For a Chapin student, the school year winding down means more than an upcoming summer break and final exams. They look forward to many traditions throughout these closing weeks, one of which is our final K-12 Assembly.
This gathering is a special one as the eldest students in each Division share advice with their peers. From Class 3 in the Lower School, Class 7 in the Middle School to Class 12 in the Upper School, advice and memories were shared last week with an eager audience.
Taking the microphone first were Class 3 students. One girl advised her peers to get to know their teachers, explaining that you may not realize it now, but they will help you more than you can imagine. Another student shared her experience developing her problem-solving skills, suggesting that when you are stuck on a hard problem, instead of feeling frustrated and giving up, patience and persistence will get you through it. This, she said, was learned the challenging way during a math quiz (and yes, she did solve the problem!).
Stepping up to the stage next were our Class 7 representatives from the Junior Council. Each had surveyed their Advisory group to gather advice their whole class had to share about their Middle School experience. The consensus was clear: learn how to manage your time, be kind, try not to spend too much of your time stressing about your grades and, most important, be present and make as many friends as you can.
Capturing the spirit of this grade most eloquently, one student said, “For me, Middle School has been full of both challenges and unforgettable memories, and if I can give one piece of advice to someone just starting, it would be to take it all in. Enjoy every moment and know that it’s ok to ask for help along the way.”
As the last group of students introduced themselves at the mic, cheers and applause rivaling their singing of The Chapin School Song rang out for members of the senior class. The first two speakers were Chapin “sole survivors,” having attended K-12, who first met in a “daddy and me” dance class at 2-years-old.
Reflecting on their friendship, one said, “In all that time, we’ve had so many experiences where we saw our interests changing and what’s important to us changing, and we’ve gotten to see each other develop.” Now, she remarked, “my advice to you is that even if you’ve been friends since you were two, or just became friends as seniors about to leave, make sure to support your friends through everything. Always cheer them on, always be someone they can go to, and allow yourself to grow and change. The person that you think you’re going to be in Lower School, Middle School — even the beginning of Upper School — is never how you turn out in the end. So, allow yourself to change, allow your friends to change and embrace it all.”
Advice about taking risks and trying new things came from seniors who have tried as many of Chapin’s extracurricular programs as they could. They encouraged their peers to use these as opportunities not only to meet new friends (in your grade and beyond) and experience new things, but to learn about yourself saying, “Discover things that you love, or that you might not love, as both of those things are equally important.”
Personal development was the theme of much of the advice the seniors had to share. Another student spoke about what she’s learned about herself as a person at Chapin. She reflected, “Looking back at my time here, my biggest pieces of advice are don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it… the only real expectations that I feel are truly, truly important are the ones that you set for yourself. Always try to put forward your best effort. What matters is that you feel proud of yourself for doing your best…Every student is different and what might be good for one student may not be good for you, and that’s ok. As long as you’re trying your hardest… and you’re being the best version of yourself, being proud of yourself is the most important thing.”
The last student to share spoke from the perspective of joining Chapin in the middle of Upper School. She urged her fellow Chapin peers to embrace the hard parts of life and see what they can learn from those challenges. For her, “struggling, striving and sometimes stumbling, I uncovered a deeper clarity about who I am and what I stand for. The effort didn’t just lead to outcomes. It rooted me, reconnected me to my values and revealed strengths I hadn’t yet named.
“If there’s one truth I’ve come to understand, that I want to share with you, it’s this: not all hard work is met with recognition. You may strive with everything you have and still not receive the award, the position or the outcome you imagined, but the effort is never wasted. In the absence of applause, something quieter and far more lasting takes root… You cultivate skills that shape not just what you can do, but who you are becoming. Recognition fades, but the person you become through the hard work remains.”
To bring the Assembly to a close, and as a special moment of recognition for Class 12, the Kindergarten class, led by LS Music Teacher Hallie Stotler, sang “I’m Growing Up”, a beautiful and moving song. Like the Class of 2037 sang, with hopes and dreams our Class of 2025 is making their way in the world, learning and making friends along the way.
