In her Valedictory Address, Gigi Friedman '21 honored her classmates for how they met adversity and sustained their commitment to EHS principles. 

At the beginning of our unique Episcopal experiences, we labeled ourselves, often trying to fit into a puzzle. Whatever our individual puzzle pieces reflected upon our arrival, most of us enter high school with a portrait of what we expect ourselves to be. 

But our lives cannot be rigid pieces to be forced into a larger, unchanging picture. As the years passed, we confronted challenges that transformed how we perceived ourselves and remodeled the frame of our puzzle piece. We encountered adversity; we evolved. 

Adversity can come in different forms. Dealing with a roommate like Maria Claiborne, whose sleepwalking often found her tunneling into my closet … or perhaps getting cut from the basketball team …  or struggling to find your social crowd. Whatever the challenges, we all face them. So, here we are, looking back at an experience that was totally different from what we expected. If we had remained as those old puzzle pieces, there is no way we could function in the world that frames us today. 

The obstacles we have faced have been nothing but a testament to the one characteristic that I believe stands out the most about the Class of 2021: our resilience. We were tested by the novel coronavirus but emerged stronger than ever. Even without a fully in-person senior year, we have proven that the pandemic has made us more tenacious and resilient in the long term. While the pandemic presented opportunities to shortcut our experiences, we as a grade upheld the values that this school has instilled in us — we did not rely on shortcuts to thrive. This year, we missed some of our favorite traditions but also had new and exceptional experiences, like virtually completing our externships in Stew-work and cheering on Charles Starks as he rocked the McCain-Ravenel “courage” merchandise. 

Whether in the classroom, on the sports fields, or during an intense round of Mario Kart, this class does not give up easily. Even when a failure occurs, we accept our mistakes and alter our approach. Psychologists believe that resilient individuals are better able to overcome challenges and reconstruct their lives after facing them. As much as resilience involves bouncing back from these difficult experiences, it also involves profound personal growth. The past four years have provided plenty of experiences for us to reflect upon in the future. In 20 years, hopefully, we will look back and laugh at the fact that we ate our meals outside on Hoxton Track, the same place where I cried after shabbily running the 400-meter race during my sophomore year. 

Throughout the years, there was not a single moment when I changed. It was gradual, and it came about by pushing through discomfort and obstacles, moving past adversity, and being resilient. We might not know at the moment what the next change will bring for us, but we know that there will be a result of personal growth. 

Now, what do we do with that growth? How will we use the resilience that we have built? Learning to be okay with making mistakes is a talent, one that we have learned from our four years of challenge. It is not only tied to resilience but perhaps to future success. 

As we leave today with diplomas in hand, I will store the memories we’ve made here. I am beyond proud to be part of this graduating class and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for us.

Congratulations to the class of 2021, the toughest and most resilient group I know.