He’s ready to take on task of leadership

As I sat in attendance at Barrington High School’s graduation to support my friends and teachers, a classic feeling of sadness lingered over my head as I began to realize that some of my closest friends would not be sweeping through the halls next year. They would be moving onward in their own lives to fulfill their own promise and to cultivate their own destiny.

And as an incoming senior, it is with both honor and excitement that I will begin to take it upon myself to fill the shoes of my peers who I have consistently respected and admired since my beginning days as a freshman.

So, after the initial sadness and fear of loneliness subsided, a tremendous influx of pride entered my heart at the prospect of a new generation rising up to protect and advance the American Dream for future generations.

It was as my friends were making that fateful walk across the stage to receive their diplomas when I knew that, despite the inevitable difficulties and challenges that lie ahead for our nation, the grand panorama of freedom would continue to prevail.

I knew that it would prevail through the willingness of the outgoing seniors to reach out a hand to assist their fellow man, the ambition and curiosity to invent and innovate to win the future and the record of achievement and dignity that they have accumulated, which goes hand-in-hand with the America that we all know and love.

It is, after all, our generation that is the last and best hope to continue expanding the American ideal: opportunity for all, equality under the law, and the individual pursuit of our dreams.

The Class of 2011 has much to boast about, and I hope that they know that it is they who are now responsible for carrying forth the bright light of liberty, and that with that eternal light, there will always be so much to fight for.

Henry Wilson

Barrington