ANYTH
The Class of 2019 learned from and laughed with
Jamie Rosenstein ’08, 25th alumni commencement
speaker at The Lexington School. Her self-effacing,
humorous stories of collegiate years at Cornell
and Oxford, with degrees from both, in addition
to her work experiences in various positions at
Google, enlightened all ages of her audience. Her
advice, shared with approachable friendliness,
resonated: “You all have a strong foundation, a
springboard from which you can launch yourself
into ANYTHING.”
May 31st dawned overcast, but shortly after 6:00
A.M., Head of School Chuck Baldecchi made the
correct and popular call to continue with the plan
for the traditional outdoor ceremony. Scarlet Gate’s
4
expansive front lawn became the graduation setting
for the seventh time. The two-centuries-old ginkgo
just to the left of the stage provided dappled shade
as, appropriately, the sun began to shine more and
more throughout the ceremony. It was a morning
filled with great pride and much hope as the eighth
graders processed down the aisle and up the three
steps onto the stage.
Mr. Baldecchi spoke of the letters eighth graders
traditionally write to him, noting a repetitive theme.
“Several letters pointed to the research showing
roughly 75% to 80% of humans are terrified to
speak in public. The research was used to support
public speaking at TLS: debates, Capstones,
fifth grade musical, Kentucky Heritage Day,
Kindergarten’s Razzle Dazzle. It made a connection
for me at TLS. TLS produces a lot of leaders. It
dawned on me that if 75% of humans are terrified
to speak in public and that public speaking is a
significant responsibility of a leader, there may
be a reason TLS produces so many leaders. Our