[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2370]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             AMERICAN YOUTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. SAM JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. SAM J0HNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, one of the best aspects of our 
job is the ability to call to the attention of our colleagues, examples 
of the leadership, maturity, patriotism and values of our American 
youth. I have inserted in the Record a speech from the June 2001 eighth 
grade graduation address of Michael Robert Glennon. He was the 
President of the Student Council at Sheridan School in Washington, DC.
  Michael is currently a ninth grader at the Hotchkiss School, 
Lakeville, Connecticut.

       Parents, Grandparents, Faculty, Students, Special Guests, 
     and Classmates, welcome and thank you for sharing our special 
     day. I am honored to be here representing my fellow graduates 
     to discuss the Sheridan experience and everything that the 
     Sheridan community has meant to us.
       First, however, we must be thankful for the love, efforts, 
     and wisdom of our parents who have made possible the 
     privilege of a Sheridan education. Thank you parents.
       What do we mean by the Sheridan experience? Sheridan can 
     not be defined simply by what happens on the sports field or 
     in the classroom. It is after school, during recess, and 
     during lunch, when students and teachers interact on a more 
     personal level. That is what makes Sheridan so unique and 
     contributes to each and every one of our Sheridan 
     experiences.
       Community service for those less fortunate than ourselves; 
     the appreciation of nature at the mountain campus that has 
     made us all better stewards of our environment; both of these 
     are hallmarks of the Sheridan experience.
       No graduate will soon forget the times we've had or the 
     things we've learned. But more importantly, we won't forget 
     each other. The friendships we have made will stick with us 
     the rest of our lives. It is very rare that you get to have 
     such a close relationship with your fellow classmates at 
     school. Although sometimes it is frustrating to have such a 
     small class and small school, in the end it is uniquely 
     Sheridan because your classmates and school are always there 
     for you in any situation. All of us, including me, can 
     remember when Sheridan was there to support us, to share our 
     joy, or lessen our sorrow. If there is one thing we all take 
     away from Sheridan it is the friendships we have made.
       On behalf of my entire class and the entire student body, I 
     would like to thank the faculty and the wonderful staff. All 
     of you have helped us in ways you can not imagine. Thank you 
     especially to all of the teachers who have taught us over the 
     years. Mrs. Lytle in kindergarten, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. 
     Curtis in second grade. Mrs. Goldstein in third and fifth 
     grade. Mrs. Pelton, Mrs. Arcuri, Ms. Provonsil, Mr. Walton, 
     Mrs. Cresswell, Mr. Powell, Mrs. Kotler, Mrs. Haggerty, 
     Senorita Fabiola, Mrs. Garcia deMendoza, Mrs. Sacher and 
     Madame. Of course, a special thanks to Ms. Brown and Mr. 
     Helfand for helping us through this year and the high school 
     admissions process. Mr. Plummer, thank you for being a great 
     principal, always smiling, and always having candy.
       In conclusion, earlier I mentioned the privilege of a 
     Sheridan education.
       However, this privilege demands responsibility from all of 
     us here today. A responsibility to be a friend, a 
     responsibility to help others, and a responsibility to 
     respect our environment.
       But most importantly, a responsibility to honor the values 
     and education we were privileged to receive. The Sheridan 
     experience has shaped our lives.
       Thank you parents, thank you teachers, thank you 
     classmates, thank you Sheridan.

     

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