Salutatory Speech

By In Suk Jung

When asked to come up with a speech for today, I really had no idea what to talk about. I tried to think of something great and insightful to share with everyone, but it seemed too arrogant to assume that my short life contains any of the great knowledge and wisdom to impress everyone in this hall. So I thought that it would be best to talk about something I have learned personally - some topics I am sure that all graduates who have gone before have talked about: freedom, opportunities, and responsibilities.

When I first came to Woodstock, I thought that this was not a school, definitely not a high school. Which high school in the world would not have four hours of study hall in a day? Which high school in the world would finish at 4 o'clock? Which high school would actually have more free time than study time? My day at the Korean high school would start at 6 o'clock in the morning and end at 12:30 at night.

For me, used to a tight and rigid system in Korea, Woodstock was a vacation. First, I did not know what to do with all my free time. Sudden freedom was not what I could handle easily as a ninth grader. I used to waste my free time staring into the computer screen or gazing out the window. It did not take long for me to understand that there are consequences when you cannot be responsible for yourself. My grades started to fall due to all the distractions that freedom gave. And it did not simply stop at that level. Relationships with my friends started to collapse, and it seemed like the teachers started to hate me. Now, it was not just my grades; my entire life in Woodstock started to fall apart. Even after all those experiences, it still took me a long time to be responsible for myself, to fix myself. And I still can't say that I am fully responsible. However, I can tell you that I think I am ready to take on the responsibilities waiting in my future.

And as I think about the future, our futures, I realize that it is a double-sided coin. On one side, there is a bright future, happy life, and almost unlimited freedom. No more lights out, no more 100-meter dashes from Midlands to get to study hall, no more dorm parents chasing after us. But on the other side, there is responsibility as heavy and unlimited as the freedom is. If the coin is one-sided, it would not be real and, therefore, would not have any value. Only when the coin has both sides, balanced and even, will it be truly valued.

Take both sides of your coin, responsibility and freedom. And do not fear, for we have something of value. We have made it through Woodstock. And we are brave "Intrepid". Fearless souls, it is just another step, one more step closer to our dreams. Thank you, everyone, for providing me with this great experience.