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On Thursday, August 21, the Burroughs community gathered in Haertter Hall to mark the beginning of the school’s 103rd year. In keeping with tradition, members of the senior class — the largest in school history — sat on stage, facing their families, teachers, and fellow students as the year officially got underway.
The assembly opened with the national anthem, performed on strings by Iris Wang ’26, Rafe Rosario-Blake ’26, and Hudson Freiman ’26. Head of School Andy Abbott then welcomed the community, reflecting on the impact of great teachers and the role of students and families in creating a meaningful school experience.
"When you have knowledgeable and devoted teachers and coaches, and you have motivated and open-minded students, and you have supportive parents, you have the perfect recipe to create experiences that all three of you can remember and be inspired by for the rest of your lives," Mr. Abbott said. "We are all so fortunate to be in a place and a community that believes in that recipe, and we all have a duty to ourselves and this community to fulfill that ideal and make it a reality. Each year on this first day of school, we recommit ourselves to that."
Living in the Moment
Senior class president Sameera Rao '26 reminded her classmates of their unique journey, beginning with a 7th grade year shaped by the pandemic. “Instead of sitting in the back rows of the balcony surrounded by our entire school, we all sat at home alone and logged into our first day of school assembly over Zoom,” she said. “But every day since then, our class has worked to rebuild Burroughs, not just restoring it to the way it was before but creating the version of Burroughs that we each wanted to be part of.”
She urged her classmates to savor their final year together, reflecting: “Class of 2026, our future can and will wait. And until then, let’s make it our priority to live in the moment, hold each other tighter and do as much as we can together until the next time we sit on this stage.”
The Year of Gratitude
Student body president Jerry Chang '26 built on that theme, declaring this year the “Year of Gratitude.” He spoke directly to parents, teachers, staff, and fellow students, acknowledging their dedication and the small moments that make the Burroughs experience special. “Gratitude is more than a thought process,” he said. “It’s a practice. The most grateful person isn’t the one born grateful. It’s the person who expresses thanks in their daily lives. And the more we practice respect and appreciation, the closer we can get to true gratitude.”
The assembly concluded with a performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing by Kenley Satcher '26 and Noah Clark '26 — a fitting end to an event that celebrated both tradition and the promise of a new school year.
The full remarks of Sameera and Jerry's speeches are posted below.
Sameera Rao '26
Good morning, everyone, and welcome students, faculty, parents, and Mr. Abbott.
It was almost five years ago today when our class had our first-ever assembly as the Burroughs Class of 2026. But, unlike all the other classes here today, we didn’t get the traditional first day of school experience. Instead of sitting in the back rows of the balcony, surrounded by our entire school, we all sat at home … alone … and logged into our first day of school assembly over Zoom.
And this wasn’t the only weird thing about that year, it feels like so long ago now, but our Burroughs journey began with our class divided into A and B cohorts, going to school every other day … eating lunch in our laps, in the Quad, and the field house … getting those little smiley face stickers after having our temperatures checked in the morning. And, unfortunately, who could forget the fact that we got to see everyone in our class for the first time through the Rubik's cube video. What an interesting first impression. Everything was different that year, and it seemed like the “normal Burroughs” was just so far out of reach. But every day since then, our class has worked to rebuild Burroughs … not just restoring it to the way it was before, but creating the version of Burroughs that we wanted to be a part of. continuing the spirit of excellence, passion and success that characterizes Burroughs, while acknowledging aspects of this school that need growth and working to better them. and while I wish I could list all our accomplishments as a class, we would be here for a long time, so instead let’s have a short recap of all the amazing things we’ve done together for the past five years.
We are a class of athletes. And we’ve been a part of nine state and nationals teams: girls and boys tennis, girls and boys squash, cheerleading, girls field hockey, girls basketball, girls lacrosse, and boys baseball.
We’re a class of performers, musicians and artists. Starring in, lighting, and designing over 10 Burroughs productions like Into the Woods, Metamorphoses, Little Shop of Horrors and Heathers. We’ve choreographed and danced in three Dance Shows. And performed in countless choir, band, and orchestra concerts.
We’re also a class of innovators, creating a place for ourselves and people like us to thrive at Burroughs. To do this, we’ve founded clubs like the Middle Eastern South Asian Culture Club, Morgan’s Message to raise mental health awareness for athletes, the Women’s Self Defense Club, and the famous Marble Club. We’ve also created a new publication, Beyond the Whistle, to spotlight Burroughs athletics; we’ve started the Face-to-Face Podcast to get to know members of our community; and we’ve even formed a band called Rubber Band.
Genuinely, my favorite thing about our class is how many different talents and interests each of us has and how passionate we are about achieving our goals … and from everything I’ve just listed, I think it’s clear that we are pretty good at what we do. That definitely deserves a round of applause. And while all of that is great, probably most impressive is that we’ve never lost to the grade above us in Field Day tug-of-war, and our class was the first class in over a decade to beat the seniors on their last day.
Freshman year, when I was struggling in World Civ, Mr. Wagner taught me to look at history through the lens of a story. That first assembly back in 7th grade was the Beginning of our story at Burroughs, and as a class. Everything was exciting and uncertain, and it felt like senior year was so far away. It almost felt like today, when we would be sitting on the stage, wouldn’t even come. But, somehow, here we are, and today marks yet another milestone as we march towards the end of our story at Burroughs.
And this year is different because it will be filled with all the emotional “lasts”. The last class you’ll ever have with your favorite teacher…the last lunch table you’ll ever sit at with your best friends … the last game you’ll ever play with your Burroughs teammates … or the last time you’ll perform on the Burroughs stage.
These moments feel so important and special, and it’s not simply because we’re leaving this school. It’s because these moments are also the culmination of everything we’ve each worked so hard for, even before coming to Burroughs, whether it's the sport you’ve played your entire life, the subject you’ve spent so many late nights studying for, or the friends you’ve walked around this school with since you were 12. Burroughs’ story would be nothing without its remarkable students, each of us with our own unique stories and experiences at the school. But, while we’ve each lived our own lives these past years at Burroughs, and made our own decisions … we’ve also left an indelible mark on each other. Each one of us is beautifully different, but being the Class of 2026 unites us. Our Burroughs story would be nothing without each other. It’s easy to forget that fact, amongst all the chaos that is our teenage years … navigating high school and everything that comes along with it, but we would truly be nothing without each other. We celebrate each other, challenge each other, cry together, laugh together and everything that comes in between.
Each day this year, our future beyond Burroughs is slowly going to start to come to life. As we go through all our fun senior milestones, endure the never ending conversations about college, and experience the quieter realizations that our journey at Burroughs is coming to an end, it’s going to be hard to remember to stay in the moment.
Because, of course, the future is exciting and new and nerve-wracking, but it’ll be there no matter what. However, unfortunately, after these next nine months, our class will never get to spend everyday together, like we do now. So, let’s commit to cheering each other on at all the things we’re good at, the games, matches, plays, musicals, concerts, and even club meetings. Let's be open to getting to know the people we’ve never gotten the opportunity to become friends with. And let’s appreciate the small moments of Burroughs that we might take for granted later on, like when there’s a short assembly and you get an extra five minutes in the Commons, outdoor lunch on a sunny spring day, when a teacher walks by while you’re on your phone and doesn’t take it, or even just when the dessert is chocolate chip cookies. Class of 2026, our future can and will wait, and until then, let’s make it our priority to live in the moment, hold each other tighter, and do as much as we can together until the next time we’re sitting on this stage. Thank you all for listening, and happy last first day of school to the Class of 2026!
Jerry Chang '26
Thank you, Sameera, for a great speech.
Good morning students, faculty and staff, parents, and Mr. Abbott. Today, we celebrate the start of the 2025-2026 school year, and I’m truly excited to be here, kicking it off alongside the Class of 2026!
You know, there have been some super influential people who have spoken at this podium before. A U.S. Senator, Sam Altman ’03, Jon Hamm ’89… and today, you got ME!
But in all seriousness, Sameera and I do have something unique to offer: our perspective. For the adults in the room, that’s the perspective of a high school kid facing a future of endless possibilities. For those up in the balcony, that’s the perspective of students nearing the end of their Burroughs journey, while you guys are just beginning yours. So, on behalf of the student body, I’m honored to share some words with you today.
First, I want to address the parents. Over these past 18 years, you guys have raised the next generation — a generation of young people who will change the world. As I look onto that stage, I see a future of great athletes, actors, artists, doctors, and more. Parents, your hard work has given the world 115 of the most talented, dedicated, and caring young adults. But on top of all that, many of you did this on your first time being a parent. You cheered us on at elementary school sports games, bought us Halloween costumes and Christmas gifts, taught us how to write our numbers and letters, and celebrated our milestones. We know you are proud of us for how much we’ve grown so far, and here’s to making you even prouder in the years to come!
Next, the faculty and staff. I’d like to share some things I have observed as a student at Burroughs. I’ve had history teachers who pull class topics and apply them to current events, giving students a deeper understanding of the world around them. I’ve observed science teachers who go beyond the standard curriculum, setting up lab demos that inspire students to think. I’ve seen math teachers who stay after class to work with my friend, not for a certain amount of minutes, but until he finally understands the material. It’s easy to just get the teaching job done. But to be a great teacher requires a certain attitude that I see everywhere in the Burroughs faculty. And if I had a dollar for every great teacher I’ve had at Burroughs, I could probably pay for my own tuition! So teachers, on behalf of the student body, thank you.
To the staff: Plant Ops, the janitorial team, our kitchen crew, the administration — we take a lot of the things you do for granted. Clean study spaces, or hundreds of chairs for events, or a beautiful campus — those are not guarantees — those are products of countless hours of hard work. And we don’t think about it as often as we should, but somebody has to be here at 5 am, shoveling snow and sprinkling salt, just so that we students can walk to class on clean pavements. Oftentimes, behind-the-scenes workers are under-appreciated, so let’s take this time to thank the JBS staff, for holding up our campus on your shoulders.
In Mr. Wagner’s 9th grade history class, we read a book called Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. In the book, Siddhartha is a brilliant young man, set up for an honorable career and handsome enough to get many ladies. But as he matures, he has this desire to acquire greater purpose. So, he leaves his comfortable lifestyle behind to pursue a journey of self-realization. Siddhartha’s wanderings, filled with fasting and pain, lead him to a greater understanding of life, humility, and gratitude.
That book has stuck with me over the last few years. I could never understand how a homeless and starving Siddhartha found the gratitude that was missing from his younger self, who had everything!
It was those thoughts that were the origin of my own religious exploration. I bought a Bible and read through some of it, I researched concepts like divine power and Buddhist enlightenment, I talked about religion with my friends, who can attest to many heated debates. Most importantly, though, there were many nights where I was lying alone in my bed, and I would pray. Now, who I was talking to depended on which stage of my religious exploration I was in, but no matter if I was praying to Christ, to divine powers, or just to the universe, the common theme was always gratitude. And I realized that, in my pursuits, what I was really searching for was a way to say thank you.
If you are in Mr. Wagner’s freshman class this year, please pay attention during the Siddhartha unit. But no matter who we are, we can all learn something from Siddhartha’s journey and the role gratitude played in it.
At Burroughs, there are so many things I’m grateful for. I appreciate all of you students, each and every one, for shaping this unforgettable high school experience. I’m also grateful for my friends, who will never stop giving me a hard time. I’m grateful for school trips, for the bookstore’s friendly environment, and, of course, for the vending machine. I’m grateful for those quick smiles when you walk past a teacher in the hallway, and for the peaceful snow-covered quad in the winter. Students, I hope we can all search for the things we appreciate, whether big or small, and express our thanks.
Because, just like love, or kindness, or humility, gratitude is more than a thought process — it’s a practice. The most grateful person isn’t the one born grateful; it’s the person who expresses thanks in their daily lives. The more we practice respect and appreciation, the closer we can get to true gratitude.
But there’s more to it than just expression; throughout Siddhartha’s journey, he began to realize that gratitude was also a call to action. For us, appreciation towards a teacher is more than a thank you; it can be a contribution in their class, or being engaged while they speak. Appreciation towards our coaches can be pushing yourself during a hard workout, or staying behind after practice to put away equipment. Appreciation towards Plant Ops can go beyond simply acknowledging their work; it can be holding open a door while they push a cart through, or cleaning up after ourselves in the commons. Being grateful for our parents means working hard when they give us opportunities, treasuring the time they spend on us.
And, of course, our community. We all have different passions and skillsets, but, in our own unique ways, we should all give back to the community that raised us. So many people work so hard so that we get to do the same, and if we can ground ourselves in gratitude, those tiring days and late nights have a deeper-rooted purpose behind them.
With that in mind, it’s been a tradition for the student body president to declare each year as the “Year of BLANK” during this speech. I’ll keep the tradition alive by coining this year as the “Year of Gratitude.”
Because one small token of gratitude from one person — an action, a word — may not feel like much. But when an entire student body collectively takes these small steps, it not only makes the school a better place; it shows who we are as a community. It shows that Burroughs students have a culture where we appreciate and we give back.
Students, we have a lot to look forward to in this coming year: There will be spirit weeks, this time, assembly activities, school-wide events, and Congress is even trying to put together a year-long House Cup. And throughout all this excitement, I hope that we can all take a few moments every now and then to reflect on the things we’re grateful for, and to act on that appreciation.
Thank you for your attention, students, have a great first day, and it’s an honor to welcome everyone to the 103rd year of John Burroughs School! Thank you!
