McLean High School Principal Convocation Speech to the Class of 2012

McLean High School principal Deborah Jackson shared excerpts from the speech she gave to the senior class of McLean High School at last week's convocation, which occurs the day before graduation. She spoke to the class about what they have meant to the school. She also recognized honor graduates and those entering the military.

McLean Patch thought readers would enjoy this moving speech:

 "Every year, I find it to be very difficult to write about a class and its accomplishments. Each class has it uniqueness and special personality.  However, this time it was relatively easy. This class entered in 2008 and since their arrival four years ago, we have been impressed by every aspect of their schooling. This class has some of the strongest individuals with more potential than anyone could ever imagine.

It takes a lot to graduate from high school today, not only grades and teachers with high expectations, but dealing with peers, high expectations from parents, community perceptions and the future. 

What I found at McLean High School are hardworking students, especially seniors, who were dedicating time to changing the culture of their school to making it a more spirited place. With all the things going on academically in their lives, there were numerous accomplishments made individually as well as collectively that left an imprint on the school. They set a great example on how to handle life, and how to balance the real world and school.  This year’s class…

• Will be matriculating at 126 colleges and universities throughout the United States and abroad. These schools include some of the Ivy League colleges.
• Excelled in the classroom, giving McLean High School five National Merit Finalists.
• Ninety-two percent of the class will be attending a post-secondary institution next year; 2 percent will enter the U.S. Armed Forces; 6 percent will enter the workforce and engage in other activities to determine your future goals. 
• Will see seven students go into the U.S Armed Forces.
• Received more than $5 million in scholarship offers. This success reflects the dedicated work and high expectations held by our teachers, staff and parents.
• Has supported each other during the good and the bad times; laughed and danced together at homecoming, the winter dance and prom. 
• Produced an outstanding yearbook and thus, bringing another Crown award, the highest honor nationally for a yearbook publication. While the yearbook staff was hard at work, the broadcast journalism students were at work publishing our Highlander news magazine and morning news show.
• Rated high in the area of performing arts. They were featured as the top performing band in Virginia at the Virginia Music Educator Association’s State Conference. They were the Grand Champions of the Worldstrides Heritage Music Festival in Boston in April. The Highlander Marching Band placed seventh out of 30 in the Bands of America National Championship at Towson in October. They were also the overall Grand Champions at USSBA Annapolis Competition and the Oakton Classic. The Jazz Ensemble placed third in the Chantilly Jazz Festival in March. The Winter Guard came in first place in the Atlantic Indoor Association Regional Championship in March. The McLean Orchestra was showcased internationally while on tour Germany.
• Excelled in theater arts. This year, MHS students had 17 Cappies' nominations for various awards. They finished the evening clinching six of  the major Cappies awards. 
• From September to June, excelled in many different athletic events being named to district, regional and state championships teams. In the 57-year history of the school, we’ve not seen the kind of recognition we’ve seen this year.
• This class has  a record number of students named all district, all region, and all metropolitan in various sports.  This class breaks last year’s record with 23 students who will be participating in athletics at the next level.
• Has seniors who care about others more than they care about themselves. Of the 120 McLeadership mentors, most were seniors.  They committed to the McLeadership mentoring program to support their freshmen mentees.
• This is the greatest gift one could give…service above self and to others.  Also, in their quest to stop hunger around the world, the class over four years has raised nearly $10,000 and organized the school to participate in a community event where they assisted in packaging 150,000 meals to be sent around the world. 
• They have taken on important initiatives to stand up for what is right, during our Stop Bullying Now Campaign.

So many times, this class has made me smile this year. Now, they are getting ready to venture out into that big scary world, no longer high school students, but graduated adults.

I hope they will follow their dreams, reach their greatness, and make themselves proud. They should never let their own doubts or anyone else get in their way. At the end of the day, they will be judged by the mad dash they made to do something, and not by their stumble or fall while trying.

I would like to thank the Class of 2012 for continuing to raise the bar for everyone at McLean High School and staying strong. I also want to thank them for being part of my life for the past four years and contributing to the continued growth the school and me personally as their principal."

McLean Patch also requested a copy of the convocation speech by the Langley principal through the public information office of the Fairfax schools.

McLean High Students Attend Nearly 130 Different Colleges, Earn $5 million in Scholarships