Theme & Motto

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Theme

Proactive

Most things in this world have dual meanings and interpretations. For example, a mountain is tall, formidable, and sometimes daunting. But it is also elevating, strong, and inspiring. What meaning you see all depends on your perspective and on what you choose to do with your life. For the Class of 2017, we decide to be proactive.

Encompassing our entire education at Williamsburg Academy, no matter which year we entered the school, are the lessons of great leaders and leadership. From signing the Honor Code to following Williamsburg Ethics, we are given ample opportunities to apply what we learn and become great leaders ourselves. Now, as the Class of 2017 prepares to enter a new stage of life, we reflect on what we have learned and what leadership means to us.

Leadership is bravely going first and getting outside of your comfort zone. It's accepting that you don't know everything and seeking the best knowledge and education. Its recognizing and realizing our talents and using them to help others. Understanding leadership inspires us to be proactive and leads us to ardently pursue opportunities to forge new paths.

This is what inspired our motto: "Go... where there is no path and leave a trail."

What does leaving a trail look like?

The Class of 2017 took chances to leave the trail several times throughout their high school career by composing and completing their own leadership projects in the Social Leadership class, embarking on humanitarian trips to Guatemala, organizing fundraisers, leading discussions in class, applying to colleges, and, of course, graduating from high school.

, to

Motto

Go and Do

With each of these opportunities and experiences in forging new trails we not only helped others, but also we discovered ourselves. We--like our mentors keep encouraging us to do--became ourselves.

And as brand new members of the whole wide world, we want to be remembered for our examples of leadership, expressions of talent, and our pursuit of elevated education and experience. We want to be remembered for who we are and who we can become.

The Future

As graduation passes, it is time to look forward. We each have an empty book in our hands and words in our heads raring to take form on paper. By building a strong foundation of principles and lessons throughout high school and equipping our characters with elevated attributes and expectations, we can now build and shape the future.

Thanks for supporting us and being with us in our years of growth and education and for being here now at our graduation. We will fondly remember all of those mentors, parents, friends, family, and others who have helped and pushed us to this moment of triumph.

And when future times of discouragement and despair begin to darken our vision, these memories will act as a light beckoning us forward to greater times ahead.