Celebrating the Class of 2024: Wisdom, Legacy, and New Beginnings

On May 30, we celebrated the momentous occasion of the Class of 2024’s graduation from Marlborough. It was a fabulous day filled with so much heart, gratitude, and even a few tears. Surrounded by their families, loved ones, faculty, staff, alumnae, and members of the Board of Trustees, the Class of 2024 officially joined our robust community of alumnae. As Board Chair Missy Mingst Kolsky ’87 reminded them: “A Marlborough diploma is not just a piece of paper—it’s a tangible symbol of your wisdom, integrity, passion, and resilience. You have every reason to be extremely proud of your achievements.” In the spirit of honoring our newest Marlborough alumnae, for this month’s HEADlines, I wanted to share with all of you the words I imparted to our graduates in my graduation speech. You will find it included below.

Dear Class of 2024… As I reflected on your journey throughout your Senior year, I found myself returning to my English-teacher roots and thinking about the timeless words of William Shakespeare. A quotation from The Tempest struck me as being appropriate for your graduation day: “What's past is prologue; what to come, in yours and my discharge.” 

In other words: what has passed is already written and serves as the prologue to the next chapters of your life. Those next chapters are entirely yours to write. 

Reflecting on what has passed often helps us find the way down the path we are now heading. In that spirit, I want to acknowledge my esteemed predecessor Dr. Priscilla Sands who has joined us today to help celebrate the Class of 2024. I am humbled to follow in her footsteps, standing on the shoulders of those who came before me, upholding the legacy of thoughtful leadership at Marlborough. It is a true privilege to serve as your Head of School, to build on that legacy, and to lead this School where we spend every day dedicated to empowering young women to shape a better world.

In thinking of the lasting cultural impact of Shakespeare, I also thought about what resonates as a subject for a graduation speech and that is to reflect on the things that endure and the things that have been helpful to me anytime I have started down a new path. The connective tissue that carries me from what is familiar into any unknown has always been literature and, specifically, Shakespeare. In thinking about what that connective tissue might be for you, four main themes rose to the surface with direct parallels to your time at Marlborough.

Number One: Evolving Appreciation Over Time

My first encounter with Shakespeare was eagerly anticipated, a rite of passage in my family of English majors. Being assigned Macbeth in 6th Grade felt like an invitation into a conversation that had been in progress for centuries. Our family dinner table might as well have been a literature circle, and suddenly I could participate in our conversations in a new way, even if, at the beginning, Shakespeare’s language was “all Greek to me.”

When I returned to the play in a college course, I understood it in an entirely new light, bringing my own lived experiences to my interpretation of the play. Suddenly, the intricacies of power dynamics, political positioning, and gender norms woven into the tragedy revealed themselves to me. This is the extraordinary power of Shakespeare—his messages, themes, and even clichés, continue to resonate with each generation. As we encounter his words at different stages of life, different aspects resonate as well; our understanding evolves as our appreciation deepens. Similarly, your appreciation of your time at Marlborough will shift as you move through different phases of life. Think back to your first day as a Marlborough student. Hold that feeling in your mind.

Now, think of how you perceive your experience sitting here on the stage at graduation.

Twenty years from now, forty years from now, each time you reflect on your Marlborough journey, you will glean new meaning and new reasons to cherish this very special time in your life.

Number Two: Counter-Cultural and Bold

In the 16th century, Shakespeare found ways to comment on the happenings of his time. He had to be clever to do so, bold, and politically savvy to avoid the wrath of angry monarchs and nobles. Centuries later, his works still reveal countercultural elements that challenge norms and spark conversations. 

In 1889, the very idea of Marlborough was counter-cultural, a radical concept. Mrs. Caswell was preparing women for a world that was not fully theirs. Today, we continue that legacy and forward-thinking vision, preparing you for a world that does not yet exist, equipping you with the tools to navigate it and—perhaps most important—to shape it. We imagine a world where equity leads education, a bold and radical notion that is, unfortunately, far from the norm at the moment. At Marlborough, we empower you to embrace complexity, to talk across difference, and to resist simplistic decisions that ignore nuance. You are equipped to view issues through multiple lenses, while developing an ethical stance to guide your choices. And I know you are already flexing that muscle—applying the tools you have to shape your world. One of your teachers captured your abilities well, saying, “I have been impressed by the diverse viewpoints and outlooks they embrace, modeling excellence and exuberance in every endeavor.” 

Number Three: Enduring Legacy

Shakespeare’s enduring cultural impact is undeniable. His writing continues to feel contemporary, and each new generation unlocks new relevance and new interpretations, making the works their own. Much like Shakespeare’s abiding influence, Marlborough, too, has stood the test of time, adapting to the needs of each generation while staying true to the core of who we are. Each new generation of Marlborough students, faculty, staff, families, and leaders breathes new life into these “ever graceful halls of learning.” They make it their own, while respecting its enduring essence. At its core, your Marlborough education has provided you the tools to understand the world, to find your place within it, and to determine how you wish to affect it. This essence persists, even if exactly what it may look like evolves across time and generations. And you, Class of 2024, have certainly left your mark. By earnestly embracing each aspect of your Marlborough experience—from beloved traditions and classroom learning to being explicit in expressing gratitude—you leave a legacy of modeling care for our school and your tremendous affection for our community shines in all that you do. 

Number Four: Building Upon Foundations

Class of 2024, we often remind you of your charge to take this extraordinary Marlborough education and use it to change the world for the better. That is a tall order, and I imagine it might feel like an overwhelming sentiment. However, I want to remind you that you are not starting from zero. Shakespeare himself rarely invented entirely new stories. Instead, he figured out how to tell existing stories better than anyone else. Ultimately, that is your charge: to build upon the foundations that have been laid for you in the form of knowledge, principles, and an arsenal of tools in your proverbial toolbox. Iterate on the problems and solutions you identify to create a better future.

While there are significant challenges awaiting you, know that you do not face them alone. You embark on this next chapter with the full support of the Marlborough community behind you. In particular, as you receive your diploma this evening, you join the incredibly powerful network of Marlborough alumnae. Your shared Marlborough experience functions as a shorthand to meaningful relationships with your fellow alumnae. It creates an inherent bond, accelerating relationships and empowering collaboration. I know that you will create a new future both for and with your fellow alumnae, and the rest of humankind. I hope you find that to be as invigorating and reassuring an idea as I do.

Class of 2024, before you head off to write your next chapters, I would invite you to pause in this moment. Take a look out over the sea of people in front of you—your families, friends, teachers, alumnae, and members of the Board of Trustees. These are the people who have cheered you on, challenged you, and cared for you. And today, we are here, so very proud of all that you have accomplished and of the beautiful humans you have grown up to be. 

I’d like to send you off with the closing words from Love's Labour's Lost: “You that way, we this way.” Whatever way you go, may it be filled with gratitude, boldness, collaboration, and the courage to forge enduring legacies in pursuit of a better tomorrow. Congratulations, Class of 2024.