Photos by Derek Szigeti

Commencement: 2010
Sunshine and Oratory
By School Chronicler Harry Tubman

Once again, Forman dodged a flurry of dismal weather forecasts and convened in full sunlight (and humidity) to honor the graduating class of 2010. And honor them we did with bagpipes, cheers and some eloquent oratory.

Head of School Adam Man addressed the seniors by exhorting them to heed the advice of many recent Forman graduates who have used Forman’s regimen during the academic year, especially mandatory study halls, as the basis for achieving success in the much less structured environment of college life. He then expressed gratitude to the class of 2010 for their spirit, individualism and unique contributions to our community. “You are irreplaceable,” he told them.

Renowned film director, Norman Jewison, greeted the graduates by extolling the symbolism of the Graduation Tree that has represented strength and continuity for 79 commencements. He quoted Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” with “Never did nature betray the heart that loved her,” and urged the seniors to respect nature’s power and beauty, to pursue truth and individual passions rather than celebrity and to avoid the pitfalls of society’s “days of hype and glory.” Because “we live in a participatory democracy,” Mr. Jewison urged the graduates to “beware of phonies,” trust in their own instincts, learn to serve and harmonize their goals with their talents. And finally, “Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts.” “It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice,” he said.

Senior class President, Cameron Billik, echoed Adam Man’s sense of community and reminded his classmates that they have forged a vital common bond through the strength of their common goal, namely turning individual learning differences into assets. “As Ernest Hemingway once said, ‘The world breaks everyone and afterwards, many are stronger at the broken places,’ ” said Cameron. “Today on June 5, 2010, I can say that on behalf of my senior class, we have been broken, but now, we are stronger at the broken places…together.”

The Forman School 2010 Commencement Award Recipients- Click Here