If you have ever entered my classroom, whether for a study hall, a class, or even to visit a friend, you were probably quick to notice the quote on the bulletin board behind my desk. The quote, in cactus-patterned letters, comes from Vergil’s Aeneid, a classical epic (and a reading on the AP Latin syllabus) about the founding of Rome by a dutiful man named Aeneas. Widely regarded as the magnum opus of all Latin literature, the myth served to share countless lessons and valuable messages to the Roman people, and is universally relatable to readers today. At the time of the quote, Aeneas and his comrades have just made landfall after enduring a heartbreaking shipwreck and the loss of many fellow Trojans. Aeneas, in an attempt to rouse the spirits of his men, begins to address them hoping to relieve their pain and grief. He reminds them of the hardship they have already faced and encourages them to recall their courage, rid their fear, and remember their mission. Aeneas then delivers the aforementioned quote, forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit, or “Perhaps one day it will be pleasing to remember these things.”
High school is tough—the devastating loss of Principal Sean Hughes, the challenging content in your classes, the lack of (or more like absence of) student parking on campus—I have heard it all over the years. However, it is in the present moment, now that you have finished your years here at LM, that you might smile reminiscing on this time. For me, it is thinking back to my dear memories of Hughes that brings me happiness. When I look at the LEGO Colosseum in the back of my classroom, I remember my students begging Hughes for it and how the box showed up at LM a week after he had passed. Participating in this year’s Lip Dub was another great memorandum of Hughes. I tried to channel my biggest smile and excitement in each move as I drew to memory the end of both the 2014 and 2017 productions, when Hughes smiled ear to ear, most likely having more fun than any student there. It is connecting with students, leading with intention, and embodying “Character Counts” in my daily life that helps me find that joy and contentment.
Now it is your chance to do the same. You have endured and persevered through the highs and lows of high school, and are prepared for what life brings you next. Exciting adventures lie ahead, and I know the best is yet to come. Look back on these four years at LM with fondness and treasure the memories—even the difficult ones. While I recognize this chapter is not quite over yet, and it may feel bittersweet, it is my hope that you will find a moment to cherish these times. Tuck some stories away, write them down in a journal, share them with an admired teacher or a trusted friend. Most importantly, always remember your alma mater—you are forever a part of Aces Nation, and there are so many people here who will be on your team in perpetuum. Congratulations seniors—you will be missed!
