Leo and Sharon Farbota sent all 4 of their children to Elgin Academy and hosted an international student (Kim 03, Steve 08, Matt 10, Shang Li 12 and Lauren 14). Leo recently addressed the Class of 2014 at Baccalaureate. We thought our Facebook audience would enjoy his reflections (we apologize but the video was too long to post). Good evening ladies, gentlemen, and especially Elgin Academy class of 2014. Sharon and I would like to thank Mr. Hanford and Mr. Sept for offering us the privilege of saying a few words tonight. It’s an honor to be able to speak to you tonight, not only because of the promise on all the young faces in this room but because, for my wife and me, it helps bring closure to a very longstanding relationship. We’ve been Elgin Academy parents since 1997. At that time we had a ten-month-old (that would be you, Lauren) and children starting first, third and sixth grades. The Patron of the Arts, EA in the Middle magazine and the Athletic Booster Club were still years away. The preschool program was brand new and Lauren joined her siblings at EA before two months before she turned three, making her the youngest student ever to attend EA. When our oldest asked for a cell phone back in the nineties, we laughed! But technology advanced. Computer Labs grew. The “Orange Book” was replaced by a website and a new class called Videography was introduced. There have been three heads-of-school during our time here. “Fletch” received commemoration of twenty-five, thirty and forty years of teaching. Old buildings and parking lots were replaced by the multi-million dollar Rider Center. Other schools closed and their students came to EA. In addition to our four children, we were also gifted with the experience of hosting an International Student. Shang Li paved the way for the international students who are at EA today. When she arrived, there was no program for international students yet. There were no papers to sign, no stipend, and no instructions on how this might work. She just showed up at our door late one night after a very long flight. She and Lauren were giggling like old friends within an hour. Shang remains part of our family—sending long texts and Facebook messages as she completes her second year of college, and coming “home”—as she refers to our house—for holidays. Like our children, Shang is thriving and that is due in no small part to her time at Elgin Academy. This school was like a third parent in our house. We organized our lives around the rhythm of Math Counts, Spelling Bees, Band, Student Council, Athletic Council, Model UN, WYSE, Chorus, Improv and Theater. Basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, field hockey and track. Three productions of “Stone Soup.” Four Biographer’s Teas. Five weeks of college visits. Fourteen high school plays and musicals, sixteen trip weeks, seventeen Homecoming BBQs and more than forty Sports Awards nights. It often seemed as if it would never end. But here we are at our fifth and final baccalaureate dinner with graduation only days away. Graduating class of 2014, congratulations! Just as EA sometimes seemed like another parent to us, the faces around you may seem like family to you. Like siblings, the other students in this small class may know more about you than your parents. There may have been times when it seemed as if Elgin Academy was too small but as you move on you may begin to realize what a gift you’ve been given. Along with academic knowledge and individual attention, this small school offers the opportunity for you to be who you are. Don’t ever be anything else. It’s likely you’re going to be in a much bigger pond next year but don’t let that fool you into thinking you’re a small fish. Take all the classes you think you need to take but also consider a few you’ve never thought of before. Join clubs. Talk to that interesting person beside you. Ask questions, especially of your teachers. Open as many doors as you can. This is the time in your life when knowledge, relationships, and opportunities are there for the taking, so take advantage of all of it. Work hard, play hard and don’t forget to get off the roller coaster once in a while. Look around. Enjoy where you are because your life isn’t something in the future. This is your life. Right now. And it’s good.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:41:59 +0000
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