The following remarks were made by Abbie Beates on the occasion of the Fall Senior Dinner which took place on September 19, 2007. Abbie is a member of the senior class of 2008 and has attended The Geneva School since she began in Kindergarten in 1995.

Thirteen years, sixty-three classmates, scores of athletic games attended and played, a countless number of teachers, six different uniform changes, four different Latin curriculums, three different buildings, two different mascots, a change of school colors, one unforgettable education. This may sound like a silly credit card advertisement, and you may be thinking that I would end it by saying “priceless”, but I thought some numbers were needed to understand my following thoughts.

I have been at Geneva a very long time. In some respects I grew up along with Geneva coming as a small five-year-old in Kindergarten. Some people don’t understand why I remained at Geneva my entire education, but I feel that God has blessed me by letting me be able to stay for thirteen years. I could never have received the type of education I have anywhere else and I feel like all my friends that left have missed out. I am so thankful that my parents kept me at Geneva, even when I may not have wanted to myself. Not only has Geneva provided me with a top notch education, I have had the privilege of studying under some amazing teachers, who not only teach their subject impeccably well, but have given me the insight of living as a Christian in a secular world.

Geneva has also provided me with the best friends I could ever hope for who have changed my life. Being in a small class, I have been able to be myself, and also be friends with people I may never have been friends with if I were in a class of say 200 people. I have friends who are similar to me, and who have helped me become who I am; but I also have friends who are completely different from me, who I have learned so many things from.

I have had opportunities at Geneva that I don’t think I would have had anywhere else. Geneva has taught me to want to excel. In particular, the athletics and the art programs have given me a chance to do things that I don’t think I would ever have had the courage to do if I hadn’t had the support from teachers, coaches, fellow students and friends. I’m looking forward to being able to excel even farther throughout the rest of this year, in not only the art and athletic departments, but also the rest of my academics.

Being a senior has not quite sunk in yet, but as my graduation day comes closer and closer, I am excited, but also a little bittersweet. I have grown up with this school, and as much as leaving my family will be hard, leaving Geneva will also be a hard transition. But I am very excited to attend college! I am planning to study medicine, and work to get into medical school to become a pediatrician.