Dr. Viet Le, an alumni of Arborland Montessori, came back for our 2020 Graduation Ceremony and offered our graduates some words of wisdom:
"To the Class of 2020, you graduate at a time when our world is dealing with enormous challenges, but also at a time when the opportunities created by those challenges have never been greater. This will challenge you, but rest assured, you will succeed with the foundation that you have established at Arborland."
Full Speech:
Thank you, Dr. Chen!
Graduates, family members, and staff, it is an honor to be part of this celebration, this graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 at the Arborland Montessori Children’s Academy.
My name is Dr. Viet Le, and many years ago, I was Graduate #20 from this school. I remember the classes that I had with Ms. Cynthia, Ms. Salzman, and Ms. Foy. I remember how I was reminded to tuck in my chair and roll up a rug after I was done using it. I remember how using the Stamp Game helped me visualize addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. I remember how my family and I would work together to complete projects for the Science Fair. I remember recess and playing with my friends, some of which I still keep in touch to this day.
It is such a pleasure to share in this graduation ceremony with all of you as you close this chapter of your young life’s story. Just like all of you, I am also completing my educational career as a physician and finishing a chapter of my life. After graduation, I will be treating patients with neurological disease, specializing in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia processes.
Parents, you are probably wondering where the years have gone. As you marvel at your son’s and daughters’ accomplishments, it doesn’t seem too long ago when you first held their hand and brought them to school, toddling off to kindergarten. Of course, living through those years between kindergarten and graduation may have seemed like an eternity for the students today, and for some parents as well.
To the Class of 2020, you graduate at a time when our world is dealing with enormous challenges, but also at a time when the opportunities created by those challenges have never been greater. From what I have seen and what I have been told, the only aspect that is constant in life is change. You will be going off to a new school, taking new classes, and making new friends. Ultimately, all of this will challenge you, but rest assured, you will succeed with the foundation that you have established at Arborland.
You will be the ones that will bring solutions to environmental concerns and conservation of natural resources. You will create a technological world that was only found in science fiction stories. Someone among you may find the cure for cancer and other debilitating diseases. You are poised to start a new chapter of your life’s story starting today!
Again, my sincere congratulations to the class of 2020!