The title can be misleading—one doesn’t usually see the word “commencement” until June. Commencement, however, while associated with graduation, does not signify an end. Instead, it marks a celebration of being on the cusp of a new beginning.

In late September, the seniors and Kindergarteners gathered together to prepare for a highly anticipated event: walking down the aisle of Brick Church hand in hand at the start of our annual Fall All-School Assembly. What tradition better sums up all the connotations of commencement?

While I was walking down that aisle, I was reminded of how I feel when entering the Drawing Room. The rows of photographs depicting graduated classes, from yellowing and faded to crisp and vivid, impress upon me the long, successful history of our School. Looking at all of those faces, I feel an overwhelming sense of community and pride.

Photographs and walking down the aisle represent to me tangible ways, out of many, to understand the cycle that every Spence student is a part of, but may not be aware of.

To conclude, I turn to the reflections of my classmates:

[The] occurrence was made all the more special for me because our grade was the very first Kindergarten class to participate in this event. The stark height difference between seniors and Kindergarteners clearly displays how far I, and my classmates, have come during our time at Spence, and entering the assembly together really reflected how our classes are two “book-ends.”
- Rachel E., ’16

When we sat with the Kindergarteners in their classrooms, I had the chance to read a book to my buddy. And I was suddenly reminded of what it felt like to be read to by my dad. It was surreal being in his shoes. That moment made the whole experience something I won’t forget.
- Alexandra K., ’16

I got to watch [“my mini Spencie”] take her first steps into this new world as I took some of my last steps out of it and and she may not yet know it but I knew that if either of us tripped in the process there’d always be someone to catch us before we fell…I finally recognized the cycle of life and growth at Spence. And that cycle is continuous and will never end as long as we don’t let the flame die out.
- Sophie B., ’16

My time at Spence has shaped me into the person I am now. Walking the Kindergarteners made me realize just how quickly time has passed, and how lucky we are to have been able to learn in a community that fosters confidence in our passions and our sense of self. I remembered walking in as a 5-year-old girl, not knowing all the people in the church, and not knowing all that lay ahead.
- Serena M., ’16