Fairhaven Superintendent of Schools Robert N. Baldwin at the commencement ceremony on 5/31/20. Photo by Beth David.
From Robert N. Baldwin, Superintendent, Fairhaven Public Schools
Now more than ever I will have to keep this Commencement Address short and to the point because you will have the opportunity to fast forward right through this part of the ceremony. It has become tradition that every year I do not write my speech until the morning of the graduation ceremony. So here come some random thoughts that pertain to your class on the morning that I will give this speech. First of all, I want you to know that out of all of the students affected by this once-in-a-century pandemic, I was most heartbroken for you.
But my last lecture to you will emphasize using what you have learned as opportunity and not dwelling on the negativity a crisis like this one could create. You can choose to use it to complain. You can choose to use this to make excuses for falling short of your ambitions. Or you can choose to use this to blame others for why you didn’t accomplish what you set out to accomplish.
But you need to think of that story of the two twins in the dung heap that I recently shared with you. Because you have learned that not everything that you plan for in life goes as designed and that you need to deal with adversity with integrity, that you are one step ahead of the rest, because here at FHS you have been taught about grit and culture and attitude being the difference makers.
In the fall of 2018 alone, you experienced 11 true rainouts, with multiple days of impact following each. There were 27 rescheduled events, mostly due to standing water and unplayable conditions on our fields. You were placed at a competitive disadvantage because we could not and cannot practice on rainy days, or snowy starts to spring. Soccer practices were condensed to a basketball court, and field hockey was confined to Zumba workouts in the Performing Arts Center.
Coupled with the constraints of the schedule from opposing schools, this continues to force our teams to play in marginal conditions, or in multiple back-to-back scenarios, like playing seven field hockey games in 10 days, including senior night. This impacts both competitive advantage and player safety, and ultimately diminishes the outcomes of what you work so hard for.
The EEE threat impacted your 2019 fall season as well. You had to endure a Dusk to Dawn curfew for all outdoor practices and games, no team practices prior to 7:30 a.m., and all practices and games were completed by 6 p.m.
A fitting way for future students and past alumni to see first hand how you personified our ideals of ambition, perseverance, and integrity during your tenure here at FHS is to name the proposed turf stadium field, “The Class of 2020 Field.”
The process for this dedication was proposed to the Fairhaven School Committee On April 8, 2020. The Fairhaven School Committee directed me to begin the Naming/Re-naming Policy process. A group of individuals representing a cross section of the town’s interests met on April 30, 2020, to unanimously recommend to the Fairhaven School Committee the naming of the new athletic turf field at our stadium the “Class of 2020 Field”.
In the short term, a once-in-a-century pandemic has derailed your senior spring. For the long-term, I cannot think of a better symbol of your contribution here than to leave your high school much better than you left it by naming the turf athletic field on your behalf!
I recently shared with you that it has been 40 years since my class graduated from Fairhaven High School. I spared you the lettermen’s jacket today. Our class song was by Heatwave. It was called Always and Forever. We loved it and believed fully that the words were guideposts for our future lives.
“And I know tomorrow will still be the same cause we have a life of love that won’t ever change.”
The song lyrics that I share with you today are more realistic. Class of 2020, I believe that we are channeling our inner Hannah Montana, because the song lyrics that I chose for your class are from The Climb by Miley Cirus.
There’s always going to be another mountain
There’s always going to be an uphill battle
It’s not about how fast you get there….It’s about the climb
Keep Movin
Keep Climbin
Keep the Faith
It’s about the climb
And finally my last call to you. Class of 2020…
This is Dr. Baldwin Superintendent of Schools. Because you have learned first hand when your school buildings were closed in the Spring of your senior year, I am informing you that On May 31, 2020, the day of your graduation from Fairhaven High School your lives are wide open to follow all of your opportunities, dreams, and goals for the rest of your life.
Please stay safe!
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