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Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2021!
First, I just want to say how proud I am of all the students from West Park. You faced the same challenges as the rest of the world – school closures, quarantine, transition to virtual learning, and missing your friends and teachers…yet you overcame, thrived and succeeded! From K-12 to college, you embraced the changes, the technology and showed us that learning can happen in many ways, from anywhere.
On behalf of the entire West Park Commission, I congratulate you on the momentous achievement of graduating!
You’re doing something different, and I want to encourage you to keep going. The health crisis we face is a reality, but you can embrace this challenge. Maybe you had plans for this year and those plans were canceled, your sports season was interrupted. You may miss friends or maybe you just don’t feel the same. It’s OK to take time and reflect then remember you have made it this far.
Our community needs you now and we’ll need you in the future, so don’t give up. This is the year you earned a high school diploma or you received your college degree. No one can take that accomplishment from you. Thank you for persevering and completing the educational requirements.
As you consider the next steps, please apply what you have learned, show us your talents and perfect them.
The world is still going and you can do this. You may have to do it differently, and it may take longer than anticipated, but you can do it. One day, possibly today, someone will call on you and it will be your turn to lead. When that moment comes, will you be prepared?
You’re already navigating many new rules. Create and innovate. Figure out ways to safely do what you enjoy. Your idea could help someone else through this tough time.
There’s no better time than now. Continue to do what you can with what you have. Find your place in this community, in this world. Again, congratulations. Please be safe and remember you are here, in this time and in this space for a reason, so thanks for your unique contributions.
Finally, to our teachers, school staff, parents and caregivers, I applaud you for supporting our students and ensuring the success of all our children! This academic year is like nothing we have ever experienced in our lifetime. At a moment’s notice, you created a new learning environment and worked together to make it successful. I thank you.
In tough times, communities find strength in people—and people find strength in their communities. In the past year, we’ve seen this time and again in the City of West Park as friends, neighbors, and businesses have found new ways to support each other.
May Is Older Americans Month!
In our community, older adults are a key source of this strength. Through their experiences, successes, and difficulties, they have built resilience that helps them to face new challenges. When communities tap into this, they become stronger too.
Each May, the Administration for Community Living leads the celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). This year’s theme is Communities of Strength, recognizing the important role older adults play in fostering the connection and engagement that build strong, resilient communities.
Strength is built and shown not only by bold acts, but also small ones of day-to-day life—a conversation shared with a friend, working in the garden, trying a new recipe, or taking time for a cup of tea on a busy day. And when we share these activities with others—even virtually or by telling about the experience later—we help them build resilience too.
As we do every year, West Park will celebrate Older American Month by encouraging community members to share their experiences. Together, we can find strength—and create a stronger future.
When people of different ages, backgrounds, abilities, and talents share experiences—through action, story, or service—we help build strong communities. And that’s something to celebrate!
Please join us West Park in strengthening our community – we are #OneWestPark.
