On June 2, the Form of 2024 will finish the final words of their Groton chapter. They will close the pages filled with memories, wisdom, and connections, opening a new chapter with blank pages. They may even leaf back through the cherished moments with teary eyes before going well and tossing their boater hats into the air. Their experience at Groton will become a relic of the past, a distant memory filed into the archives of their childhood. But the Form of 2024’s mark on the Circle will go beyond etchings on Schoolroom desks or pictures in the yearbook.
When reflecting on the Form of 2024’s impact on the Circle, Headmaster Temba Maqubela noted their ability to “focus on optimism” and “awaken to their responsibilities.” As a form that entered Groton at the start of the pandemic, they were faced with many restrictions and regulations. Although they never experienced a “normal” Groton, they have been “thoughtful and deliberate about bringing a level of normalcy back to campus.” Mr. Maqubela praised the Form of 2024’s ability to rise to the occasion and focus on school spirit and leadership, specifically through “Roll Zeebs” T-shirts distributed to every student in the fall.
This year’s keynote speaker, Van Jones, widely known for his work as a CNN host and political commentator, will offer his experience in facilitating productive discourse and combating the polarization that plagues our world. Mr. Jones has worked across various presidential administrations and has spearheaded several bipartisan legislative and advocacy efforts, such as the FIRST STEP Act. In our current world, where the political and social climates are unstable, Mr. Jones will provide an avenue for the Form of 2024 and the whole community to learn how to listen and collaborate rather than polarize and divide.
In a close-knit community like Groton, it is imperative for every single voice to be heard. Mr. Maqubela hopes that Mr. Jones will bring a message of “being in the middle and hearing all sides of an argument even if you don’t agree with them.” “We are a unit,” said Mr. Maqubela. And as a unit, we must come together to lift each other up rather than ostracize one another.
This year’s student speaker, Arjun Ray ’24, said, “The Prize Day speaker’s role, in my opinion, is to highlight our collective achievements as a form. This day represents the culmination of years of work; we’ve laughed, shed tears, pushed our limits, prayed, and loved together, and I hope my speech can celebrate all eighty-nine of the incredible individuals who will toss their boaters in the air.” Arjun hopes to remind current students that “they are on a well-trodden path” and hopes to “inspire them to approach it with zeal and good-faith.”
As the Form of 2024 leaves the Circle, their spirit will linger in the atmosphere and in our hearts. Mr. Maqubela hopes the Form of 2024 will remember “the playfulness they brought to the school” and the “joy that they shared with the community” as they begin the next chapter of their lives.
