On Friday, May 23, the students, faculty, and greater community of Kingswood Oxford gathered in Hoffman Field House to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2025, with history teacher Peter Jones delivering the commencement speech in his 38th in his final year at Kingswood Oxford.
Mr. Jones’ speech focused on the themes of time, empathy, and making a positive impact on the people and environment around you.
Due to wet weather, the commencement ceremony was held in the Field House. It began with the procession of trustees, administration, and Kingswood Oxford faculty. The faculty wore graduation robes while the class of 2025 wore the traditional graduation attire at KO, white dresses or ties and blazers.
Next, following St. Patrick’s Pipe Band, the 92 students of the Class of 2025, in pairs alphabetically, processed and found their graduation seats next to the Stage. The entire community sang the Kingswood Oxford song, “Hail Kingswood Oxford,” written by former Director of Orchestra Richard Chiarappa.
History teacher Ted Levine delivered the invocation address following the processions, welcoming the audience and the KO community to this sacred event and noting highlights of Class Night the evening prior. Next, senior Raine Wang took the stage to introduce the commencement speaker, Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones started his speech by alluding to the commencement speech he delivered 17 years ago in 2008. He doubted that he will give a commencement address 17 years from today, but no one knows. He then told the audience about his conversations with other faculty members. “I spoke with a number of people about what would be appropriate for me to say today,” Mr. Jones said. He was told not to speak about COVID and politics. However, he was told to speak about his advisees. In his 38 years at KO, he advised 273 students, some of which were present in the audience.
He thanked his current advisees for their role in making his final two years at KO that much more enjoyable. Mr. Jones shifted to addressing the Class of 2025 directly. “I hope that I can add to such an important day in your respective lives in a positive manner,” Mr. Jones said.
Mr. Jones then shifted his message to talk about time and its importance. He spoke about the necessity of being mindful of your time and making the most of it. Mr. Jones then quoted Harvey Mackay, former chair of the American Cancer Society.
“Time is free, but it’s priceless,” Mackay once said. “You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.”
Mr. Jones added to this message. “Make your own time meaningful, even if that means spending time on and for yourself,” Mr. Jones said. “Also remember to share time, and to be especially respectful of other people’s time.”
Mr. Jones then spoke about empathy. “I truly believe that empathy is a fundamental quality of being both human and humane,” Mr. Jones said. “I am convinced that looking at the world through the lens of those around us will enhance the lives of us all.”
After talking about empathy, Mr. Jones brought in a new topic: strangers. In past addresses, speakers have discussed the importance of family and friends, and while Mr. Jones agreed, he encouraged the audience to look outside our bubbles. “Understand the incredible impact that the kindness of strangers can have on one’s happiness and well-being, physically, mentally, and emotionally,” he urged.
In a personal anecdote, Mr. Jones detailed the effect of strangers on himself. “Countless times, people with whom I came into contact only once or twice made my life more comfortable,” Mr. Jones said. “I believe that I will never come across, or even know the names of these people, and yet, their actions and attitudes will stay with me either consciously or subconsciously for the rest of my life.”
According to Mr. Jones, the actions that you take in public spaces or with people you don’t know can make an impact. “I believe that recognizing and fostering the humanity in ourselves will go a long way to increasing the humanity in others, even, and maybe, especially, if you never know of the impact of your kindness,” Mr. Jones added.
As Maya Angelou and others have famously said, “People will forget the things you do, and people will forget the things you say. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Mr. Jones gave his final messages to the audience. First, he asked them to follow Mr. Goodman’s three rules: “#1 Be kind, #2 Be kind, and #3 Always remember rules 1 and 2.” Second, he urged them to be the goodness in humanity. “I hope you aspire to be a reason that people who know you come to believe in the overall goodness of humanity,” Mr. Jones said. “To repeat: I hope that you aspire to be a reason that people who know you come to believe in the goodness of humanity.”
After Mr. Jones’ commencement speech, the class of 2025 was called to the stage alphabetically by Head of the Upper School Lisa Loeb, where they received their diplomas from Head of School Tom Dillow. They shook the hands of Mr. Dillow and the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Jeff Gitlin ’85.
Next, Mr. Dillow delivered his charge to the senior class, offering inspiring words to the graduates. Finally, history teacher Rob Kyff delivered the farewell address. After everyone’s moving speeches, the seniors proceeded in the recessional to the theme of “Pomp and Circumstance, March No. 1.”
However, seniors had not officially graduated until they completed one of KO’s long-standing traditions, where they had to shake the hand of every faculty member. The Class of 2025 completed the tradition and officially became alumni.
The impact of the Class of 2025 will not be forgotten. Congratulations to the class of 2025! We wish them well on their future endeavors!
