Class Address of DCDS’21
By: Vishal M. Sharma
Growing up, mornings were always a hassle. Waking up, getting out bed, making that same bed… don’t even get me started on that one… taking a shower, putting on my uniform, cleaning my room, putting together my school bag…literally any chore you can think of, I dreaded it. I was also tasked with making sure my twin brother Vivek was put together, which just added to the load. The best way to start your morning, right?
As soon as I was done with those things and passably ready for the day, I’d come downstairs to eat breakfast with my mom. She’d always ask, “What’s going on, sweetie?”. Being a Detroit Country Day student, surprise! Every day something was going on. Choir concerts, theater competitions, due dates for lines, rehearsals, JV track meets, deadlines for articles for the Day Times, volunteering obligations at religion school and the senior home, Kabir’s SAT prep… oh yeah, and then my quizzes, tests, and projects. Can’t forget those! My blood pressure was always spiking because there was non-stop activity. Something of importance seemingly defined each and every day. Anyhow, after breakfast, my brother and I would scramble to leave for school at the last minute, and my mom would scream out of the doorway “Good luck Angels!”. Every single school day without fail.
That phrase “Good luck” has rung in my ears, day in and day out for years on end. It’s a phrase that is universal in nature. We almost say it on impulse. Anytime someone has something going on, that is our standard response. It can be said sarcastically or unironically, but how ever it is said doesn’t make it any less common. As a result of hearing it so often, I say it daily. You got a game today that you’re not ready for? Good luck. You got a test that “makes or breaks your grade”, even though you’re already pretty broken as far as academics go? Good luck, I guess. Hearing back from your dream college? Good luck, because you’ll need it alright. I can’t think of a year where I’ve heard that aphorism said more. I also can’t think of a more obsolete phrase to apply to the class of 2021.
As I stand here addressing all of you, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. We made it with our heads held high. And that’s no thanks to luck. We are where we are on the merit of our hard work.
As seniors, it comes off as no surprise that this wasn’t the fairest conclusion to these last 4 years. Navigating through the final chapter of this absolute dumpster fire of a book has been an endeavor and a half. Our quintessential experiences, such as football games, spring break, and prom, were all compromised and weren’t even experienced by many because of the cloud of Covid.
To be perfectly candid, we never knew how long we’d go without seeing some of our friends, let alone having school face-to-face the next day. Never did I think that being at school all day would be a privilege, but I guess there’s truly a first for everything.
This illness has caused us as much panic from the unknown as much as it has caused grief from the very well-known. Yet, we’ve been as resilient as could be. When we didn’t know what would happen tomorrow, we still focused on today and kept going. Our convictions remained strong and our goals still structured. We didn’t allow the constant uncertainty to dull our gumption. We saw the potential of our hard work and efforts and never looked the other way. In the face of adversity, we tackled every challenge with pride, grit, and enthusiasm. As a result, in front of me are 173 of my peers, including 7 to-be ivy leaguers, dozens of collegiate athletes, and many more gifted and talented students. We’ve worked so hard to be where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going. I couldn’t be prouder of our class for sticking through these last few arduous and unpredictable months. May our work ethic only sharpen as we grow and mature in the coming years.
In closing, NO. I don’t wish any of you good luck. There’s no credibility to it. Where you are is on you, and you alone. We’ve proved that to ourselves and to the universe. Instead, may we be the beneficiaries of fruitful results, induced by our incessant initiative and unfaltering drive. Lots of love always. Thank you.
