Reflections from Jude Taher ’27 at Eighth Grade Celebration

Jude Taher ’27 shared the following remarks with classmates, friends, and families at the Eighth Grade Celebration in May 2023.

Hello, everybody! My name is Jude Taher. Welcome to the graduation of the Class of 2027. Today marks an important milestone in our lives as we bid farewell to middle school. Today we look forward to a new journey into high school. It is a momentous occasion that we will all cherish for years to come. As we reflect on our time here at MICDS, we cannot help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. We have learned so much, not just academically but also about ourselves and the world around us. We have made new friends, discovered new interests, survived spiral quizzes, and overcome challenges that have helped us grow and become better individuals. None of this would have been possible without the guidance and support of our teachers, families, and other MICDS staff. They’ve never ceased to encourage us and were always pushing us to strive for excellence. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay.

I joined MICDS in seventh grade, and in only two years, I grew in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I definitely had my share of struggles, some minor and some major, but my teachers helped me build the skills I needed to overcome these challenges. A key aspect of growth in middle school is learning how to navigate relationships with peers and adults. Through advisory activities and whole-grade team building, I found that communication and empathy were essential skills for building and maintaining relationships.

The legendary Muhammad Ali once said, “Let’s not count the days, but make the days count.” We’ve all heard this multiple times from our own legend, Mr. Roberts. This quote is a great reminder to live each day to the fullest. Time is of great value. Every day we spent here at MICDS, we have learned, networked, experimented, produced, adapted, and applied academic and non-academic knowledge. Our days weren’t just normal routines; they were days that counted.

Middle school here was a change that I needed, an amazing environment surrounded by an incredible community. As we move forward, let us take with us the lessons we have learned and the memories we have made in this community. Let us continue to work hard and pursue our dreams. Let us never forget the values that we have been taught here at MICDS–trust, respect, responsibility, and honor. I give all my thanks to my teachers, my family, and my fellow graduates. Congratulations to all.