Happy that a shift in a rainy day forecast allowed them to graduate beside Springs' iconic lake, 67 seniors became Indian Springs School alumni/ae on May 20 at the school’s 62nd Graduation Exercises held on the Town Hall lawn. Addressing classmates and more than 750 family members, faculty, and friends during the 90-minute ceremony, four members of the graduating class spoke from the heart about their time at Springs.
“If our high school experience were a movie, we hit the jackpot because Springs is as magical as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,” said Julia Fleisig ’16, who delivered opening remarks. “[Director] Mr. Vaughan would definitely be Dumbledore, and [Dean of Student Life] Ms. Fortson is our fierce Professor McGonagall.
“If our high school experience were a movie, our film would have an exceptional cast of talented teachers and adults who taught us not only academic lessons, but also valuable life lessons,” she continued. “These teachers have supported us through the best of times and worst of times and I can wholeheartedly say that all they want is to see us succeed in life. … At what other place are we lucky enough to have teachers, friends, and opportunities that are as special, if not more, than the characters and places most people only get to dream about in books and movies?”
To first semester Mayor John Touloupis ’16, the magic of Indian Springs stems from the freedom that the school gives students to learn and grow from their mistakes, in and out of the classroom.
“Springs has developed me into a Renaissance Man of sorts,” Touloupis said. “I can sing Bach, draw and paint, integrate definite integrals, lead the basketball team in free-throw percentage, start soccer games at center back, establish and run a [Student Government] Instagram, plan recreation events, analyze stock market beta, create new dances, plan formal, write poetry, make $2,000 selling Pop-Tarts and Gatorade, … help raise 10 grand for cancer research, discuss the Napoleonic Wars, and most importantly ...
“Well the thing is, I don’t know most importantly,” he said. “Because I haven’t gotten there yet. But what I do know is by just living and enjoying life, Springs has afforded so many chances to get involved and grow as a person.”
Springs teaches students to think not just as students, said second semester Mayor Mira Walker ’16, but also as “confident, opinionated, inclusive, respectful individuals.”
“Becoming a well-rounded person doesn’t just mean doing sports and theater and student government, though Springs certainly has allowed us all to become well-rounded in this sense,” she said. “To me it means having academic intelligence and book smarts as well as those vital, character-building life experiences that can only happen outside of a classroom. We score well on APs and ACTs and SATs and all the other tests out there, but all of that takes a backseat to our real-life education through all of the other unique life experiences we are able to have. Here, we have had experiences, made connections, and formed relationships that took our high school education to a completely different level.”
The tolerance and open-mindedness that Springs fosters makes learning personal here, said Cheska Romero ’16 in her closing remarks. “In many cases, the students or teachers will try to point out how the material pertains to us as people, how literature relates to our favorite contemporary movies, how anatomy classes can help us take care of ourselves,” she said. “In the end, we end up learning about each other as well as ourselves. …”
Springs’ emphasis on respect for others means that student friendships defy boundaries of gender, race, sexuality, religion, and grade level, said Romero. “I found that standing beside genius, bright students never made me dumber or dimmer. It made me brighter, especially because a lot of these amazing students became close friends who I’d spend hours and hours with outside the classroom. A lot of my accomplishments I owe to my peers because they inspired me, encouraged me, and gave me confidence.”
Before the awarding of diplomas, Director Gareth Vaughan presented Walker with the 2016 Leadership Award, selected by faculty on the basis of exemplary leadership and character shown through participation in student activities. Faculty Emeritus Mac Fleming presented Romero and Rob Pulliam ’16 with 2016 Spiritual Awareness Awards, awarded by their classmates to two seniors embodying the qualities of dignity, humanitarianism, and spiritual awareness.
Congratulations to all our graduates and their families!