tryouts. In any case, go out and take initiative to get what you want. In a sense, success in high school whether it be academically or socially, depends on you pushing yourself to do things beyond your comfort zone. Indeed, the most important thing you’ll learn in high school, is how to function well in situations that seem a little uncomfortable.

My second piece of advice goes hand in hand with taking initiative and that is, in high school, it is very important to be patient. I’ve realized that life is equal parts going out and getting what you want and being patient and reasonably calm when it is not going according to plan. My Freshmen year, I remember feeling this immense frustration. I didn’t understand that I wasn’t automatically going to have best friends glued to my side, or teachers who knew me and loved me. But this was because I was not patient. When you don’t think you made the right friends, when you didn’t get the best grade in a class, when you think your teachers don’t know your name, just be patient and if you put in your best effort things will start to fall in place.

High school is indeed a different place, but the good thing is that Hillbrook has prepared you for it. Hillbrook has shaped you all into excellent students; that’s what it does best, after all. And once you leave Hillbrook, the many academic skills you’ve picked up, and friendships you’ve formed stay with you forever. Don’t take this for granted: these social and academic skills will help you find your way in high school. And remember: to take initiative and be patient.

Before I go, I just want to say that one of the things you will all miss about Hillbrook is the fabulous teachers. Make sure to keep in touch with them and visit frequently. Also, shout out to my girls Deda and Ms. Johnson. I know you guys are retiring this year and I just wanted to say that you guys were great teachers and I wish you well in the next chapter of your life. Thank you all and good luck to the class of 2016.