Omar Rahman and Alex Giordano Deliver Senior Speeches in Hall

In the second Senior Speakers Hall of the year, on February 25, Omar Rahman and Alex Giordano shared their insights about wisdom derived from texts they explored through the RL English program. Omar drew upon Marigolds by Eugenia W. Collier, a short story taught in Sixie year, and Alex on Bartleby, the Scrivener, a short story by Herman Melville that boys read during their junior year. 

“Innocence is the first lie we tell ourselves,” Omar began. “I’m realizing that growing up isn’t just about growing older—it’s about losing the ease of seeing the world as simple.” Omar continued, noting that now, at age eighteen, despite being considered an adult, the acquisition of wisdom is an ongoing process, not something that happens overnight. He also shared how, similarly to the main character in Marigolds, who destroys her neighbor’s flowers without thinking of the repercussions or the importance those flowers might hold for her neighbor, wisdom is realizing that our personal actions and decisions have broader impact, and are not isolated to each individual. “Real wisdom only comes when we look past ourselves and embrace the complexities of others’ lives,” Omar reflected.

As Alex took to the lectern, he opened by reflecting on his eighteenth birthday and how he expected to feel a profound change when the clock struck midnight. Yet he found that even now, six months later, he feels the same. “I want you to imagine that my speech ended right there,” Alex stated. “Perhaps it would affect you in no way, shape, or form—but I’m willing to bet at least one of you would pause and think, even momentarily, ‘Is he okay?’” He spoke about empathy and how we are taught to be empathic from an early age, yet sometimes simply feeling empathetic is not enough. Alex talked about Melville’s short story, in which an employer notices atypical behavior in his employee, like staring longingly out of the office window for hours or sleeping in the office at night. While the employer ultimately didn’t yell at or deride the employee, he didn’t make any effort to go out of his way to help him, either. Alex ended his speech by tying together his opening paragraph and Melville’s tale, making a call to action: “Hopefully when a boy comes to the podium and delivers a paragraph like my first one today, it prompts not only empathy, but also an urge to break free from complacency, take action, and talk to that boy.”

Watch the Hall here.