Valedictory

"Mr. Klein, Mr. Beller, honoured guests, teachers, parents, and fellow students:

We who have attended the High School of Performing Arts know that ours is a unique school. I’d like to talk to you today about the things that I found to be special about our school. In most other schools, any student who has artistic inclinations or is hard-working or original is ridiculed as weird. Many schools prize conformity and stifle creativity; in Performing Arts, one conforms by being different. The qualities of hard work, creativity, originality, and integrity, which are all too often scorned, are precisely the qualities which we respect.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the drama students who often stay in school until 5:00 or later to work on scenes, and the dancers who dance all afternoon. Music students work hard too, preparing our projects at home.

Performing Arts has achieved worldwide fame as a result of the movie of the same name. But Fame did not give an accurate portrayal of our school. It showed the surface, the fun and excitement of the performing arts, without showing the hours of labor that allow us to perform.

One of the things which makes Performing Arts special is the insight of the different departments in areas other than their own studios. Drama students often have great insight into English literature and philosophy, since they have read much of the literature. Dancers have a unique and interesting attitude toward music, based on the relationship between the two arts.

I found the criticisms my friends gave me to be of great value in my growth as a musician. I also encountered competition which was generally healthy and sportsmanlike. The jury projects which we have to perform at the end of each term kept me on my toes, and the music department was very helpful in giving me opportunities to perform.

While we look forward to the days ahead, I leave with some regret, since Performing Arts is the first school I have attended where I was respected for what I am. I am grateful for having had the opportunity of attending Performing Arts, and I thank you for making the last four years worthwhile."