Schools
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Gives Diplomas To 428 Seniors
Class of 2011, which includes several Vienna residents, told to pursue the three P's: people, passion and perseverance.
The atmosphere at the Patriot Center in Fairfax was serious, yet festive on Saturday night as 428 students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology marched across the stage to collect their diplomas.
Surrounded by their peers, with family and friends in the stands, the students listened to a handful of their classmates and guest speakers reflect on their time in high school.
Among the guest speakers were Principal Evan Glazer, alumnus Yohannes Abraham and keynote speaker Steve Case, co-founder of AOL.
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Student speaker Nathan Hamal wondered if there might be another President Barack Obama, Bill Gates or Steve Case in their class.
"We're certainly a talented group of people. Who among us will become famous?” Hamal said, a sentiment later echoed by other speakers in their remarks.
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Glazer said the class of 2011 "captured the attention and hearts of our entire community," and complimented them on their sense of social responsibility, which he said was demonstrated by more than 8,000 hours of volunteer service in the past two years. He added that students should pursue unfamiliar opportunities so that they could "explore life to its fullest extent."
Glazer also shared five recommendations for his classmates to consider as they began college.
"Live a balanced life, use your science and technology background regardless of your major or career, show others how to be kind, be inventive and inspire others,” Glazer said.
Student Graduation Chair Chris Gibson introduced Case, who asked the students to stand up and then wave so that he could take a picture of them to post on Twitter and Facebook.
(Read Case’s tweets and see the photos he took during the ceremony on his Twitter account.)
Case described how he started the company that became America Online and urged the graduates to use their skills in science, math and technology to innovate, stressing the importance of entrepreneurs who have created "new products and services that have changed the world."
"The lives of successful people often take unpredictable twists and turns and you sometimes have to fasten your seat belt and enjoy the ride,” Case said. “Indeed it is often good to be forced out of your comfort zone as that may open up new vistas of possibility."
They key to success, Case explained in his advice, is to focus on the three P’s: people, passion and perseverance.
"No matter what you do in life, your ability to succeed will largely be dependent on your ability to work with people,” Case said. “Indeed, it is often said that what you do is less important than who you do it with; that the people you surround yourself with, will ultimately be the principal determinant of the course your life will take. So as you embark on this next phase of your education, and the continuation of your professional life, build a network around you that can help sustain your creative drive.”
Graduates also heard from TJ alumnus Yohannes Abraham '93, who joined then-Senator Obama’s Iowa Caucus campaign five days after graduating from Yale with a degree in political science and continued on to work on his 2008 presidential campaign,in the White House and now, on his 2012 campaign. He encouraged the students to “read amazing books” and maintain the friends they've made at TJ. Abraham, who grew up in Springfield,
Following the traditional cap toss, the graduates exited to the recessional, “Sine Nomine” by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
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