(June 14, 2007) THIS BRIDGE (from A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein) This bridge will only take you halfway there To those mysterious lands you long to see: Through gypsy camps and swirling Arab fairs And moonlit woods where unicorns run free. So come and walk awhile with me and share The twisting trails and wondrous worlds I’ve known. But this bridge will only take you halfway there— The last few steps you’ll have to take alone. Clark 007s, I’m glad we crossed the bridge together for the past four years. Your absence at Clark next year will be a daily reminder of your presence somewhere out there in the “real world” fulfilling your destinies—just don’t forget to fill me in once in a while. And when life demands courage of you, remember the words of Kahlil Gibran: “Braving the miseries of life is more noble than shutting yourself up in silence. The moth that flutters round the fire until its own death is more admirable than the mole who lives in a dark tunnel…. Ask counsel from people wrinkled with age. Their eyes have looked the years directly in the face, and their ears have listened to the voices of Life. And even if their counsel were to displease you, do not fail to give them a little of your attention. “ Your Advisor, Ms. Karnik Dear Class 2007, Clark Magnet High School 2007 batch of graduates will always be very special to me. You had always made my day with your subtle antics and many interesting stories that I’d rather not put into writing. I am having mixed emotions with your leaving * happy, because all of your efforts with test taking, assignments, research projects, presentations and other school activities have paid off; sad, because I will not be seeing you as much. It is such an honor to have your trust and friendship. I am so very proud of all of you! My compliments to all your parents for their support, guidance, sacrifices and prayers; this is an achievement and a milestone for them as well. Let us celebrate the results of your hard work, perseverance and dedication to this graduation. Use the knowledge, skills and experience you gained from Clark in your pursuit of further personal and intellectual developments. You will all be missed and keep in touch. — Grace Juarez For the Class of 2007: I have known many of you for three years now (!!!), and am now faced with the harsh reality of your departure (except for you Hennessey. I’ll probably leave this place years before you do). Here are a few of things I will miss about the Class of ‘07: Hovik M’s understated humility. Arnak’s 50-50 theorem. Nano being my sergeant-at-arms. Debating healthful hydration cycles and the benefits of graduate school with Ovsanna. Anita Tina, Tina Tina, Sona Tina, and Rita Tina for showing me I might have been able to survive even if God had given me daughters. Running down “Heroes” with Anand, Sven, and Josh. Hey, we did save the world in the end. Min Ju’s early morning perkiness . The trail of scrap metal behind Michael Hennessey, and watching his face every time I told him that I heard Doom was giving a Gov test that day. Nick Lee and Karo S. and the “revolution.” Vardui’s promptness. Trying to frostbolt Johnathan, but failing because he was out of my a.o.e. Reading Anahid’s screenplays. David K’s and Johaina’s unrelenting excellence. Hearing Pineda play the guitar. Anashe showing me that a pierced nose doesn’t imply anything about character. Calvin, Kavita, Bibi and Nicole for… well, being Calvina, Kavita, Bibi and Nicole. Tasha for usually being the only one to laugh at the jokes. The joy (and frustration) I’ve experienced watching these people grow into exceptional young adults. Make the most of the time you have. If you think your years at Clark were challenging (fun, too), wait’ll you see what comes next! We will miss you. Fred Blattner Cut it down and it will grow back stronger. In Latin it is called, “Succisa Virescit.” It is a quality of living things to endure and to thrive in difficult situations. The Clark Magnet High School Class of 2007 possesses this quality. For four years, you have faced challenges, mastered skills, and built knowledge in pursuit of your graduation goal. You don’t yet know all you have learned. You have learned things that will have a greater meaning when viewed from a distance. Qualities, skills and knowledge that will ultimately effect your success with college, career, and family await a context that time and experience will provide. Continue to be flexible and resilient. You have received the best education that Clark Magnet can offer. We are proud of what you have done here and what you will become. Accept the inevitable pruning and continue to grow back even stronger. And always measure twice* Doug Dall To the Senior Class of 2007, You are a remarkable senior class, and I wish to all of you much happiness as you graduate Clark. To those of you Mrs. Davis and I taught as sophomores, a few life lessons I hope you’ve taken away from your experiences at Clark and in room 1329: Living Life with Passion: You read Mark Mathabane’s Kaffir Boy – “one of my favorite books,” wrote Hakob Sargsyan in the class journal – and in February 2005 you heard him speak about his life and what he has done since writing this book. In his speech, Mr. Mathabane shared with us his struggles and triumphs. We may all remember Mr. Mathabane speaking about living in a rat-infested shack, but I hope we also remember how out of the awful system of South African apartheid that Mr. Mathabane grew up in, he triumphed over his circumstances to become who he is today. His passion for education, his passion for life outside of his confining and segregated childhood existence, his passion for a bright future for his own children – this passion led him out of a life of poverty and racism. Your class was very fortunate to meet Mr. Mathabane, and I hope you remember both the passion of his words in print and in person. Knowing Your Voice Matters : As sophomores you watched Pres. George Bush’s election to a second term in office. Some of you were elated; others were depressed. Yelena Akopyan and Anahid Yahjian captured a more important emotion in their class journal reflection of the 2004 presidential election: “Even though most of the emotions shown were dismay and downright depression, it is refreshing to see that students care so much about the world that they will show such emotion instead of being apathetic.” Stay passionate about what you believe in; believe that your voice matters. Believing isn’t enough, though. Take constructive action, write letters, march, join organizations, vote. Seeking Justice for All: You heard in our humanities class one day a guest speaker from a sweatshop. Her name was Augustine, I believe. She brought with her her daughter and she had to take a day off from work to come to Clark. Through the translator, she talked about the work conditions, the long hours she worked, and the low pay that she relied upon to support her family. Some of your families perhaps have endured similar conditions; for many of us, though, the life she shared is not one with which we are familiar. And, if you go off to college and find yourself with a lucrative career you may be even further removed from her experience. I would hope, though, that you never become so removed from those who are less fortunate than you that you would not help others when you can – through doing service or donating from your own wealth – and that you work for a more just world where all people can achieve a life they desire. Your class is a special one. Like most high school senior classes, you will undoubtedly drift apart as the years go on, but I know the experiences you’ve shared at Clark will be with you always. – Mr. Davis Dear Seniors: I will never forget the class of 2007. You guys seem to be the class that had to keep bouncing back from adversity, losing Mr. Henderson when you were young and then Sako when you were seniors. I am so sorry for your losses. But today we put those losses deep inside our heart and continue to move forward into the future. And the future is yours. You have earned it. When I think of 2007, I will think about Diyana’s courage (she is still with you), Gevorg’s ability to learn from his mistakes, Anete’s Mona Lisa smile, Nick L’s prodigious potential, Diana’s charm, Vartuhi and Mari’s constant surprises, Ken’s second chance, Marcus’s world, Ken’s return from Rim of the World, Denise’s poise, Karo’s ingenuity, Glory proving a woman can compete in a man’s world, Anahid’s talent, Troy’s chick magnet shirt, William’s questions, Andranik’s bravery, Nareh’s senior project, Nick K’s comedic timing, Artin looking like a Russian prince, Narek’s sophisticated reading habits, Raffi’s friendliness, Nikki’s special combination of power and grace. I will remember each and every one of you, seniors; you have made my year. – Karen Carlson Seniors, I usually don’t sign yearbooks, take pictures, or write sappy good-bye letters, but after watching 137 Senior Project speeches in the past three weeks, I felt compelled to leave you a quick note. This year, I have seen programmers, graphic designers, screenwriters, journalists, coaches, producers, politicians, fashion designers, martial arts instructors, filmmakers, businessmen, fire-fighters, actors…the list goes on and on. You are still in high school, yet you have already accomplished amazing feats in your future careers. What will you be able to do in the next few years when you no longer need to divert your attention to your Rebecca short story or your Shakespeare performance? I know that one of these days, I will pick up the newspaper and say “this guy used to sit in the back of my English class and now he’s a self-made millionaire” or “this girl promised to send me an autographed copy of her book.” You are some of the most motivated, intelligent and talented (note that I didn’t say “cooperative”) people I’ve ever worked with and I truly believe that you have the potential to become successful in anything you set your minds to. Think big and never, ever settle for something that doesn’t make you happy. It has been an honor and a pleasure knowing you. Thank you for all the good times this year. Best wishes, Melanie Martin Dear Class of 07, You are all so amazing. I’ve taught most of you at least once—some twice–and some three times–I hope the third time was “the charm” and not too many of the same old jokes and stories. I will miss you–and I have just realized there will be no more Jimmo days…Inconceivable! And Mary–who will say “I love you”–even when I’m being a bit hard to love? We have all laughed together, and we have all cried together. Thank you for letting me do both–and be part of your lives. It has been a hard, but wonderful time. Remember the wonderful. Love, Miss Pettegrew The year always goes by so quickly, but how exciting it is for you to move on to the next phase of your lives. Now is the time to be self-disciplined and establish those habits that will assist you in your future. Rid your life of all those things that do not contribute to a healthy and productive lifestyle. Be a person of character and integrity and develop your own philosophy of life, resisting the pressure of letting society do this for you. Do not rush through the in-between years of high school and career. Take time for friends and family and develop a humble attitude that puts others before yourself. Most important, remember you will be happy when choosing what you want for yourself in life, you make your choice a wise one considering your abilities. Come back and see me, I will be here waiting to hear of your successes and how you have learned from your setbacks. In my life I have found the following quote so very true: “How far you travel in life means far less than those you meet along the way”. God Bless you all, Miss Thomsen With silence and grief, we all said goodbye to the senior Sarkis Atikian , a graduate of 2007. It’s hard to believe that he is no longer with us… but he will always remain in our hearts. Dear Graduates! This a bittersweet time having to say farewell and good luck to all of you. We are going to miss you all, and you are going to miss all of us: your school, your teachers, and your friends. A few days left…. but who is counting? The year is almost over. It’s getting harder and harder with mixed emotions in the air. Soon, everything will turn into a sweet memory as soon as you finish your school. By leaving your childhood and teenage years, you will become adults and will make your own choices. By making your decisions, you will choose your own paths in your life. Choices are so many! During four years of hard work and dedication, some of you became very successful. After four years of less work and indifference, some of you need to change your attitude and start all over again in order to succeed. The choices are many! Try to make the right one, believe in yourself, and you will be successful! Just remember, it’s never too late! Dear Clarkies, farewell and good luck! I believe in you! Karine Varuzhanyan