News & Events 2007-2008

Baccalaureate Speech, May 21, 2008
Paul Clavel ’88

[Readers will note that special props were a major part of Mr. Clavel’s speech, including past facebooks and school directories, a warning slip, a varsity leather jacket and other items he refers to during the course of his speech…use your imaginations, and enjoy!]

I would like to welcome all the parents, family, friends, and faculty to Blair’s 2008 Baccalaureate. The students sitting in front of me have all spent different times here at Blair. 60 have experienced Blair for 4 years, 22 for 3 years, 22 for 2 years, and 20 for 1 year. To me, it doesn’t matter how long you were here, it just matters that YOU MADE IT. But within the four or five years of your high school career, there have been so many things that your generation has gone through. So many outbreaks and discoveries that have had a major impact on today’s society. I would like to talk about one particular phenomenon that has increasingly become an everyday habit and that has affected the whole world around us, yes, not just teenagers, but all age groups. Everyone’s doing it, your parents, teachers, and I’ve seen Mr. Hardwick dabble with it. The phenomenon that I’m talking about is a method of communication …TEXT MESSAGING. I remember it started around the time you all were freshman and after four years, has grown increasingly popular. You see, you seniors don’t know how easy you have had it for the past few years being able to relay messages and communicate with others without standing directly in front of them. I’ve seen many of you avoid confrontation by texting your boyfriend or girlfriend, your parents, friends, teachers, and coaches. Oh, you’re not alone, I’m ashamed with myself, I’ve done it before. But it’s right there at the palm of your hands, it eliminates so many uneasy situations. Yes, situations that make you feel nervous, kind of like giving a speech to hundreds of people. So, adhering to the most common tip in giving a memorable speech and utilizing this great technological advancement, I’m going to keep my speech short. In about 5 seconds I’m going to hit the send button on my phone and the whole senior class will receive my speech via text message. Please be sure to share it with your parents, family, and friends. Thank you and have a great night.

Okay, that didn’t work. Message Not Sent, No service. Advice #1 to the senior class, don’t always count on technology Advice #2 always have a plan B.

When Mr. Hardwick called me into his office to tell me that I was chosen to be the 2008 Baccalaureate speaker, there were so many feelings and questions that ran through my head. Why me? What did I do to deserve this opportunity? Did I really have a big impact on the Class of 2008? After pondering the many different answers, one reason kept coming to my mind….I AM a proud Blair graduate just like these 124 seniors will be tomorrow. For all those who don’t know my background, let me give you a quick overview. As Mr. Hardwick said, I graduated from Blair in 1988 as a four-year senior and had two other siblings do the same. As a student, I feel that I was pretty active performing a variety of roles within the community. School Council member, Prefect of East Hall, Blue and White Key member, Rules and Discipline committee member, freshman class president, admissions executive, three-year varsity lacrosse player, and four-year starter and captain of the wrestling team, just to name a few. In 2004, I came back to Blair to teach math and coach wrestling. This is the same year the four year seniors started their freshman year. So, I DO feel very close with them, having been part of their whole high school careers. TOGETHER, we experienced the victories and losses, the accomplishments and the failures, the acceptances and denials, and most of all the beginning and now the end.

Tonight, I want to share with you my feelings about MY BLAIR EXPERIENCE and what it did for me. Remember, I walked the same sidewalks, ate in the same dining hall, played on the same fields, lived in the same dorms, and if you were lucky, learned from a handful of the same teachers. While I am a person who doesn’t use lofty words what I say tonight comes straight from the heart. IN THIS BOX, I have a few items that are 20+ years old, that I have kept since my days at Blair. I will share them with you as I go along in my speech. They all have a special meaning and have affected my life in some way or another. Some represent a life lesson or trait that has helped define who I am today. The Blair experience has had a major impact on the way I act, the way I make friends, the way I socialize, and the way I make decisions.

There are two Blair “items” that influenced me in becoming a geometry teacher and wrestling coach. I couldn’t fit them in my box, but they are here with me tonight……….Mr. Jeff Buxton and Mr. Latta Browse. As a student, Mr. Browse was the first teacher that showed me learning can be fun. It was his class that I was always excited to go to. I actually enjoyed doing the homework, drawing shapes, and using formulas. I remember always sitting in the front of the classroom and competing with the other students to see who could get the highest grade. We didn’t have the privilege of using Geometer’s sketchpad and it always amazed me how Mr. Browse drew a perfect circle freehand. I KNEW, that if I ever was going to be a teacher it would be in mathematics. Mr. Buxton, WOW what a coincidence, geometry teacher and wrestling coach. He did not just teach me how to wrestle, but instilled in me the value of working hard and having self-discipline. I spent a whole lot of time with him in the classroom, dorm, and wrestling room. Like he continues to do now with all his students and athletes, he tried to lead me in the right direction so that I could become the best that I can be. And yes, he was feared as much then, as he is today. It is a pleasure working with these two gentlemen and I continue to learn from them every day. Although now that my life seems to be on the same path as both of them; I am very SCARED that I’m going to eventually end up walking around with two artificial hips, colored running pants, and worst of all BALD. Now, I’m not saying that you all should end up as teachers or coaches, but I do hope one or more of my colleagues or possibly myself, opened the door towards a passion, inspired you in some way, or I hate to use a cliché, made a difference in your life.

I know that this might come as a surprise, but the first item out of the box is a Warning Slip. I was given this warning slip from Mr. Charlie Underwood, my English teacher and to my knowledge, it is only one of two warning slips that I received in my four years at Blair. It states the following:

“Paul’s preparation for class is very inconsistent and is compounded by his behavior as the CLASS CLOWN. Instead of trying to benefit from class discussion, he spends his time thinking of wise remarks to make others laugh. This behavior hurts him and the rest of the class as well. He can do good work as his last paper showed, but he must do it consistently. He must also work in class, not play.”

Once I stopped questioning the accuracy of Mr. Underwood’s comments, I came to the realization that this is not how I want to be seen in the eyes of those that I respected….A CLASS CLOWN, not me! More humble, I entered the class with a different attitude and work ethic for the remainder of the year. There are two reasons why I saved this warning slip, 1) because I thought it was funny and 2) most importantly because it taught me a lesson. Making others laugh has always been part of my personality, but this warning slip made a lasting impression that the way you act is how people will perceive you AND there is a time and place for everything. So, don’t underestimate the importance of the small lessons you learned in and out of the classroom during your time here at Blair, hopefully they will be carried with you throughout your life. They have for me.

The second items I would like to pull out are four student directories or facebooks. I have saved one from each of my four years at Blair. For those of you who don’t know what these are, they are pictures and home addresses of every single student during that specific school year. You’re probably wondering why I would keep these four items. What use do I have with them? See to me, they’re not just pictures and addresses, but they represent a diverse group of people coming to a small town, living together, and learning about each other and each other’s culture. These books help me remember the people who were there in MY JOURNEY throughout my Blair career. I was not friends with all of these people, but interacted with them in one way or another. It was as diverse then as it is now. My best friends were from Saudi Arabia, New York, Virginia, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and Iowa. When you attend Blair, it seems like you have traveled the world without leaving Blairstown. You and I earned our wings!

Thank you, Seniors, for dedicating the yearbook to me. It is a true honor and words can’t describe how I feel. This 2008 yearbook will be a nice addition to my four other favorite books. Blair 1985, Blair 1986, Blair 1987, and Blair 1988. They all share a common theme and story, lasting friendships and memories. Living in the Blair bubble, my friends and I became very close, like many of you have. We continued to keep in touch in college, went to each others' weddings, and exchange Christmas cards every holiday season. In just a few weeks, I am looking forward to getting together with them and our other classmates to celebrate our 20th high school reunion. Traveling from all over the world, we will be reunited together one more time as the Blair Class of 1988 to rekindle the good old days. 20 years might seem like a long time for you, but I just recently looked at the Blair alumni website to see how far back the class reunions go. The oldest alumna returning is from the class of 1938 and at least 11 members from the class of 1948. Take a look around you, imagine what YOUR classmates will look like 60 + years from now, where will their lives have taken them. Think back a couple of weeks ago when fellow Blair alumni, Taki Theodoracopulos, Class of 1955, spoke at skeptics. Do you remember how his face lit up when he talked about all his fond Blair memories…especially when he shaved his classmate’s eyebrows. How vivid they were in his memory and how he emphasized the bonds and friendships he made and CONTINUES to have. Hopefully, you have taken advantage of THIS opportunity and made some lasting friendships and memories. Friendships and memories that can bring you back to Blair no matter where you might be. Next year in college, you will inevitably make new friends, but I urge you to maintain all the relationships you made here at Blair. If I did it, you can do it, it’s much easier now…especially with today’s technology. Come back to Blair on alumni day, stop by when you’re in the area, support Blair, and finally, flip through your yearbook once in a while. It’s a whole different feeling looking at it from the other side and you will truly appreciate the opportunity that was given to you.

The last item I am taking out, my Blair Wrestling Letterman’s jacket. I would put it on but I only wear it when I go to the mall with my wife. Just a jacket, ABSOLUTELY NOT. It has the name Blair on it, which makes it mean so much more to me… The first….TEAMWORK. My jacket is wrestling, my Data student’s might say Mathletes, but there are a variety of Blair jackets or sweatshirts that you all wear. From athletes to thespians, dorms to clubs, we all have our own special Blair apparel. Each and every one of you have participated in a sport, activity, or play and therefore learned the importance of teamwork. The long bus rides, practices, games, opening nights, dress rehearsals, making the deadline, NO ONE here at Blair goes through it by themselves. The support is given and received every day. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about.” In my personal experience as a student and the past four years as a teacher, I have watched all of you in the many games, theatrical performances, and club activities, and BELIEVE that the Blair experience holds this same principle. Being able to work together as a team is such an important skill that will be beneficial to you in the future, and it was at Blair that this foundation was laid. The last importance that this jacket represents is Blair TRADITION AND PRIDE. To me the name Blair symbolizes tradition and not just in athletics. Peddie Day, Bonfires, Walking under the arch, Bodinis, streaking the day of the first snowfall, skeptics, the B.I.G., headmaster’s holidays, and one of your favorite.. formal dinners. These are all memorable traditions that have remained strong throughout the years. Some of these traditions are over 100 years old and when you look back at your Blair days, they will be at the forefront of your memories. You saw a beginning and end to two Blair traditions. Your senior year began a new tradition of playing on the new outdoor athletic facility and at the same time saw the end of the 86 year old tradition of using the indoor track and wrestling room. I know that some of you, in your specific sport or activity, have a tradition that is passed down to the underclassmen. And history has proven, that when it is their turn, they will do the same. You can’t talk about the tradition of a school without talking about school pride. When meeting new people, I am not shy to say that I graduated from Blair Academy. One thing that I preach to the guys in my dorm is “don’t forget where you came from.” I love to wear Blair sweatshirts, I love telling people about my Blair days, I love what Blair has done for me. My pride for Blair is just as strong now as it was when I was a student, even stronger. Here’s a true story that best describes my pride for being a Blair graduate. Before I came back to Blair, I coached the #2 wrestling team in the nation, Blair being #1. My team was entered in the same tournament as Blair and it was the first time I would have to coach against my alma mater and Coach Buxton. At the start of the tournament Coach Buxton and I were talking. I told him it was going to be very strange coaching against him and Blair. He said of course, what color is your blood? Without hesitation, I replied ……..BLUE and SILVER.

So tomorrow when you walk under the arch for the last time as a student and then again for the first time as an alumnus, you will experience the most important Blair tradition of them all, GRADUATION. Celebrate your accomplishment and when you are done, make time to reflect and possibly gather a few items to put in your own BLAIR box.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the next step of your life and Blair has prepared you well, it did for me. Thank you, and congratulations.

Posted 6/19/08

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