Schools

Graduation Speaker: 'Don't Be in a Hurry'

Jim Fitzpatrick, class of 1995, gave the commencement address Friday

Jim Fitzpatrick, a Flint Hill alumnus from the class of 1995, spoke to graduates Friday. In his time at Flint Hill, Fitzpatrick served as class president and co-captain of the state championship basketball team, went on to earn a degree at Wake Forest University and returned to Flint Hill as a basketball coach and administrator. Fitzpatrick is the head coach of Episcopal School's boys basketball team and will be the athletic director at the school beginning in July.

A full transcript of his speech follows: 

Thank you, Pat, for that very kind introduction. Thank you Mr. Thomas and the Board of Trustees for having me here today. And especially thanks to the class of 2012 for allowing me to be a part of this special day in your lives. 

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When Mr. Thomas first called me and extended the invitation to speak today, my competitive spirit came out and the first question I asked was, "Who was the first choice?" Mr. Lamont kindly reminded me that it wasn't me, so I don't know who that was. But Mr. Thomas assured me that he really did want me to speak here today, so after that I began to think about the impact that Flint Hill has had on my life. 

I may not be the only person, but I'm certainly one of a small few who spent time on all three main campuses in Flint Hill history. I began at Flint Hill Prep as a fourth-grade student when the smallest campus was located across the street of 123 where Bob Evans and the post office now stand. My brother was a senior at Flint Hill that year, and it was the only time in our lives that we attended school together. Although I did not know it at the time, it was an incredibly important year of my life. The simple enjoyment of our car rides to school with my older brother established a bond that continues to be strong to this day. And I spent that year as a ball boy to one of the best high school basketball teams in the country and I fell in love with the sport.

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Years later I would attend the newly restructured Flint Hill, which was an entire k through 12 school located on what is now your lower and middle school campus. I watched as the first gymnasium was built on campus. And although now you have two wonderful courts to call home, our teams would have to drive to various gyms across Fairfax County just to find a practice space during basketball season. We never truly had a home court, and now when I come back and watch games here, it always brings a smile to my face to see the passionate student body cheering on the Huskies to victory in their own gymnasium. 

I also remember some of the little things about when I was in school here. Like when Mr. Atwood's beard was shorter and a little less gray. Our senior class prank was to fill the entire common area as a functional beach, which we did have to clean up. I certainly remember writing my senior English paper for Mrs. Krug about what my 18-year-old mind believed would be a perfect wife. Mrs. Krug assures me she has kept that paper so let's hope my actual wife never has the chance to read that piece of fiction. 

And I finally remember coming back to Flint Hill, this time as a faculty member and boys varsity basketball coach on this wonderful campus that you now call home. I was able to tour this amazing facility with Mrs. Peterson as it was being built. There was so much excitement and promise about the expansion of Flint Hill, and the school had come such a long way since I stepped on the small campus across the street as an elementary student. All of us knew that this campus signified the beginning of a special chapter in the history of our school, and I was proud to be a part of the opening of this campus.

I'm sure for the past few days, or possibly even weeks, each of you has had the opportunity to reflect on your time at Flint Hill. Perhaps you thought about some of the great times you've experienced or some of the difficult times you've had to work through, but I hope that all of you have taken at least a few moments to think about the big picture. I hope that you are able to see how important each of you is to this school, and conversely how important this school will forever be to each of you. The Flint Hill theme of the driving spirit is a true reflection of this community, and it can only continue to thrive with passionate students who live their own individual lives with purpose, as the class of 2012 has done. We've heard about much of that today. And now you leave behind a blueprint for the future generations of Flint Hill students to follow and emulate.

Flint Hill has provided me with so much over the years, and I'm always trying to find ways to impact the lives of students in similar ways that my life was impacted here. I have fellow graduates that have gone on to do great things in business, the law, engineering, military service to our country, just to name a few. During my years in college I often wondered what my calling would be, what profession I would take on, but there was a part of me that always knew I would do what I believed was most rewarding. I've had great opportunities in life afforded to me by my parents, and like all of you I have wanted to make them proud of what I do. I've heard my mother give many speeches over the years and one thing she always says is that public service is the rent we pay for living. I have always believed this quotation means we have to give back to our communities, and it can be done in many different ways.

Coaching and teaching felt like my opportunity to give back to the community. All of the faculty and staff at Flint Hill with their commitment and work make an impact on your lives. It's no secret we aren't getting rich financially by doing what we do, but we find happiness and satisfaction.

I do think at times what would have happened if I had stayed in a different profession or pursued another opportunity. Yes, maybe more means, maybe more money, but it would not fulfill my desire, our desire, to give back, to work with students on campus and to coach the game that I love. As I look at what teachers and coaches have done for me, and what I try to do for my own players and students, the answer is always clear: I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. I hope that each of you will find what you are passionate about and in doing so you will give back to your community, your school and your country. 

Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden wrote, "Be quick, but don't hurry." This quotation is magnificent in its simplicity but timeless in its meaning. You now live in a society where information is instantaneous. Facebook, Twitter, smartphones, iPads. Everyone seems in a hurry to get the news. I'm not talking about the news on CNN or MSNBC. The information I'm talking about is whose relationship status has changed on Facebook in the last 30 seconds. What YouTube clip has 10,000 hits or what's trending on Twitter. One of my greatest fears for your generation is if you're so worried about what's going to happen next, you are never going to enjoy the moment that is now. It's good to be quick. We all love the efficient. But if you live your life in a hurried pace, the time will pass you all without creating great memories. Cherish your next years in college, certainly don't be in a hurry.

Last year I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Michael Eric Dyson talk to a group of students and he had a quotation that struck me as important for young people to hear. Dr. Dyson said, "You've got to continue to develop. You can't ever be satisifed with yesterday's plaudits or last week's laurels or last month's achievements or last year's niche that was established. You have to constantly expand, constantly be curious, constantly be hungry." This is such an important message. No matter how far you've come as students, as people, you must continue to develop. We always have room for improvement, and as you move into the next phase of your life, you should not be satisfied with the status quo. Work hard, but think hard, as well. Be creative, be innovative and be willing to work hard. Your impact can and will make a difference.

And finally, one of my high school mentors and basketball coach Win Palmer said something to me many years ago that to this day continues to help me manage my own life. He said, "You should try to live life so that you have no high highs, or no low lows. Balance is the true key to happiness." We all must find the right balance in life. Family, religion, friends, work, school, sports, there should always be enough time for everything. Don't rush through today just to get to tomorrow. Savor the moment. Class of 2012, you've finished an amazing year. Your time here at Flint Hill may be coming to a close, but the door for your incredible future is wide open and now it's your time to walk through it. Thanks again for letting me be a part of your special day.


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