Abby Gould's 2008 Valedictory Address

I’m sure many of you have heard the customary commencement ceremony clichés. But because the Academy defies so many traditional aspects of high school, the usual graduation speech doesn’t really apply to us. You may have been told to “follow your passion”—but isn’t that why we’re all here? Or, “take the road less traveled”—we’ve done it. The road we have chosen often needs to be plowed and is sometimes closed.
Any graduating class can be advised to “spread their wings” or “dream big.” In many ways, we already have. All students at Sugar Bowl Academy are presented with opportunities most high-school students—or even most people—will never have, thanks to the boundless support from parents, faculty, coaches, and donors. While other high-school students are attending a Friday night football game, dances, or just sitting in the classroom, we are skiing powder in Jackson Hole, we are flying to Canada, we are on the beach in Chile, we are hiking 20 miles in one day through Desolation Wilderness. And while many college freshmen are anxious about living away from home, or having a roommate for the first time, we will be more concerned that the cafeteria food measures up to Chef Tom’s cooking, or how far away the ski hill is from campus.

The uniqueness of the Academy became very apparent to me this fall during the college application process when I found myself constantly explaining the concept of a ski academy during interviews. Such as, why I was one in a graduating class of seven, and yes, we really do learn some stuff in between all that skiing. And while initially confused, no one was ever demeaning towards my “bizarre” high school experience. They were curious, interested, and genuinely impressed with the independence and responsibility necessary to succeed in the ski academy environment. Although ski academies will always be considered “unconventional,” it is the eccentricities of Sugar Bowl Academy that have made it a priceless learning experience. Where else are students close enough with their teachers that they share stories, dinners, games, trips, and even clothes?
When formal dinners roll around, Rachel is raiding Ms. Lew’s closet, and Jake is borrowing a dress shirt from Walker because it just isn’t time for Jake’s annual load of laundry quite yet. The teachers here truly care about the students, and the students value their friendships with the teachers, even if they didn’t pick up on Mr. Ascher and Mr. T’s sarcasm.

Some high school seniors complain about their small class size of 100, but that’s three times as big as our entire school! I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Although it is sometimes overwhelming to live, learn, and ski with the same few people, how else would we have discovered Matt’s infatuation with computer games, Jake’s affinity for speed-suit modeling, TJ’s cookie dough addiction, Rachel’s Facebook obsession, Nicole’s enviable wardrobe, AJ’s banana peel ski wax, my snoring abilities? And there is, without fail, a steady stream of complaints from all of us in such close quarters. The water heater is broken—no showers this week. The road is closed—we’re all snowed in together. The door is blocked—let’s shovel!
For all the seemingly annoying broken, malfunctioning parts of our school, we are closer as a student body because of the Academy’s faults. Together, we shoveled out the four feet of powder in Matt’s room after his window blew open while we were away racing. And together, we picked up the dozens of tools from Jake’s tuning box after it fell out the back of the trailer on Old 40. Too bad we weren’t in China with AJ when she needed help carrying her skis—she had to resort to strapping them to a yak. You know, fun group activities like that.

Together we have accomplished a lot, but we also each contribute unique qualities to the Academy.  Sugar Bowl Academy boasts the top skiers, and some of the only skiers, from New Jersey, Illinois, and Pakistan. For seven people who all compete in the same sport, we are pretty diverse.

The one thing that has brought us from all over the world is a love for skiing. And it is the lessons we have learned from skiing that will ensure our success in college and beyond.  Daily, on the hill and in the classroom, we exercise dedication, initiative, perseverance, and yes, passion. The responsibility we have been granted would be overwhelming to most teenagers; even keeping track of all our equipment is a feat in and of itself. Not to brag, but we’re way ahead of everyone.