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Thank you for the honor that you have bestowed upon me to speak with you this evening.

Many of you know me as Ms. Imbriale, or Ms. I, or, to some, Ms. Izzle of Imbrivalley. I have a variety of names around here to which I respond, but the one I am most proud of is that of mom to Molly, my almost 4-year-old daughter. It is time spent with Molly that inspired tonight’s message.

One of our favorite things to do is to read together. In an effort to diversify her interests beyond Madeline and Curious George, we recently read a favorite of mine and perhaps yours, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. How many people remember that story?

There are numerous interpretations of the book, but the one I like is my own. In his own imagination while placed in time-out in his bedroom, Max sets off on an adventure during which he sails the ocean, explores the place where the wild things are, proclaims himself king, and rumpuses with the beasts. However, in time, he gets lonely and wants to be where someone loves him best of all. So, he leaves the wild things and returns to home to find a warm dinner waiting for him.

This is not much different from T. S. Eliot’s words on exploration:

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”

You may be thinking how this relates to you. I can answer that by telling you a story.

Fifteen years ago this very fall, I was a junior here at McDonogh just like you. Like you, I was trying to figure things out – new responsibilities at home with a driver’s license and a part time job, the college process and the impact of junior year grades and the PSAT, a rigorous schedule with:

AP English with Haller,
AP History with McKibbin,
Honors French III with Madame Warner,
Honors Algebra II with Dr. McGuire, and
Biology with Ms. Rothen.

I played varsity soccer and lived in the dorms for the first time in my high school career. In addition, I was the junior class president.

Fifteen years ago this fall, I too took part in a special ceremony to celebrate my passage into “upperclassdom.” Back then, it was slightly different, but equally as significant. Instead of the class pin, we received our class rings on this evening – the one I wear to this day. Instead of a class dinner, we congregated in the chapel with faculty members and our families to receive our rings. Then, we proceeded to the glorious Lamborn Hall for the annual ring dance, where the rest of the Upper School was already dancing the night away awaiting our arrival.

I remember this evening so vividly because it was the tradition back then for the Junior Class President to deliver the evening’s address to the class. I will spare you the cheesy words of wisdom that only a 16-year-old could share with her classmates – something about the symbolism of the ring as a circle, blah, blah, blah. Fortunately for [current junior class president] Lindsay, the evolution of this evening has spared her from having to deliver the tonight’s speech.

Some may say it is ironic that I speak here tonight after 15 years. However, the coincidence proves my point.

Just like Max, I had dreams of exploring the world too when I was a junior in high school. In fact, it is well documented in an interview I did the fall of my senior year for a Sports Prep Profile of the Week with Channel 2's Keith Mills. Let’s watch. Keep in mind that I was a product of '80s preppy fashion and was cursed with naturally curly hair during a time in which I had few skills to cope with it.

As you can see back then, I was going to be a lawyer set out to save the world. But as you can see right now, I am here at McDonogh with you. So what happened? Like Max in Where the Wild Things Are, I set out on a journey of my own. My journey after high school took me to the University of Maryland (not Brown or William & Mary), where my major had many incarnations including pre-law, journalism, back to pre-law, and finally education. After graduation from college, I taught outside of Washington D.C. for four years while getting a master’s degree from Hopkins. Then, after eight years away, I smelled good things to eat just as Max did. So I returned home – here to McDonogh.

Therein lies the message for tonight. Tonight represents yet another step for you in the process of growing up. You are no longer the underclassmen of the school. Younger students look up to you just as you look beyond the hallways of McDonogh to hallways across the country in various colleges and universities. As juniors, you have already begun your exploration and that is what you are supposed to do.

However, I wish to remind you of two important facts:

1. It is not certain where your exploration will take you. Right now, you have dreams and ambitions as I did. However, those dreams and ambitions may change as you develop as a person and as your values change. It is ok to change your course along the journey as long as you are true to what you believe. As you can see, my dream was to make a difference in the lives of others. I chose not to do that as a lawyer, but instead, to do that as a teacher.
2. My final point is this. At the end of your exploring, you will always have this place where you started. Now, I am the literal interpretation of this message. Most, if not all of you, will explore the world “where the wild things are” without returning to McDonogh to teach. You may move out of state or out of the country. You may attend several colleges or have several different careers before you find the one that brings you joy. That is all part of the exploration.

Just remember, not matter where your exploration takes you, you are part of something great – you are a member of McDonogh’s Class of 2006. You will always be welcome here whether it is to attend the annual drama or music performance, reminisce at the Cardboard Boat Race, cheer at the McDonogh-Gilman game, simply visit on Alumni Weekend, or perhaps return to teach someday.

Like home was for Max, McDonogh will always be the place “where someone loved you best of all” – your parents, your teachers, your coaches, and your friends.

I wish you all the very best in your explorations. Thank you!