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WEEKS of JUNE 23 & 30, 2003 |
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Commencement Speech by Edisa Weeks ’83 When Michael Nill called and said BFS is offering me a George Fox award I was amazed, honored and embarrassed because I did not know who George Fox was. My Father, who is a Quaker, was appalled that I did not know George Fox and immediately gave me a thick book—756 pages long—of George Fox’s journal. In reading the journal I realized that although I did not know George Fox, his ideals had been instilled in me during my many years at Friends and through my parents. The commitment to service. The importance of action over words. A firm conviction in my beliefs, and a willingness to stand up for them. The importance of asking questions and finding alternative pathways. That knowledge is more important than dogma. The emphasis on love and non-violent solutions to conflicts. That all people are created equal. This year I attended my 20th BFS Reunion. I started as a student at BFS in third Grade. It is amazing to realize I have been connected to BFS for thirty years. BFS has nurtured me as a student, and also as a choreographer. I created my first dance in ninth grade. It was a 10 minute solo which was ten minutes too long. Marna Herrity has been wonderful in giving my dance company Delirious Dance rehearsal space in the fifth floor dance studios. It has allowed me the opportunity to develop as a choreographer and develop the company. Marna recently asked me to choreograph a dance for the students were I had the pleasure of working with a few of the seniors. I have worked with a lot of high school students – I teach at Saint Ann’s and in the New York Public School system—and I was really impressed by the students here. I was impressed by their: Dedication—they were willing to sacrifice Saturday mornings for rehearsals. Their openness to absorbing and applying new information. And especially how supportive they are of each other as a group. Also in watching their choreography I was impressed that they weren’t creating fluffy MTV rip-offs, but were asking questions, taking risks, and addressing issues. They Created dances against war, about the power of love to overcome obstacles, and interfaced dance with technology. The ideals of George Fox are alive in the students at BFS. My advice as you continue your journeys is to never stop asking questions. There is a wealth of information out there but if you don’t ask questions you wont have access to it. Also keep in touch with the school—you might be given an award! Lastly in parting, because my primary mode of communication is movement, I would like to improvise a dance for the seniors… |
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