Ring Day: A Call to Leadership

"The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow." Nelson Mandela

The first step.  The first ride without training wheels.  Kindergarten. Learning to drive. And now receiving their high school class ring.

This week, members of the Class of 2019 processed into the Lewis Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd eager to begin the next phase of their high school experience.  Parents, grandparents and friends who have been with them since those first milestones packed the pews to celebrate this Upper School rite of passage.

Ring Day is steeped in tradition. The ceremony is led by the senior class and represents the “passing of the torch” to the class behind them.  “It seems like just yesterday we were where you are,” Senior Class President Elliott Kellam told the juniors. Head of School Hugh McIntosh reminded students of the care and support of the Episcopal community and reflected upon the traditions and ambitions that are hallmarks of the school.  Ring Day guest speaker Stephen Anderson advised students that the rings on their fingers represent the daily memories they are creating with each other in the classroom, the refectory, the athletic field and beyond. As is customary, the seniors and juniors shared in the task of lighting the Ring Day candles with white representing faith, blue representing honesty and gold representing friendship.  After the candles were lit, the full significance of the day was felt.

“We accept this call to leadership,” Junior Class President, Ethan Massengale announced on behalf of his fellow classmates.  In fact, these students will now take on a greater leadership role not only in their school, but also in their own lives. The Episcopal College Fair is only 12 days after ring day and marks the unofficial beginning of the college application and selection journey for juniors.  Having just received gold and blue jeweled symbols of their status, they now begin to make tremendous, life-altering decisions with the help of their family, friends and the Episcopal community.

After the seniors bestowed the last ring, the juniors joyfully exited down the center aisle, but not before sneaking a glance at family, smiling proudly at loved ones or even waving at the camera.  It was reminiscent of times when as a little leaguer they searched the bleachers for mom or as a Lower School student they smiled brightly when dad joined them for lunch. Even as they begin the transition to young adulthood and look forward to promising futures, that youthful zest for family and community remains.  It’s good to know that even as they grow, some things never change.

Congratulations Class of 2019.  We can’t wait to see how far you’ll go!