On Sunday, I attended my son’s high school graduation at the Westchester County Center. Seems like yesterday I was picking him up and tossing him around like a beanbag.

Now he can do that to me.

Well, parents everywhere are coping with the passing of time. It goes fast. They grow up too quickly.
Today, I received a copy of a valedictory speech given by Eliora Noetzel, who attended Yonkers HIgh School and will be heading off to Harvard in the fall. Her mother sent me the speech and I thought I’d share a little bit of it with you because it contains an important message about tolerance, something that’s in short supply.

Eliora enjoyed her experience at Yonkers HIgh, which she noted, is “one of the most diverse schools in the world.”
Continuing, she said the following:

“Many students born in countries all over the globe have come here, several hardly knowing English, and leave having taken honors courses and having been accepted to some incredible colleges. Those of you who have managed to excel despite differences in language and culture, you amaze me, and I am proud to know you. More importantly, the diversity in this school is a sign of hope for our future world. Although so much hate exists all over the Earth, here in his school, everyone is accepted for who they are, and factors such as race, color, and sexualtiy go unnoticed. We prove to the world that tolerance exists, and people from any nationa can gorw to love each other and tie themselves in a bond of friendship.”

Good luck Eliora and to everyone, everywhere, in the Class of 2006.