Lynsey Jeffery, Kempton, and Livia Oliver, Kutztown, spoke to their fellow 113 graduates of the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts about choices and change during a graduation ceremony at Lehigh University on June 13.
“Experiences that force to make choices within ourselves force us to develop personality,” said Oliver. “In the simplest terms, choose to be better people. That is a choice you always have.”
Oliver said every choice matters. She told her fellow graduates that their choices created them. She advised them to apply this to their everyday life.
“We have all been in situations that were out of our control. And how can you make a choice when you simply don’t have any? This phrase is not for the things we cannot change. In those situations the choices you have to make come from within. When you can’t control anything in your life, remember you can always control yourself.”
Oliver told them to choose to be kind, empathetic, and to learn.
“Being aware of your flaws and acting to change them is maturity, not a front. Allow yourself to grow as a human being,” she said. “Choose to grow instead of acting on selfish intent. Mold a personality that’s kinder, stronger, and more mature but still in every way 100 percent you.”
Much in relation to their art; she said they create themselves. She advised to keep making good choices.
“Because whatever you chose after this day will lead you to new moments, in new places, with new opportunities and lessons to learn. Go remembering that you are in control of yourself. It’s all a choice.”
Jeffery spoke to the Class of 2016 about change.
“In case word hasn’t gotten around yet, today is an important day,” said Jeffery. “Today is a day where we look back, we recognize and celebrate all we’ve accomplished. We laugh, and cry, at all the fond memories we’ve made, we say goodbye to the things we’ve loved, and the things that have driven us crazy over the past four years. We end an era in our lives. But today we do not only look back. We also look forward. We celebrate what’s to come, and how well we’ve been prepared for it. We get ready to enter a new stage in our lives. We get ready for change.”
While change seems a scary thing, Jeffery said that they as a class have experienced change every day.
“As we make arguably the biggest change of our lives, we see that it has made us stronger. We have become ready for change.”
Art, too, is constantly changing, she said.
“As artists we must adapt to new styles, surroundings, and places in our lives. As we develop, our art follows, morphing and evolving constantly into new creations. Both the art we create and the art that inspires us changes daily. So we must look to the implication of all of this change. Because of constantly being asked to adapt to changes, we have become adaptable people. We no longer need to feel the intense trepidation that comes with making a big life change… a skill that will serve us the rest of our lives.”
Jeffery said that the Class of 2016 has learned how to adjust to new situations, new people, new spaces, and new ideas.
“The class of 2016 thrives in the face of change. Look out world, because we are ready to change you.”
Jeffery, 18, a theatre major, was Student Council President for the past two years. After graduation, she will attend the University of Maryland to study broadcast journalism. She is the daughter of Lisa and Roger Jeffery.
Oliver, 18, a visual art major, will attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she will major in animation. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Barry D. Garner and Mr. Donald Oliver.
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts is an audition-based, tuition-free, public charter school for grades 9-12, who have a passion for the arts. Students major in one of seven artistic areas: dance, theatre, vocal music, instrumental music, literary arts, figure skating or visual art.
