Every year, on the day of the Senior Clap Out, the Student Body President addresses the Upper School students. This is the speech Baldur Tangvald ’11 (former Scroll Video Section Editor) wrote and delivered to the student body on Wednesday, May 19, 2011.

See photos from the clap out- click here.

Baldur’s Speech:

Well this is it, I guess

I’d say it’s been a pretty good run so far. At least for me it has. I’ve had fun. I’ve learned a lot.

So it turns out I was a very weird little kid. I have two older brothers and I have always felt the need to do whatever they did, so I generally tried to act as If I were at least 4 years ahead of my time. But there was something in my thought process that was totally, totally wrong.

There was one time, back in first grade, when we all went out to recess. I remember i climbed onto the playground and I saw a kid turning this enormous wheel mounted to the play set.

I asked the kid, “Why are you turning that?

He said to me, “For fun!”

And I just looked at him and I said, “Why, though? It’s not like you’re even going anywhere.”

I just didn’t get it.  Mr. Marin later told my parents that they need to work on me being a kid for once.

And through all the work that the teachers put into me, I ended up learning something of real importance. I was already blessed with work ethic, so this was really the lesson that has served me best ever since I learned it.  It’s a social rule that has never let me down. And it goes like this…

People like fun people. It is easy as that.  It’s about positivity, energy, and fun. People like to laugh, they like to feel good. I feel like I’ve come so far since that day, learned so much. I’ve improved.

Country day isn’t just about textbooks. If you’re going to school, minding your business and heading straight home afterward, I urge you to see that you’re missing the point of this all. This place is more wonderful than people initially imagine.

There is a reason why I came here over the weekend before the junior paper was due. I spent more time here than I did in my house.

There is a reason why you may see me here after hours, playing basketball or soccer or working in a study group.

There is a reason why I’ve come here an hour early every day for over a decade.

It is because I realized that I wake in up the morning in my house, and I drive 7 minutes to my home.

It is because for the last two years I have had no brothers in my house, yet I found no shortage of them here.

So do I know how many seconds of school the freshman have until they graduate?

No.

I measure time here, not in days, but in opportunities  – To go to academic team, to pass out the roll when we are not supposed to pass out the Roll, to film for the Scroll. I told myself to remember that every moment  I choose not to do something is a moment I cannot get back.

So I urge you:

Be adventurous. Grab a friend and go do new things until you find something you love to do.

Be positive: Everybody likes to be around someone that is upbeat. People like fun. Love the family that surrounds you.

And lastly, have a good summer. Thank you so much. Country Day, it has been an honor.