My 2020 Rockport Salutatorian Speech

While it feels a bit strange being here months after we finished school, I am still extremely thankful that I get the chance to stand up here and address my classmates and reflect on our shared time together. During quarantine, I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be from Rockport, to attend school here, and to be a part of the Class of 2020. Part of the charm of being from a town as small and historic as Rockport is watching what doesn’t change--seeing what aspects of our community are passed down generation by generation. However, in these past few months, it seems like change is the only thing we can count on. While at times it can be frustrating and jarring, I believe the way our class has handled this unprecedented year shows our ability to face the equally unpredictable future.  

In quarantine, I took many walks through the woods near my house, exploring the local quarries, which are full of rich, Rockport history. Many of them have relics remaining, from pulleys and chains, to the piles of perfectly cut granite everywhere, a reminder that unlike the future, the past is set in stone. The quarries are an important and essential part of Rockport, and as I continued my walks I began to realize that in a way, they are much like our school. The granite that comes from them is unique, and like us, it was carved out of this community, shaped and molded in Rockport until it was ready to be sent out into the world. 

Historically, Rockport granite was used forthree main things. Primarily it was used to construct roads throughout the country. We students have grown up and been educated here, and now it is time for us to step forward and create our own paths, lay down our own roads. Whether attending one of the 44 various colleges our classmates are off to, doing work in the trades, or traveling, members of the Class of 2020 are heading off to 17 states, and branching out across 3 different countries. Roads lead to unknown destinations, and are the start of great adventures. As we leave Rockport, heading out far and wide, we will be paving the roads to the future, spreading the strong community values that growing up here has instilled in us, and every road we encounter will be a reminder of our connection to home. 

A second use of Rockport granite was to build bridges. Bridges signify support. They represent a connection from one side to another. As we grow into responsible adults, ever more conscious of the world around us, it is up to us to build bridges toward positive change. We will take the ideals we have learned here--collaboration, from being part of a team, charity, from our community service, communication, from group projects and discussions, and acceptance, from being part of this inclusive and welcoming RHS family--and we will apply those values to everyday life. Each of us will be keystones, holding up the bridges to the future. We will unite the gaps between belief systems, leading the way to a world in which there is a place for everybody. And though our bridges might cross troubled waters, we have more than proven our ability to persist and rise above, just like our town has taught us.

The granite’s third use is all around us. Almost everywhere you look you can find the stone, intricately woven into the fabric of the town. It exists in the walls, the sidewalk curbs, the houses, and foundations. Rockport granite is an essential part of this place we call home. The students that are remaining in Rockport--whether for the year, while they take their classes online, or for the rest of their lives--will collaborate to lay the groundwork for the next generations, rebuilding the town’s infrastructure to make it as welcoming as we can. Like the granite breakwater, we will create safe harbors, sheltering those who need protection from the storms around us. 

Right now, things are very difficult in our town, our country, and beyond. Tensions are high, and it feels as though a great tide of change is sweeping over us. Despite the unprecedented changes the world is facing today, one idea that remains prevalent inour society is that we must care for one another. It is as simple as that. Without care, without empathy, how can anyone survive, let alone thrive? We are so lucky to have been raised in Rockport, to have come of age in a town and school that have nurtured us, and encouraged us to be our best selves. Where a sense of family is upheld, and we are taught to value other people's safety and wellbeing, as well as our own. Where we stand up for each other, encourage service, and learn that despite our differences, we are pieces of a whole, stronger when we stand together. We will be the foundation of a new world, and therefore it is up to us to support the creation of a positive and inclusive future--just as Rockport has supported us. 

And so I leave you with this: When a rock hits the water, it sends out a ripple, affecting everything it touches. We are all rocks from the same quarry, and like it or not, we are being thrown into a tumultuous sea. Wherever we land we will create a ripple of difference, spreading intellect and compassion to those we reach. Alone, we may make only a splash. But together, with humility and generosity in our hearts, we will create a wave of change. Thank you.