Passports unite the world in our new gym

By Carol Kneeland

Amidst the stirring notes of Mr. Nathan Wahlgrens bagpipe and the thunderous applause that greeted the flags of all the nations, Headmaster Dan Lee welcomed The Fryeburg Academy home to the marvelous new field house which replaces our beloved Gibson Gym.Harkening back to the day 18 months ago when the whole community gathered on the lawn in a state of confusion as we all tried to make sense of the events of October 12, Mr. Lee noted that even at that time he had every reason to have faith, faith in the faculty, the trustees, the coaches and the student body.He reminded his audience that at that time, he promised, We will be made whole again, and that Someday soon we will walk together through the doors of a gymnasium. Pausing for an instant as though to mark the magnitude of the moment, he observed to the appreciative crowd, I guess we just did that.Saying that he always had faith, he added, Faith is a wonderful thing. I recommend this to you.He then went on to recognize two groups to whom he wished to pay particular tribute during the first use of the new field house.Thanking first the senior class, he said throughout The Academys difficult period, the seniors, rose to the occasion and helped us to get through it even while knowing that there was nothing in it for them. He said, You knew future generations would benefit, but not you. You suffered through it even though you knew you would gain nothing. He praised the seniors for their great courage, great style, and great class, concluding, We could not have done it without you.Next, saying that even at 58 years of age he did not have the courage to leave my homeland, Mr. Lee paid tribute to the international students whose presentations were the centerpiece of the opening day festivities. Noting that he would be hard pressed to find the internal courage to uproot himself, he indicated that our international students do have that quality and, We are blessed by that courage. Our lives are enriched by that courage.Citing the importance of the mornings activities, he indicated how important it is that we all can be learning from one another, especially in this day and age. He added that learning about the world in which you live is critical to future success, and announced that as it has done for so long, The Academy will continue to open doors to that experience with a new commitment as we begin to offer a course in Mandarin Chinese in the fall.He invited students to join today as we seek to celebrate all we need to learn about the world we live in.Having begun his remarks with a reminder that The Academy prides itself on a tradition of consideration and respect especially when we gather to share something of importance as we do this morning, Mr. Lee could not help but be delighted as the student body cheered as each group of dorm students entered the field house in Olympic style marching behind the flag of its country.Senior Jess Wright says, Its amazing to see day students being so appreciate and supportive of the other cultures. I think its a real mark of the dignity of The Academy and its students.Following a presentation of the flags for which the audience rose spontaneously, all were entertained by a series of dances from various countries before using their Passports 2 the World to visit the presentations of the various countriesIn all the day was a huge success, fulfilling the goals of organizer and ESL Teacher Greg Huang-Dale who told the audience, One of my most important experiences was my year abroad. It changed my life, adding he hoped the days events would give student the itch to have the same sort of experience. Carol Kneeland is a teacher at Fryeburg Academy.