November 6, 2026

On Friday, three members of the Class of 2027 stepped up to the podium in The Muran Theatre to deliver our first 8th grade speeches of the year. A defining Buckley tradition and cherished rite of passage, 8th grade speeches mark one of the most significant moments of senior year. Under the guidance of their English teacher, Mrs. Maria Newman, students develop and revise multiple drafts, refining the structure, language, and message of their carefully crafted personal narratives. The audience was filled with students, teachers, administrators, and, most importantly, the families and friends who came to support our speakers as they shared their experiences and life lessons.

First up was Artemios, Co-President of the Student Council, who joined the Buckley community as a Pre-K student in 2017. He began his speech with a question: “What do you want to be remembered for? Kindness, hard work, selflessness, giving back, spreading joy. When I hear these values, I instantly think of my grandmother.” Artemios recounted how his grandmother endured the Nazi occupation of her village in Greece during World War II before coming to America aboard a steamship in 1956, and worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream. She passed her strong work ethic down to her grandchildren, often enlisting Artemios and his brother, George ’25, to help clean her home, including the twice-yearly task of cleaning her chandeliers. “To this day, when I smell Windex, I think of hard work and remember this task.” Artemios closed his speech with some thoughtful advice: “In a world where it is always tempting to take shortcuts or the easy road, we sometimes forget how fulfilling it is to put your full effort into something and to know that you’ve tried your best at something. Do not let your outcomes drive your work ethic. Instead, remember that the work is what makes you rich in life.”

Our second speaker, Olivia, explored a related theme, reflecting on the dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice required to achieve one’s goals. “It’s easy to say you’re dedicated to something when you like it and it’s going well. It’s much harder to stay dedicated when things get difficult.” A talented and passionate athlete, Olivia shared two experiences that tested her commitment to her sport. The first was an injury that sidelined her during a particularly successful season. While her teammates continued to train and compete, Olivia worked diligently through physical therapy, only to feel as though she was starting from square one when she was finally cleared to return. The experience taught her the importance of perseverance and reminded her that “talent may give you a starting point, but your work ethic determines true success.” Her second story centered on a difficult choice: join her friends for Buckley’s annual international learning trip to Europe last summer, or stay home to compete in a qualifying event for the Junior Olympics. “Sometimes sacrifice means giving something up because you have a bigger goal in mind,” she said. Her decision paid off. Olivia qualified for the Junior Olympics and traveled to California to compete alongside some of the nation’s best young athletes.

Our final speaker was Gabrielle, who delivered a moving reflection on beauty standards, self-acceptance, and the stories our imperfections tell. She shared her experience of trying to conceal a birthmark she had long viewed as a flaw, until she came to recognize its deeper significance: it told the story of her survival of a car crash while still in the womb. “The imperfections we try hardest to hide can sometimes be the most meaningful parts about us, because they carry stories that perfect, flawless skin never could. Yet accepting those imperfections becomes difficult when our standard of beauty constantly changes.” Gabrielle challenged the ever-shifting beauty ideals perpetuated by social media, including the “Instagram face,” and the ways certain races and skin tones are elevated over others in pursuit of an unattainable ideal. “Perfection is fleeing, but growth is forever,” she said. Through her own journey, Gabrielle came to understand that perhaps she didn’t need to change herself, but rather how she saw herself. She concluded with a powerful message about embracing what makes each of us unique: “Like pieces of a puzzle, maybe we were never supposed to be perfect and smooth. Our edges carry our experiences. Our imperfections carry our stories. And those pieces come together to make us who we are.”

We extend our sincere gratitude to Artemios, Olivia, and Gabrielle for sharing their stories with such honesty, courage, and thoughtfulness. Their reflections on hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, and self-acceptance were a meaningful reminder of the lessons that shape our students, both inside and outside the classroom. We also thank the families, teachers, coaches, and peers who have helped guide and encourage them along the way.

View photos of our first 8th grade speeches on Buckley’s SmugMug page.