A Life of Joy: To the Class of 2023
Dear Class of 2023, our families, and our volunteers:
First, a huge “thank you” to
Our Senior Class Leads Rohini Venkatesan and Claudia Wu,
Our Chief Community Officers Karenna Bol and Joy Sim, and
Our Chief Program Officers Adam Farchone and Jeniece Howe
for all the care you have given our seniors this year, and for your tireless and thoughtful planning in putting together today’s Senior Graduation celebration. This is a special moment for our mentees and for the village of volunteers and loved ones who have accompanied them, so thank you to our leaders for helping us commemorate the 3-year journey that they’ve had together at Minds Matter.
I also want to take a moment - on behalf of the Class of 2023 - to thank:
Our Chief Operating Officer Niharika Ray,
Our Senior Pod Leads Andrew Calnen and Ryan Buchanan,
Our CAFA and PSW Leads Amy Brennen, Josey Hu, Sean Lee, and Stephanie Vatz,
Our Summer Learning Lead Amy Rong, and
Our many Mentors, Instructors, and Pod Leaders
who have supported, cheered on, listened to, and guided our mentees through their long and winding path toward college and adulthood.
I’ve always believed that some parts of education are simply intangible. Curriculum - the structure and sequence of what we learn - may be tangible and concrete. But community - the people who help to deliver that experience of learning - often what they bring is intangible and yet absolutely essential. The best teachers, the best managers, and the best mentors that I’ve ever had - when I remember them, what I remember most is not what they did for me, but instead how they made me feel, and what they inspired me to do for myself.
It is a life-changing experience to watch someone grow, and to stand beside them as they try things for the first time, make mistakes, overcome challenges, and build the confidence to take meaningful risks. I think that’s a sentiment every family member and volunteer in this room can relate to. There is a sweetness and pride in witnessing all that our mentees have accomplished - all their bravery, all their hard work, all their good humor, and all their gifts. And yet there is sadness and even grief because 18 years as a parent and 3 years as a volunteer can feel all too short.
I understand that feeling. When I was 18, I went off to college thinking I would one day become a courtroom lawyer. I didn’t know that much about law, but I did Mock Trial in high school and watched many episodes of Law & Order, so…I felt *pretty* informed. But when I was 19, in my first college summer, I decided to intern with an education organization that gave me the opportunity to work closely with incredible middle school students from low-income communities in East San Jose. At the end of 8 weeks together, I was an emotional mess. As it turns out, relationships can really change you. I had known that I would learn a lot, but I hadn’t prepared myself for the deep bond I would build with these amazing students. When we said our goodbyes for the summer, I grieved, I promised to stay in touch, and I vowed to come back the next summer. And when I came back to those students the next summer, I had an even greater realization: I realized that I wanted to experience this kind of joy and heartache for the rest of my life. I would not be working in education today, if I didn’t meet those amazing kids all those years ago. And I’m tremendously proud that so many of us have kept in touch, and that these kids have become adults with rewarding careers, families of their own, and given back to their communities in meaningful ways.
To our volunteers: The joy and grief you feel in this moment is a testament to how much you care. The community you have formed around our mentees has been an essential part of their education, and an essential catalyst for the kindnesses they will pay forward to others in life. I hope you know that you’ve made a difference. And even if our mentees haven’t told you so lately, they really do find your cheesy jokes funny, and they do read your text messages even if your use of emojis is a little outdated, and they will remember you even when they forget to call or text back “new phone, who dis?”. They love you, and they don’t want to lose touch with you. You really have to trust me on this.
To our graduating mentees: I hope you know how much you are loved. I hope you believe that there are truly many wonderful, compassionate people in the world - like the incredible mentors and instructors and volunteer leaders here at Minds Matter. And I hope you will take all the emotional courage you’ve built in your lifetime, and use that courage to forge friendships with many more good humans who will come to care about you. But also: Call your parents and keep in touch with your mentors and our volunteers. They will always want to hear from you. You really have to trust me on this.
I want to leave the Class of 2023 with this thought: Today, you graduate from Minds Matter Bay Area. In a few months, you’ll be on college campuses all over the country - learning from incredible minds and building relationships with amazing people - in some of the finest institutions in the world. Your journey ahead will still have its ups and downs. You will achieve success and you will experience setbacks. You may not meet all of your goals. But you are driven, and talented, and you have a whole village around you - should you ever need us. So, I have every faith that in the grand scheme of life, you will accomplish many, many things.
But the purpose of accomplishment is to build skills and resources that you can pay forward to others. The meaning of life is found in the joy of walking a long mile with another person, growing with them, watching them grow, and risking the heartache that comes with change. So: Don’t be afraid to pay it forward. Our successes in life are in some way paid for by the people that came before us, who invested their time and compassion in us, and were there for us when we needed them. In your moments of accomplishment, don’t just settle for the satisfaction of being successful. Reach for the joy that comes from being impactful.
Our community at Minds Matter Bay Area is made up of very special adults who said to themselves, “I have an opportunity to do more. I’d like to give just a little bit more.” Class of 2023: at some point in your life, you will find yourself thinking, “I have an opportunity to do more. I’d like to give just a little bit more.” And when you do, I hope you consider mentoring and being a part of another kid’s life the way our volunteers were here for you. Because the real value of your education - the real value of accomplishment - is not what you can do for yourself. It is instead, how you will take those resources and give to others as others have given to you. And so, today, we are not yet seeing the full power of MMBay’s community and of the education you’ve received here. That full power will slowly be revealed in your journey - in the miles you walk with others, and in the heartaches you risk to live a life of joy.
Yours,
Irene