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WESTPORT, Conn. The gym at Westports Bedford Middle School was packed with proud parents, family members and friends as nearly 300 eighth-graders became incoming high school freshmen.
Before the 290 students walked across the stage to receive their eighth-grade certificates, they were treated to laughs and words of advice from student team leaders Nicolas Ribolla, Jimmy Ray Stagg and Julia Schorr.
Were going to continue to make mistakes all through our lives and learn from them. Even when youre old, have a receding hair line and are giving butterscotch to your grandchildren, you wont be perfect, Julia said, eliciting laughs from the crowd.
But if we have people to support us as we go through our journey, and push us to try new thingseven if it means well make a few mistakes along the waythen well ultimately be successful.
Playing off William Shakespeares Seven Ages of Man, Jimmy Ray told his fellow classmates that they all, over their three years at Bedford, went through the Seven Ages of Bedford. As they entered Bedford as sixth-graders, he said they were the infant." Now, as they graduate middle school, he said they have reached the seventh and final stage: second childhood.
This age represents what were going to be soon. When we move in to Staples, were going to be like we were in sixth-grade, said Jimmy, explaining that they will go through all seven ages again in high school. Now as we have finished the Seven Ages of Bedford, lets begin the Seven Ages of Staples.
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