Jennifer DeJulio was chosen by the Ridgefield High School Class of 2018 to give the Faculty Commencement Address. She spoke to hundreds of students yesterday at the O'Neill Center at WCSU. Quoting Dave Matthew and Michael Scott, DeJulio reflected on her personal journey and shared lessons of life.
Dr. Gross, Acting Superintendent Dr. Miller, and the Board of Education - thank you for having me here today.
And especially to the Class of 2018, thank you for inviting me to speak to you. It truly is an honor.
Here we go…
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty...
Wait, wait. That is an AMAZING speech, but it is not my speech. Let’s try this again.
12 years ago, you all were beginning your journey through school, many of you entering 1st grade in Ridgefield, just as I was staring my teaching career here at RHS. Reflecting back on these 12 years, I can honestly say, they are the years that have challenged me the most, but they are are the best years. I can’t believe how quickly they’ve flown by. I’m not going to lie, there were some tears but there were many more laughs and inspiring moments that helped me grow. There are a couple of lessons I have learned along the way and I would like to share them with you all as you prepare to embark on the next chapter in your life. Look at me, still trying to teach you all, even when you’re in your cap and gowns!
The year that changed my life was 2004. I was a senior at UConn earning a degree in American History, but my father was also sick. I should have been spending my senior year, thinking about the future, but I could only focus on him. When people asked me what I wanted to do with my degree my answer was “not work in a museum.” I honestly had no idea what I was going to do, but it was hard for me to focus on starting a career when all I really cared about was getting home to help my Mom care for my Dad. That plan never came to fruition though, my father passed away two weeks before I graduated. I thought I was moving home to become a caretaker, but instead I was just another college graduate, with no job, moving back into her parents’ house. As Michael Scott once said, “I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.”
This leads to my first lesson: Take good advice when you hear it
My Aunt Ellie saw me as a teacher, long before I did. I was the kid who couldn’t wait to get out of school and it just didn’t make sense that she would for years say how great I would be as a teacher. I would just laugh and think to myself “she’s crazy.” My Aunt was so convinced that I should be a teacher that on graduation day from UConn she gifted me a decorative pillow that said “TEACHER” across the front. I was polite and thanked her, but in my head, I was already planning on shoving that pillow in the bottom of my closet. But something funny happened that summer. I was directionless, working at Red Lobster and I started thinking about her advice. And then one day, I decided to follow it. I applied to the UB graduate program, started classes in the fall of 2004 and immediately fell in love with the idea of being a History teacher. It’s amazing how she saw in me something that I was not ready to see in myself.
I have both my parents to thank for this lesson. When my mom was a senior in high school, she was determined to become a nurse, but her guidance counselor told her she was not smart enough to be one, that she wasn’t a strong enough science student. So, she listened. She went to the big city, got a job in data entry, and spent her days inputting numbers while dreaming of being a nurse. After a year of mindless clerical work, she took the plunge and went to nursing school. I grew up with my mom busting her butt and loving every minute of it. Today she is in her 39th year at Danbury
Hospital, still doing the job that she loves. That left a strong impression on me, she was the perfect role model for her growing daughter. Especially, because my Dad had the opposite experience when it came to a career. He was always searching for that better job. He was filled with the Gatsby restlessness. The last job he held was at an insurance agency in Ridgefield. He actually liked it there. I think about that a lot. It’s serendipitous that I found joy working in Ridgefield, just like my dad.
Waking up at 5:30 AM is not easy. Especially for me, I could sleep through an alien invasion. But once I’m up and out of bed, I’m ready to go, because I get to go do the greatest job in the world. I get to teach you guys. But teaching is not for everyone. I am sure there are some future teachers in the Class of 2018, but there are also authors, plumbers, activists, farmers, designers, and nurses. Whatever you go on to become, be sure you love it. I want you all to live a life as fulfilling as mine.
And finally, lesson #3: Surround yourself with people that bring you joy
The incomparable Leslie Knope once said, “ We have to remember what's important in life: friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. But work has to come third.” Because it is the people and the experiences that truly fulfill us.
About 10 years ago, I was sitting across the booth from Mrs. Kovacs, eating some free birthday wings and I asked the question. The question I have been asking people for years. The question that had yet to been answered correctly. I asked her, “do you like the Dave Matthews Band” and she said YES. Finally, someone answered the question right! From that moment, the friendship became a best friendship. I found the person to share my addiction with! Every summer we go to two or three shows and we have the time of our lives. DMB is not for everyone, but it’s everything to us. I hope you all can find those people who you can share life’s most enjoyable experiences with, whatever those experiences are.
And since there’s no fathomable way to finish this speech without a Dave Matthews quote, here it goes:
“Celebrate we will, Because life is short but sweet for certain.”
Dave has got that right. I can’t believe these 12 years have flown by as quickly as they have, but they have been amazing. It has been a pleasure being your teacher. Now go out and live your lives the best way you can. Congratulations Class of 2018!