Woodstock School Alumni Magazine Volume CVIII 2015
Quadrangle -
Woodstock School Alumni Magazine
Table of contents From the Principal ...... 2 Around the Sundial ...... 3 ...... 10 Voices of Woodstock ...... 11 The Lyre Tree...... 12 WOODSTOCK SCHOOL Treading a Path Less Taken ...... 16 # : ; <- =)# > Second Generation ...... 17 @ [ E H) J K N (K+) = Shades of Dissent ...... 18 9 E O% ;, , Graduation 2015 ...... 20 Q "E %%%,% ; , Baccalaureate Address ...... 20 ...... 22 Valedictorian Speech ...... 23 Salutatorian Speech ...... 24 ...... 25 2015 Awards ...... 26 Gatherings...... 28 ...... 38 ...... 72 Staff Arrivals and Departures ...... 73 In Memoriam ...... 75
Editorial team Editors ! " # $ $ % # & R() Jottings assistance by * + R ) Layout ! , R-- / 9 www.tsa.in
Front cover: Ben Bowling
Photos: Woodstock students and staff
Any ideas for improving Alumni services? Write to us at [email protected] - Quadrangle From the Principal On Learning and Learned Dr Jonathan Long, Principal
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. They come here to be educated in the original sense of the Greek Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” Henry Ford’s wisdom is word for education – to have something drawn out rather than an ode to lifelong learning. There are less elegant ways of putting something put in! They leave here not as ‘learned’ but as capable this. I came across one recently – “The best way to become an old learners – able to go out into the world with the curiosity to ask dog is to stop learning new tricks!” & We no longer inhabit a world where the ‘learned’ thrive. It is, as Eric Hoffer said, “learners who inherit the earth.” My own appetite Inspired by that curiosity, they discover that some of life’s greatest for lifelong learning is driven by an insatiable curiosity about the treasures lie beneath their feet – right here; right now. Every place can be the centre of the universe. Every moment demands our full beauty, things which arouse awe and wonder, community, educa- attention. That is the essence of a Woodstock education – to be truly tion, human potential, the nature of knowledge and the remarkable ' mystery of this wonder we call life. Through working, reading, and to hold that gift dear for a lifetime. I began my journey, I longed for certainty. These days, however, I ( travel more comfortably in the company of doubt and I worry less about the destination. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it " # had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not $ % # # lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor part in Ironman triathlons, 100 km road races and a seemingly greedy did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I 8 university degrees! Not once has the horizon of what remains to wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.” be learnt shrunk; not once have the questions diminished – but the questions themselves have changed and I feel the richer and the I trust that your curiosity remains insatiate and that your hunger more blessed for it. for learning continues to push you into the unknown. If you have a story of a recent discovery, a new perspective on what it means to Woodstock students do not come here to be educated – as if educa- live, or a newfound passion, please drop me a line. I’d love to hear tion were some commodity to be handed out like a bag of sweets. where your journey has taken you! Quadrangle - Around the Sundial Judy Crider ’69
JULY: In the midst of monsoon, new and and competing in indoor soccer and at the Middle Years Focus week which was called returning staff arrive for the start of the 161st same time raising money; and a few of our ‘Design for Change’ where students worked year of Woodstock. students attending the North Zone indoor for the week on a project in which they + made a change. Some of the areas covered AUGUST: The year has begun and we are time. / # # already into the Indian Cultural Week with the playground and respect for those with a Bharatanatyam dance performance from " disabilities. a Jesuit Priest, Father George, staff ladies performing a dance, Korean girls dancing # $ by Chaar Yaar.
" )* huge landslide happened to a community called Sippancoat located near Library Ba- zaar. Woodstock, LCH and others helped to give relief as many of the homes were covered by the landslide. The residents are rickshaw pullers and are migrants from Bihar and Nepal. The Grade 9 students organized a bake sale to help raise money for relief efforts.
The month ended with a Grades 5-6 retreat at Torchbearers and Friendship Day where seniors and freshman get to know each other.
SEPTEMBER: September was a month of sports with Cross Country races; Goal-a-thon, Bake sale for Sippancoat Friendship Day which had many of the students teamed up
How to live with monkeys during the New Father George’s Bharat- Staff Orientation. natyum performance Staff dance during the Independence Day celebrations
Korean fan dance during the Independence The new students are welcomed to Woodstock Day celebrations Chaar Yaar - Quadrangle
Grade 6 on Activity Week
Indoor soccer
Twister board being painted in the Quad Grade 10 Rupin Supin Grade 9, village life OCTOBER: After a break for Gandhi Jayanti Waking up this morning I smile During this month, 18 members of the class of the WS MUN took place. The theme this year Knowing there are 24 brand new hours be- 1969 and many spouses gathered in Mussoorie was ‘Displaced People. The guest speaker was fore me. to celebrate their 45th reunion. Dominik Bartsch (the UNHCR Chief of Mis- I vow to live fully in each moment, sion for India and the Maldives). Some of Jon And look at beings with eyes of compassion. Woodstock was privileged to have ‘The Tibetan R R7: Traveling Museum’ which was established in the school. He is the Photo Director at World / E / Y / , 1998 by the Central Tibetan Administration to Vision and has photographed major natural # # # - disasters, wars and refugee crises over the Over quarter break, the Girl’s football team cate Tibetan and non- Tibetans on all matters last thirty years. and Boys’ basketball teams travelled to related to Tibetan history, culture and the present Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu to participate in situation.” The museum is normally based in Over a weekend staff and students attended a tournament hosted by our former sister McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala. a 4 day workshop in Dehradun followed by school, Kodaikanal International School. The an evening session at Woodstock school on teams faced tough competition, but enjoyed We closed off October with a celebration of Mindfulness conducted by the Ahimsa Trust the chance to challenge themselves and play Diwali and Halloween combined and called with monks, nuns and lay teachers from Thich a variety of Indian teams! it Dalloween. Nhat Hanh’s Tradition. Worldwide Woodstock Day (October 18, NOVEMBER: November started off with the 2014) was celebrated by 25 local alumni in Mussoorie Half Marathon in conjunction with Dehradun at the restaurant of Rajat Kapoor [ @ \ " R>? Mussoorie Writers symposium and a music the food was great. festival held up at the Burgoyne Flat.
Activity week was enjoyed again this year About 14 members of the class of 1971 along with many different events. About 16 seniors with some spouses gathered in Vadodara and went on a cycling trip to the Spiti Valley and as Mussoorie to celebrate their 43rd reunion and part of their adventure they also raised money to be part of the celebration of Distinguished Dominik Bartsch with students during MUN for a dental clinic in the Kaza Community Alumnus Rahul Amin’s special presentation. @ Q ( ^ - 12th Grade groups going to Bihar, Rajasthan tinguished Alumni presentation for Jeet Singh and Dharamsala; 11th Grade groups going on ’81. Jeet also gave a short impromptu guitar/ several different hikes to Maldaru and Baraad- singing presentation in the quad for the school. sar and a group to Corbett; 10th Grade hike to Rupin Supin; 9th Grade to several villages; 8th Some other activities in November included a Grade rafting; 7th Grade camping, rappelling new life-size chess set being given to the school and hiking; and 6th Grade rafting, hiking, and and the chess Passage group taking full advan- MUN village farm work. tage of it. Rahul Bose, actor/activist visited Quadrangle -
The Tibetan Traveling Museum Chessboard Woodstock and was able to have some discus- DECEMBER: The semester ended with sions with the students as well as getting his another Focus week for the Middle Years picture taken with students and staff. Students students. Drama was the theme for this week from the Passage group working with CARE of focus with the end being short dramas per- on Mullingar garbage were able to meet with formed by each grade. These were performed the ITM and give their concerns and solutions / | @ - to the garbage at Mullingar. mas presentation by the Early Years students.
We had the Movember men judged and the FEBRUARY: The second semester started money raised was used for buying new sewing with the All-Staff Retreat with a time of silent Movember men machines for the girls in Dunda who completed ( \$" their training to be seamstresses J Z N. Welcome Back Dance. The dance takes place R to welcome back students from their long va- Other activities in November included the ( ( fall drama ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with social event of the semester; it gives students accrediting body. Woodstock students, staff, Indian costumes and language thrown into the a chance to get to know each other better and parents and alumni around the globe should ` x be proud of our history and where Wood- to Woodstock for a day and showed staff and helps new students adapt to Woodstock’s at- stock stands today. While much has been students how to block print and to make their mosphere, and fall in love with its friendliness. accomplished to get us where we are today, own block printed bags. This was an activity en- much work remains to turn our aspirations joyed by all who tried. A Hindi class went below Woodstock received its accreditation from The into reality. the hospital and enacted a street play on child Middle States Associations of Colleges and labor. A French class conducted a cooking class Schools Commission on Elementary and Sec- After a demanding 10-day course, 13 indi- Q\ @ R " ondary Schools, or MSA for short. This month viduals from all over India, including four Fall Music Concerts were another high.
Rahul Bose in the Quad Block printing
Midsummer Night’s Dream Masterchef - Quadrangle
Grades Three and Four Christmas presentation First batch of First Aid Instructors graduate
Woodstock Tibetans and friends celebrating Losar Book fair # & the Rishikesh Street Art Festival, the Mussoorie students from the US and added their voices Wilderness First Aid and CPR. This was made Heritage Walk, a Mindfulness Walk, Project to many of the songs. They also went to Delhi [ @ R ARUNIMA, Literary Walk, Project Nag Tibba, with the Kimball students and performed there. with Aerie Backcountry Medicine of Missoula, # " $ | # \(# }$"# ~ * Outdoor Drama, River Systems, and Rajaji Some of our students represented Woodstock in India. Q % at the North-East Asia Math Competition at Weekend turned out to be a fantastic learning Nanjing International School, China. They In February Woodstock celebrated International came 9th place out of 38. Mother Tongue Day and Tibetan Losar at Min- drolling Monastery in Dehradun. Our annual David Weidman ’75, assistant Head of School Another new activity celebrated this year was Book Fair makes a wide selection of books from for Academic Affairs at Kimball Union the ‘Swithathon’, a take-off from Goal-a-thon. various vendors easily accessible. Academy facilitated the collaborative staging of ‘Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat’. Q \ One event which brings all the younger and Grade 5 Woodstock students worked with the Class celebrating International Francophone older kids together is the well-known Big Brother Big Sister Day. The BBBS day is a day on which students from the upper years spend one day with students from the early years, caring for them, as their big brother or sister.
MARCH: Some of our Woodstock staff and students gathered to play with Gulal or coloured powder, heralding the onset of spring and the mythological triumph of good over evil.
Once a year, the school sets aside a three-day Q % # academic learning outside. Up through Grade 9, # - ing out of themes from their academic study. In ))~# options. Students have signed up for the Wil- derness First Aid Course, Sketching Outdoors, Big Brother Big Sister Day Quadrangle -
Holi Drama outdoors First aid outdoors
Wall art in Rishikesh Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat Day with presentations, poems, music com- @ students having a special activities night at petitions, a movie and a special lunch menu; those young singers. Midlands. Mrs. Long and ESL students giving a puppet show to KG, Gr 1 & Gr 2 students; Grade 9 This semester life at Woodstock included Other highlights of the month of April were going on a canyon hike; Jazz Jam celebrated [ the Win Mumby Basketball tournament where in the quad with the 9th grade dressed in debating on social media; robots made in the 16 teams competed. Woodstock’s boys’ and 50’s style to serve; the spring drama ‘Meta- Junior and Senior Robotics Clubs; interesting R # morphosis’; the dedication of the renovated @ @ ' - lost – the girls to Welham from Dehradun Administration Building and the Indian / ' and the boys to Modern School from Delhi. Music Concert. drama class performing ‘Crossing Boundaries’ $ on the Parson’s Terrace; students organizing a traveled to Nainital to attend the Young Round APRIL: ( % ( food-court fund raiser for Nepal earthquake; Square Conference. This conference was for the rest of life here at Woodstock continues students sending messages of hope for Nepal 10 to 12-year-old students and was centred and is very full and rewarding. A group of 21 victims; all grade 7 students going on a hike on the pillars of adventure and leadership. singers with conductor Abe Okie traveled to to Pepper Pot; Hindi class students practicing We ended April with the Spring Concerts. We New York to perform in a concert in Lincoln Hindi with shop owners in the bazaar; and had the special honor of having boys and girls
Grade 9 Canyon Trip Swithathon Metamorphosis - Quadrangle
Indian music concert Fundraiser for Nepal from Kolkata joining in the string ensembles, emony for this year happened this month for The theme for the Junior/Senior Banquet this performing solos, and their director helping to James Taylor ’52 with all of Grades 11 and 12 year was ‘The Godfather’, well enacted by Dr direct the Advanced Orchestra. A new selected attending, along with staff and alumni from the Jonathan Long (Don No. 1) and Mr Ajay Mark Grades 7 & 8 vocal ensemble also performed. hillside. It was followed by a special tea at the (Don No. 2), both of whom sportingly partici- Flag Pole Flat. pated in three mock shoot-outs choreographed MAY: ( x by Head of Drama, Curran Russell. The red Reserve, formerly known as Flag Hill was held The annual art display was opened for the carpets were rolled out, the paparazzi were on May 2nd. Environmentalist and WWF India public and to show off the work of students clicking away and the mocktail bar attracted Programme Director, Sejal Worah, and her local in the UY’s classes. crowds. The sumptuous Italian cuisine (served team have spent the last two years attempting to by well-turned-out 10th graders in a tastefully revive a 400-acre area situated in the Garwhal The KG students had a special day set aside in / | Himalayas, in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. From the library where they each read one of their being a degraded and over-grazed territory, favorite books out loud to guests. The ECP This year, at the Festival of Ideas, 11th and within two years of conservation efforts the children grew their own kidney beans, watch- 12th graders were given the opportunity to protected area has become a sanctuary for ing them grow, making predictions and noting # # & wildlife which hadn’t been reported for years, down the progress each day. Grades 7 and 8 their stance on an issue of their choice. like the Himalayan Black Bear and Sambhar. $ | They publicly presented their work based on The third Distinguished Alumni Awards Cer- of their projects in the Science Fair. |
Woodstock students performing in New York
Win Mumby
The Lyre Tree Win Mumby Win Mumby Quadrangle -
Spring concerts Annual art display of views at their presentation. Summed up, it’s the larger worldwide Alumni Community. tion Address with a welcome from the Vice - Dr Long, Bhavanesh Kumari Patiala ’50, Dr President of the Board, Mr Rajan Mathews. ically speaking, it’s a self-motivated lesson Dunn, Phuriwat Chiraphisit ’14 and Katie in growing up. Many students were selected Erickson (Former Staff) shared a few words to present their presentation in a TED type of with the Class of 2015. Class Governors talk in Parker Hall. unfurled and revealed the Class Flag.
At the WOSA Assembly the Class of 2015 " were introduced, welcomed and inducted into with Graduation being the ending. The Vale- dictorian was Eriko Shrestha from Nepal and the Salutatorian was Nishant Aggarwal from India. The Best All Round Student award Shrestha, I Hsin Yan, Inwook Jung, Manvi Seth. Dr Jonathan Long gave the Gradua- Grace: One Universe The United Principle of Consciousness in Quantum Physics and Religion
The Godfather Class flag, class of 2015
From Ahmed to Ziegler
Woodstock contains a growing collection of books written by Woodstock alumni. We are always pleased to receive additions to the library. If you are a published author, please consider sending us a signed copy of your work.
[email protected] - Quadrangle A Year at the Hanifl Centre Marta Lofesser
t has been a year of change and growth I [ @ ~)? with a new partnership with Aerie Backcountry Medicine, a leading provider of wilderness-medicine courses based out of Missoula, USA. Through this partner- # [ @ School staff members attended a Wilderness First Aid Instructor Course, in which they First Aid (WFA) and CPR instructors. There are only a couple of organizations in India # and most of these do not have a wilderness focus.
# [ @ " @ in Mussoorie, Delhi, Nainital, Mumbai and Kashmir, and trained a total of 155 partici- # [ @ R ( [ @ ) ^ Q pants. Most are from the rapidly growing # [ # and Environmental Education (Trek Leader number of outdoor enthusiasts as well as is being offered. This year, 13 students Course) programme continues to train youth people based or working in remote loca- from the University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse from Uttarakhand and neighboring states tions. Our participants have come from the University, along with students from Yale- to value their environment and take a more Indo Tibet Border Police (ITBP), guides NUS College of Singapore are spending eco-friendly and professional approach to from the state-government owned KMVN, a semester in the Himalayas, based at the their livelihoods. 20 students graduated this trekking and outdoors companies from [ @ ^ " Uttarakhand, Himalayan Outward Bound able to earn 15 credits through different ) \ crew and our own Trek Leader Course college courses that cover a range of disci- \ participants. plines, including Environmental Study in the Himalaya, Himalayan Religions, Moun- offers. " # [ tains and Music, Cultural Immersion, and Centre conducted a WFA CPR Course for Hindi Language Study. During the months In collaboration with The Himalayan Club, the managers of the state-owned KMVN $ ^ # [ @ the Banff Mountain Film Festival World tourist guest houses on the Kailash to Man- } Tour is coming to Woodstock School, as part sarover pilgrimage route a week before the faculty and undergraduate students, who of the Mussoorie Writers Mountain Festival. pilgrimage began. Last March, during the interact and actively participate with the ( Outdoor Learning Weekend, 20 students larger Woodstock School community. " # Mussoorie, and it is sure to be a source and over the course of the year, more than Hanifl’s mission is to contribute to de- of thrilling inspiration for the Woodstock 30 Woodstock School staff have followed. School community. This results in a safer campus, as well as celebrating the Himalayan environment more awareness and safer outings. through physical activity, art, literature, en- The visits of research lepidopterist Peter vironmental ethics and leadership training. Smetacek and the eagerness of our new [ @ ) - It continues to be a centre of reference for Outdoor Environmental Educator Swati tion Course at Woodstock School has been Sidhu have brought a number of classes introduced in the 2015-2016 academic Mira Model School Delhi, D Y Patil Interna- outdoors with students going to Jabarkhet year. The course includes theoretical and tional School Mumbai, Fazlani L’Académie Nature Reserve or the Burgoyne camp- # Globale Mumbai stay with us year after ground regularly. moving water kayaking, rock climbing and year to carry out the mandatory core com- wilderness backpacking. Through technical ponent of the IB Diploma Programme, the [ @ outdoor skill acquisition, students will be CAS (Creativity, Action, Service). Boston $ # - challenged by these outdoor environments, College comes every summer for a 3-week while the art of journeying in wilderness course titled “Writing out of Place – The # safely will be crosscutting, earning them Himalayas” and the Latin School of Chi- trip to the Aglar River last April with Grade lower-division university credit. cago comes during their spring break for 9 students. [ Quadrangle - Voices of Woodstock A Treasure Trove of Stories Ed Beaven
will get involved in the project. AWoodstock will preserve memories of the school and Mussoorie for future O R - generations. one and hear them speak their story,” she says. “The act of telling a story, unrehearsed The project, called Voices of Woodstock, is and raw, can be transformative for the teller the brainchild of Middle Years Social Studies and the listener. It’s an act we don’t cultivate teacher Charlotte Swanson. It aims to cre- much in our modern, fast, automated life- ate an archive with high quality recordings styles, and it feels more and more important of Woodstock staff both past and present, and other members of the wider Mussoorie of wonder and slowness about listening to community. The purpose is to preserve their other people. Woodstock is a treasure trove memories of the historic institution and town of stories.” for posterity. Several people have been interviewed ( & for Woodstock Voices, including current in the school archive and will be used in a Woodstock teachers and former Woodstock the power of history. Remembrance of the variety of ways. Ideas for their use include students Jonathan and Amy Seefeldt; long- past teaches us who we are and where we archival historical displays of the school, time Woodstock teacher Shonila Chander; are going, and the voices of the Woodstock PR and communication purposes, and at former Woodstock school nurse and Landour community are an invaluable resource to alumni reunions. It is also hoped students Community Hospital nursing Superintendant be preserved and treasured. Those of us in- will become more involved in the project in Miriam Marston, who still lives in Mus- volved in the project believe it is a privilege the future. There is potential for it to become soorie; and Tibetan staff members Thupten and a responsibility to hear these stories an enrichment activity, and students being and Dolma Chophel. Meanwhile well-known and record them for future generations. I involved in both the interviewing and edit- Mussoorie resident Lilian Singh, a former would wholeheartedly encourage others to ing process. Principal’s Secretary at Woodstock and get involved. from a renowned Indian family, is another Charlotte has modelled the project on Sto- person who it is hoped will be included in ryCorps, a US-based project which records the archive. interviews with ordinary Americans for If you’re interested in the project email National Public Radio. Swanson says the As an Upper Years history teacher I had the [email protected] project would have an important legacy for opportunity to conduct the interview with for more information. future Woodstockers and hopes more people \ \ - Quadrangle The Lyre Tree Compiled by Judy Crider ’69 Quadrangle -
THE LYRE TREE by Mary Esther Badley Burgoyne – Staff
Storms of a hundred years have bent your branches, Snows of a century have crowned your head, Over the hills you’ve watched Spring’s soft advances, Summer and winter under your boughs have spread Needles of green and needles of gold that shower Over the students passing beneath your shade. You have been waiting this Centennial hour Facing your life of struggle unafraid. Teach us your steadfastness, your quiet growing, Sending your roots deep into the living earth. Tell us the sacred peace you gain in knowing Sunshine and sorrow, solitude and mirth; Over the strings that winds have torn and swept, Symbol of song, a century’s music lingers After the tears our foolish hearts have wept. Tell us your secret, Lyre Tree above us, Watching the children climb the steps to school, Is it that in your heart you really love us— Sinner or saint, scholar or sage or fool? Symbol of strength, many have come, returning Back to the hills our youthful feet have trod, Thankful in heart for beauty, and friends and learning, Grateful to share your hundred years with God. - Quadrangle
ODE TO THE DEATH OF THE LYRE TREE
(inspired by The Lyre Tree by Mary Esther Badley Burgoyne) by Polly Petersen ’70
The Lyre Tree that graced our school is gone. No longer standing steadfast, silent, strong. This tree that we hoped held all that was best This constant sentinel is now at rest.
Formed like a lyre, beautifully shaped With lithe branches and slender needles draped. Your life captured our senses and desires Showing a dignity that awe inspires.
You graced us with your presence and your shade But others also in your fullness laid; Cicadas and more were all blessed by you.
Your songs, your whispers, your sighs and spitting You weathered the storms, the sun, and the cold Now you lay still while your story is told.
Your trunk, branches, leaves, and roots shared our dreams ! Now those dreams bleed out to follow the wind Away to clear skies, to universe end.
Teach us your way oh silent lyre tree Teach us your way to be solid and free Help us to become the dreams that we made " !
R Help us hear your song now as it lingers Over the strings that others now repeat, True tune of silence in our hearts now beat.
I see the tree now, standing in glory Sorrow and sadness can’t be its story More than a century steadfast and strong Its spirit that graced our school is not gone. Quadrangle -
BYE, TREE – GOOD JOB by Rachit Malhotra ’09
The Lyre Tree The tree of lies Under which I read The Lord of the Flies As a teacher I spent many joyful hours beneath Where’d you come from the Lyre Tree; and to see each graduating Where’d you go? class congregate in its piney shade – what Under your shade a privilege. The memory of this famous tree I hung out with my bros. will live long. John Derksen - Staff Why’d you leave us Here all alone I wish you’d left us A Lyre Tree clone.
Like Gandalf the White You coulda kept goin’ Now all we got Is this drab ol’ poem.
So I wish you well And don’t you frown It ain’t personal When we cut you down. - Quadrangle Treading a Path Less Taken My Journey Towards Developing Sport and Youth in India Soheil Tandon ’06
y lifelong passion and love for sport opment and programme documentation, and M provide a web and digital media presence in itself during my formative years at order to raise the visibility of their programmes Woodstock, where I participated recreationally \ # $^ and competitively in most sports on offer. It is undertaking a needs assessment for RDT’s gave me a sense of satisfaction and joy that not sports coaches and PE teachers, working with- much else could. Later, I decided to turn my in various sport development programmes. passion into my profession, and dedicate my More recently, PSD has begun working with professional life to the development of sport 200 youths from slums in Bhubaneshwar, to among youth at the grassroots in India. This implement a community sports programme same passion for sport is what motivates me which supports their social, emotional and today to help young people gain meaningful physical development. in various sporting activities. When I started PSD, our main aim was to develop the sporting abilities of youth. Hav- After graduating from Woodstock, I contin- ing trained and sent 20 tribal boys and girls to ued my association with sport, playing and we implemented a sport development project participate in national weightlifting competi- coaching in a variety of international settings. called Khel Vikas, which targeted underprivi- tions, and won 14 medals as a result, we have My undergraduate degree was followed by a leged tribal youth in schools and communities already made substantial progress towards this Masters in Sport Management from the world across rural Odisha. As part of the project, we goal. However, this process has taught me that renowned Loughborough University in the implemented PE, after-school and community our achievements lie far beyond our success }+ \ - sports programmes in eight schools, covering ( % # 1,500 children, about half of whom were girls. living and working in remote and rural regions, belief that sport in India must be developed Furthermore, PSD conceptualized and setup and interacting with impoverished youth, I from the bottom upwards by targeting youth @ $ have come to realize the true power of sport. at the grassroots, is what inspired me to setup to take forward the personal, professional my own organization, Pro Sport Development and sporting development of talented tribal The programmes we undertake not only (PSD). athletes. As part of our sustainability efforts, develop the physical and sporting ability PSD trained 80 coaches and PE teachers in of youth, but also support their social and Pro Sport Development uses sport as a means local rural communities and successfully emotional development. The most satisfying for the holistic development of youth, primar- implemented various fundraising campaigns. aspects of implementing these programmes ily working with underprivileged and margin- alised sections in rural India. Since 2011, PSD The past year has seen PSD focus on pro- self-belief of the youth we work with, allowing has been working towards providing youth viding structured and well-researched PE them to become leaders in their schools and with sustainable opportunities to participate programmes. Currently these programmes communities. Moreover, their participation in and compete in sport, enabling them to become are being implemented in schools and other our sports programmes has encouraged them institutions in Hyderabad, Odisha and Delhi, to dream, enabling them to pursue higher covering over 2,000 children and 30 PE teach- education, apply for scholarships and join PSD aims to promote a sporting culture among ers. PSD assists these institutions by devel- the workforce, challenging their traditionally the youth, which is inclusive, sustainable and oping age-appropriate PE curricula, training restrictive societal norms. engaging. This is accomplished by implement- ing Physical Education (PE) and other sports the programme and periodically evaluating Our ambition at PSD is to make our pro- programmemes in schools and communities, its progress. PSD has also partnered with grammes available at the farthest reaches in training sports coaches and PE teachers, man- world-renowned social enterprise Rural De- India. In particular, we would like to reach aging grassroots sports programmes, as well as velopment Trust (RDT) in Anantapur, in rural out to tribal populations and urban poor. We facilitating sports infrastructure development. Andhra Pradesh. Within this partnership, PSD especially want to impact the lives of female has been supporting RDT’s sport development youth, who have a penchant for learning and Over the past four years, PSD has been project, which has been running for the past 15 enormous hidden ability. We believe that no working on several grassroots projects, in a years supporting underprivileged youth of the one should be deprived of a sporting chance variety of settings. Between 2012 and 2015, region. PSD’s role is to manage strategy devel- due to a lack of resources. Quadrangle - Second Generation Jennifer Wray Olson ’84
ow is it that five Class of 1984 our kids here for the same reason. However, it care about each other, and we want to stay in Hgraduates end up with their kids at was not as simple as that. Arjun Sarup’s choice touch. So when Jigme Shingsar and Naresh Woodstock at the same time? Two for his son Ambar revolved around loyalty to Teckwani met me in Jersey City recently for Class of 1984 graduates have already had his alma mater. Or maybe our children chose an impromptu gathering, I realized why I # to make their way to Woodstock with our sup- sent my daughter to Woodstock. I wanted the other members of the class had their children port, as my daughter Livia did. For Soe Soe attending Woodstock this fall, making a total of Thwin it was allowing her daughter Setse to people you can pick up with right where you seven second generation Woodstock students left off, no matter how long it has been since out of a graduating class of 47 (so far…). Soe she admits ‘is not readily available when you we had seen each other. I wanted her to have Soe Thwin’s daughter Setse Bush graduated live in a small town in New England’). For friends in four corners of the world, friends in June 2015 and Rajesh Kohli’s son Harit Mark Glover he wanted his daughter Sarah to & graduated in 2011. Then, just this year, on July unique location. In the future I want her to be 27th, 2015, Mark Glover, Chris Meyer, Anto- # able to email a friend whom she hadn’t seen nio (Karan) Puri, Arjun Sarup, and I (Jenny % in years and trust her with her own daughter. Wray Olson) all sat in Parker Hall listening to and come away with friends she never would (Thank you Seema Merchant ’83 for being the orientation for Woodstock students as the have met anywhere else. that friend and taking Livia and her friends for ( mid-term break this year.) Soe Soe had simi- Sarah Glover (Grade 10), Pooja Meyer (Grade Woodstock calls to each of us differently. lar wishes, ‘I really wanted her to have the ># " )~# % Q Although we all graduated in 1984 from (Grade 12) were scattered around the hall, Woodstock School, we each had our own and nurturing environment where one could some with their parents and others sitting with make friendships that transcended beyond newfound friends. Arjun’s son Ambar Sarup, school. I knew that whenever we managed G not a new student but returning to Woodstock to see one another over the last 31 years, we years she has absolutely that. for his Grade 11 year, was enjoying the last of never seemed to have any trouble catching his break. In addition, Smitha Dharmaraj Day up or picking up right where we left off. I Sarah Glover says, ‘I already know that I ’85 was also in the audience with her daughter feel as though I could travel anywhere in the - Karishma Day (Grade 12). Principal Jonathan world, send out a message to our class, and ence of the world. I will be more informed Long and other faculty and staff shared the if there was anyone where I was headed, they about different cultures and religions. I will # - would make time to see me. Sure, we have know the importance of being welcoming ences, and even the success of recent classes. ' … you can never be too welcoming.’ Livia Boston, 150th Woodstock celebration, 25th Q $ # Q R During the assembly, I barely remember what reunion in Mussoorie, and most recently the not about the teaching and the academics was said, but I keenly remember the feeling 30th reunion celebration at Rokeby. We have # R of calm. I was not worried about what my loyal classmates who make these reunions though we each had our own reasons for # % Q # and gatherings happen. Without Sisi Crotty coming back to Woodstock, it all goes back I was not worried about her academic program. Lance’s regular newsletters and Monisha to the people we met and the relationships I was not even concerned about her settling Ahmed and Nilmini Jayasinghe’s planning, our children will also make. Soe Soe said, into Woodstock. You see, she had already many of these events would not happen. “When you start off a sentence with, ‘When connected with other girls in her grade and But regardless of it being a formal reunion I was at Woodstock…’ they will start rolling made her way up the hill to the school from at Woodstock or a gathering of two or three their eyes.” And that is one eye roll I am the dorms. She already made the decision classmates, we want to see each other, we happy to watch. that Woodstock was where she wanted to be. I think it was during that orientation I knew she had made the right decision to come to Woodstock. When it came time to leave Livia behind, I watched her walk up Jacob’s Ladder $ \ R Sarah has an effect on their entire family as they left. Soe Soe did not drop Setse off when she visited her a few months into the semester and said it was great fun to see her really mak-
When Monica Roberts asked me to write an ar- ticle, I jumped at the chance. Surely we all had Class of ‘84 parents and their children, now Woodstock students - Quadrangle Shades of Dissent An Art Project That Questions the Caste System Lalitha Krishnan
We often assume that politicians, lawmakers and armies are the things that create change % J " ]N, $ # &# the creative and visual arts are a powerful tool for awakening deep awareness, inspiring , R Varna project resonates with key themes in Q ;R ^ ^ & , > % & [ ^ [ % divide us; it tells us that beneath the surface of colour, creed and culture is a common humanity which binds us, inexorably, to one ‘The only difference between man and man another; and it tells us that when we see this, all the world over is one of degree, and not we are liberated into a new way of engaging of kind, even as there is between trees of the % % M q z & ^ # Q/ same species. Wherein is the cause for anger, problems of the world cannot possibly be [& \R [ "& ^ & % Z are limited by the obvious realities. We need he latest art of Antonio Puri ’84, our men and women who can dream of things that Tartist-in-residence, seems to echo the [ % R, — same sentiment. Puri calls his project ‘Varna’ with good reason. Varna in Sanskrit I think the Varna project is a beautiful and loosely translates to colour and is based on subtle way to get people thinking about and discussing the issues of race, stereotyping and R # discrimination that are common to us all—to hard to tackle the world over. Yet Puris’ art not look at ourselves, our community and become only manages to question discrimination but + % , >R " & & ! " ' illustrates with harmonious ease the absolute Q% RN" >R % irrelevance of skin-tones. % , > ; R % They’re curious. They want to know what it to have the experience of working alongside a means. They like the energy the art is bring- Puri has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the ^ # ; % R ing. They want to know if I’m interested in Academy of Art in San Francisco and Coe } ^ " R # other projects. Students keep asking questions. College in Iowa and a law degree from the participate in all of the hard work it takes to There’s a little non-classical education going on } [ } % ;, Q R ^ which includes somebody’s passion – a love for they will feel real ownership of it.— what they do. I am hoping by being here and Art Depot in Austria, The Guild in NY, Loft Gallery in India, Nu Art Gallery in Santa Fe, Twelve Gates in Philadelphia and Philadel- I think in the community outside of Wood- & ( ! phia Art Alliance, to name a few. He has also stock would also appreciate and be willing "# & done residencies in Hungary, Bulgaria, South to interact and engage in a public art piece ' " " Africa, Serbia, Mauritius, India, Denmark which talks about cultural contexts, history, ' ) ' and Romania. race, and the complexities that surround our understanding of humanity through color. The common thread is me. My art is about me. As he worked with staff, students and employ- — It’s always about what I feel. I never have a # . doubt about what to paint or create. As long known to practically everybody. He had the as you stay honest to yourself, you never have whole community involved in matching skin / ~ , > R ^ - to think about it. You’re doing it. That’s how I tones and creating a Woodstock collective, if ^ ; R & , feel. Or otherwise, I’m just the guy who never you will, of skin colours. Puri had also been — !" #$% capturing eyes digitally and has incorporated all of these into installations at school and in Puri would rather have his art speak for him * + , - the local community. As with all inspired art, than talk to us about it but we did manage to # ! " & ( + people have been impacted differently. persuade him to answer a few questions. ' Quadrangle -
I have been working on Varna drawings for # )~ the past three years. I even painted some launching the Varna Project there. bodies with different colours to treat it like a Puri’s work has caught the attention of the in a certain community and how that plays local press and he has been featured in local into the fact that we have different ideas of newspapers. His two art installations in the colour. This was in Philadelphia. An Asian, / Q
You can read more about Puri on our Woodstock blog: http://bit.ly/Varnaproject and also: www.antoniopuri.com.
www.merrynglover.com - Quadrangle Baccalaureate Address Brian Dunn ’89, Chaplain
Honoured guests, with a plan. Beat him up, throw him in a well… proud and support- could be the most illiterate villager, who has no, better yet, make some money off of him by ive parents, dedi- never been to school in your life, and yet wise. selling him into slavery… then dip his Amazing cated and relieved Conversely, you could have any number of Technicolour Dreamcoat in blood and tell their staff, beloved but graduate degrees from ivy-league universities distraught, grieving father that he’d been killed annoying siblings, and yet be a complete and utter fool. by savage beasts. Do any of you have siblings and last but cer- like that? Turns out, the only savage beasts in tainly not least, Now don’t get me wrong. Obviously we value the story were the brothers themselves. our gorgeous and high school diplomas and university degrees hard-working grad- or we wouldn’t be here for this special oc- [ uands… I thank you casion. They help us learn how to think, to yourself to people who are supposed to love for the honour of attain specialized knowledge, and commend you deeply, people who know you better than addressing you this evening. The baccalaureate us for future jobs and careers. So no disrespect anyone else in the world, only to have them is the sacred service of our graduation tradi- there. All I’m saying is that wisdom can’t be turn on you, stab you in the back and sell you # taught in universities. It has its own degree up river? If you’re a disturbance in your home- consider some truth from the deep, deep roots program called life. So I would like to present town, don’t be surprised. According to Jesus, of the faith tradition of Woodstock’s heritage. to you three degrees of wisdom from the life prophets are always without honour in their of Joseph. Before you sign up for it though… hometown. And it is the people who are closest I would like to share with you this evening the are you sure you’re ready for this? He got his to you that can hurt you the most, because they outline of a story, a very ancient story, and one Bachelors in being betrayed by loved ones; his know how to hurt you like no one else. Only that is claimed by three great religious tradi- Masters in being falsely accused by people he’d people who are very close to you can sell you tions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It is been faithful to; and his Doctorate in being put for 30 bits of silver even as they betray you so full of universal themes and types, however, in charge of the very people who had wronged with a kiss. There’s nothing that hurts more that I am sure it will have something to say him over the years. than being betrayed by your own tribe. And all of our traditions, religious or otherwise. It what’s at the heart of it all? Jealousy – jealousy is the story of a young man, full of hope, full So, why am I giving this message, when your turbo-charged with guilty conscience. of ideas, but most of all, full of dreams. And future is so bright? You’re told that often # M )7 enough. In fact you’re told it so often that it’s So here’s lesson number one, the most impor- # [ a total cliché. You’ve got everything going tant lesson of Joseph’s Bachelors program. for you – a privileged place among the elite Adversity is not the end of your dreams. In parents such as yours, whose future is bright as of the world, a good education, supportive # his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. parents… so where’s the cloud in all that blind- them has only just begun. Adversity is not the ing sunshine? Well, ask your parents. In fact, R This semester we had a number of outstand- ask all the adults you trust in your life. But ask your life; it is, in fact, the very means through ing dramatic performances, one of which especially those whom you consider to be wise. which they come. There is nothing that will was (you guessed it) Joseph and the Amazing Have you ever been betrayed by someone you mold and shape your character more, for good Technicolour Dreamcoat. What is it about this love? Have you ever been falsely accused of or for ill, than adversity. In fact, I would submit story that still speaks to us after thousands of something? I’m pretty sure I know what their to you that there can be no greatness without years? Reading it in the Bible, in Genesis 37 answer will be. This is reality. This is the world adversity. In New Testament language, there :>?# $ / R R ( & can be no glory without suffering, no resur- Yusuf, the characters jump off the page. These are you going to do about it? rection without a cross. Those dreams are still are people we all know. They are situations we intact, but they’ve just become the costly sort & $ R x R ` of dreams that make them worth having. x # program. He was a cocky young man. You is the same. Why? Because from generation to # So Joseph gets sold into slavery. He’s university generation, and the world over, human beings terminology a snitch, a typical baby brother, age at this point, a young man in his prime, are the same as they’ve always been. telling on his big brothers for all the mischief who we are told in the Scriptures was a pretty they were up to. But that wasn’t the worst of it. good-looking guy. He ends up working as the This semester in our assembly devotions we It was his dreams that were the real problem. chief servant in the household of the Pharaoh’s have been following the themes of wisdom ‘You’ll never guess what I dreamt last night,’ head guard. He is so trusted that his master, from the biblical book of Proverbs. One of he’d say at breakfast. Then he would proceed Potiphar, leaves the whole household in his # to tell them how he dreamt that all his loved ` R in February, is that wisdom, according to ones, his brothers, his whole family, were all degree, a Masters in being falsely accused. Proverbs, has absolutely nothing to do with bowing down to him. You can imagine how Potiphar’s wife, as it turns out, is a desperate # / R the brothers reacted to their spoilt snitch of a housewife. In fact, she’s straight out of central about character – integrity, honesty, humility # R $ @ # and a simple willingness to learn, not least from So, cutting a long story short, they came up version. She repeatedly pursues him, calling Quadrangle - him to do things that he knows shouldn’t be forgiving all the people who hurt him? I bet he pettiness, ruthlessness and arrogance? Or will done, and she knows shouldn’t be done. And clung desperately to the sorts of promises we you be a leader who embodies justice, love time and time again he resists. Why? The Bible just read in Psalm 91. Still Joseph was faithful and compassion? How many of you know that Q – so faithful in fact that the prison guard puts good and faithful rulers don’t just appear out could do this thing in secret, and maybe even him in charge of the other prisoners. It turns out get away with it, how could I sin against God that if you’re faithful as a servant, you’ll also learn how to be good and faithful servants. A by doing such a thing? But also, how could be faithful as a prisoner. faithful servant became a faithful prisoner who I break the trust of my Master, Potiphar, by became a faithful ruler. That’s how it works. messing around with his wife?’ In other words, Remember those dreams that Joseph had? Faithfulness begets more faithfulness. Or as he has what Jesus calls the two greatest com- Apparently, he could interpret other people’s Jesus says, ‘he who is faithful with little will % % dreams as well. And it came to the attention of be faithful with much’. all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and the Pharaoh himself that there was a prisoner love your neighbor as yourself. Well, you can in his palace prison that might be able to inter- $ ~)? ` # probably guess how it turns out. The desperate pret the dreams that had been troubling him. Masters and Doctorate in wisdom. You don’t housewife gets angry and falsely accuses him So Joseph was sent for, and Joseph did indeed have to pay any tuition, but it sure is costly. You of assaulting her. Joseph is thrown into prison, a interpret the Pharaoh’s dreams. Years of plenty can stop and get off at any step of the process. special prison for the Pharaoh’s household and were to be followed by years of famine. Joseph R | # staff, accused and doing time for something he was a dreamer, but all those years of adversity, always choose folly. There’s no shortage of hasn’t done. service and faithfulness had taught him how to people who choose that. You’ll become one of be practical as well. So he proposed as a solu- the brothers, or one of the slave traders, or one Okay, so maybe not this situation in particular, of the desperate housewives of Cairo. That’s but have you ever been falsely accused of of plenty, store it up for the years of drought, totally your choice. But I would give you this, something? Ever had to suffer in silence and you’ll save a lot of lives. ‘Great idea’, my last piece of advice to you. Choose wisdom. while guilty people wine and dine and feel says Pharaoh. And the Scriptures say that the Don’t short-circuit the character that God wants like they’ve gotten away with it? It’s amazing sovereign ruler of all of Egypt looked at Joseph to develop in you. the sort of depths people will sink to when and saw the Spirit of God in him. But what else they don’t get what they want. Have you ever did he see in him that he didn’t see in any of his There can be no greatness without adversity. had that moment when you know that people royal advisors? Wisdom! Wisdom that can only But it depends on what you do with it. And by have been talking about you, slandering you, be taught by life itself… wisdom that comes the way, just because it turned out all right for accusing you of something? You don’t know from adversity, honesty, faithfulness, humility, everyone in the end, it doesn’t mean ‘it’s all what it is, but you know people have been and a very costly sort of integrity. good’. I’ve always hated that phrase, ‘it’s all talking badly about you because something’s good’ – because it’s not all good, and it wasn’t changed. Demeanors have changed. Trusted $ # x all good. Joseph, after he has revealed himself friends now avert their eyes because they’re all degree from life, his Doctorate. He is put in to his brothers in the end, says in Genesis 50 in on it. You go from being trusted, from being ~ Q respected to being a pariah accused of someone Just as predicted, along came the drought – they did), but God intended it for good, and for else’s guilty conscience. This is human stuff not just in Egypt, but in the land of Canaan as the saving of many lives’. When the little story here, and it’s ancient – as old as the hills and well, the promised land of his great grandfather # as young as the day. Abraham; but more to the point, the land of the consider the possibility that there might be a brothers that sold him into slavery. It would be much bigger story that God is weaving yours Okay, so here’s lesson number two, the culmi- just a matter of time before the brothers came into. It’s a Christ-shaped wisdom that says ‘Fa- x R \ - to Egypt desperate for some grain. Money they ther, forgive them for they know not what they ters program. Are you listening? – because this had, bags full of silver and gold. But how many R# is important! Disappointment and hurt should of you know that you can’t eat money? Again, him, offering life to those who don’t deserve it. # to make a very long story short, Joseph, now your disappointment and your hurt, you can :R # I sincerely hope that your adversity is nowhere maintain your integrity, your honesty and your )7 [ x R # faithfulness then you pass with distinction! But brothers have come to him totally unaware of this, adversity will come. Right, parents? It has how many people use hurt and disappointment who he is. And those eleven sheaves of grain been an honour walking the road with you these # # he saw in his childhood dream now bow down last two years, and I hope to meet up with you themselves, to start giving in to their lower to him, begging him for his help. The one sold ( & natures? It’s sad but true. The general rule in into slavery has become their master. # counseling is that ‘hurt people hurt people’. But faithful leader who, despite adversity, hardship x x So here’s the culminating lesson of the Doc- and human failings has consistently chosen chose a clean conscience over corruption. torate of Joseph’s life. Here’s what will decide that painful path of wisdom? I hope and trust whether you pass or fail the Doctoral thesis that I will. ‘Now these three remain,’ we read I want you to imagine Joseph languishing in of wisdom. When you’re put in a position of ` ) @ ): prison. Who knows what sort of desperate power, of leadership over many, even over the ‘faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these prayers he prayed there? Who knows how he very people who have betrayed, slandered and is love’. The highest wisdom that you could wrestled with God in the loneliness of feeling falsely accused you – how will you rule? Will ever aspire to is the wisdom that Joseph walked utterly rejected and abandoned? Who knows you use your position to take revenge on all M $ how many times he had to forgive and keep your enemies, to rule over everyone else with from me as well – love. - Quadrangle Commencement Address Jonathan Long, Principal
The great humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer, put it well when he said, ‘I don’t know what # the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.’
Beyond Professor Martin Seligman has worked on [ ground-breaking work at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed some astonishing facts about what makes people tick! Time and again, his research has uncovered the same M people are those who belong to and focus on something bigger than themselves.
The truth is this – the more our goals and motivations are about something greater than us, the more balance and satisfaction
Three words. That’s all – just three words. resilient in times of challenge. What are you I have to look in the right place. If I focus Three words which will be reliable guides building on? # throughout your life. Three words to pay atten- will always fall to the ground. But if I focus tion to whenever you lose your way, whenever Beside # # Imagine if I gave each of you a balloon and balance. I asked you to write your name on it using a Beneath marker pen. Then all the balloons are collected The philosopher and novelist, Iris Murdoch, Jesus told a story about two builders. One and put in another room. Then I ask you, on the once wrote, ‘Our ability to do the right thing built his house on foundations of sand. The # depends partly, if not wholly, on the quality other built his house on foundations of rock. of our habitual objects of attention.’ In other The house built on sand did not hold up in a Imagine the chaos! Everyone madly searching words, what we focus on in life will determine storm – it fell to the ground and collapsed. for their name, pushing others and bumping our ability to judge between right and wrong, The foundations were not strong enough. " # ( " M enough story but one with a profound meaning. there would be many burst balloons lying on \ # # found that focus here. Others of you have yet Pay attention to what is beneath you. What is to discover that life’s broomsticks will only beneath you is all about your foundations. It is Now imagine each of you is asked to randomly balance when our focus is on things above! about the things you choose to build your life collect any balloon and simply give it to the upon. If your foundations are strong and secure person whose name was written on it. Within I could have added a fourth word to this list of you will have the strength and resilience to minutes everyone will have their own balloon. three. If I had, it would be BEHIND – and that stand up to whatever life brings to you. If your would be a word which speaks of letting go. It decisions and plans are ever based on hatred, This is what happens in our lives. We franti- would be a place not to focus on – a place not # # cally search for our own happiness. That’s all to pay undue attention to. Whatever regrets on foundations of sand. These foundations are we focus on. We don’t realise that our happi- you now have about your past, its failings and weak and dangerous – they will not support ness lies in the happiness of other people. Give its disappointments – let them go today. There you when the storms of life come your way. them their happiness and you will get your is no future in the rear-view mirror. - But if your decisions and plans are based on loon is out there, somewhere – but don’t look Go with these words in your head and in your what is true, honourable, right and pure and for it. Pay attention, instead, to those who are hearts. Three words which tell us what to pay lovely and kind, you build on rock. You will beside you – the people around you. Find their ` # # M be strong in the face of pressure. You will be not be held back by what is behind. Quadrangle - Valedictorian Eriko Shrestha
Mr. Mathews, Dr. Long, Parents, Teachers, with each other. We teach each other how to Friends, and most importantly, my dearest " " in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake made me realize that. One of the things I learnt at Woodstock was to stop caring about my grades and instead learn That is what I want to encourage today— to satisfy my curiosity. Yet, here I am today, to be curious. It is curiosity that helps us standing with the privilege to address you be- # R cause I cared about my grades. During senior merciless changes. It is curiosity that leads year, I felt comfortable enough to be myself to understanding, and understanding makes and stop thinking about impressing people. forgiveness so natural and necessary. We need Yet, I spent weeks thinking about what I forgiveness for the changes that will shadow should write for this speech. I don’t want our lives, for the unfavorable decisions and to give the hallmark valedictorian speech uncontrollable events that will continuously ‘looking around the room at the prospects shape us. The reason I refuse to deliver the of our future careers as pioneers, doctors, hallmark valedictorian speech is because of and lawyers’. I don’t want to think about the the unforeseeable circumstances that will future lives we are going to live apart. Yet, color our future, often with colors we do not I’ve been requested to talk about the future. pick. In the competitive world we are going to enter and in which we will feel vulnerable, [ destinies in the world. As citizens of multiple ( into the future when the world around us nations, we bring our cultures to be resource- dances in chaos and in light? A month ago, ful and hope together. We helped raise money a devastating earthquake left my nation, for Nepal, even though some of us held no What we can control is how we carry our- # ` # ties to the country— never visited the place selves. Senior year, I encountered the gen- with students our age crashed into the Alps. and most likely never will— but because we erosity within all our hearts as we put aside In spite of this, elections proceeded around are familiar with Nepal through a shared cul- ' the world, reminding us that all life does is ture. We held a fundraiser by selling what we makeup that coats this place. The labels of move forward. How are we supposed to surge ( # + grades, job titles, even college destinations, forward when we tread a thin line between candies, French crepes, Nepali pickle, and our don’t measure any aspect of us as human what we can predict and the suspense of the favorite, Spanish tortillas. We have grown beings. There are times worth remembering future? As we watched from the sidelines, and individual lessons that have contributed tucked safely between the mighty mountains, room between friends, family, and educators. to our resilient characters. I remember one I was struck by our impermanence. The only Like it or not, the people present in this room " # continuity is change. It’s reassuring because have shaped us. As a community that shares friends about how we’ve changed this year as Woodstock students, we have been faced a common culture, we have pushed others to with our writing and learnt to be more hon- with years of transition. From being sent to question their beliefs and more importantly, est about the work we present. It’s no longer CC and Edgehill, to changes in the system— wrestle with our own. from high school to senior school, to the about doing something, anything, even an current upper years program— we’ve been As we pop our Woodstock bubbles today and # a part of major change. head out to be parts of new bubbles scattered as people who have grown over years. We around the globe, I’ve come to understand the learnt this authenticity here. That’s something The father of the European Union, Jean Mon- value of the curiosity that our small and di- unique about a Woodstock education. You can net, supposedly said, ‘If I could start again, I verse community fuels within us. Our culture learn content anywhere, but the size of our would start with culture.’ He meant to say the is a culture of resilience. We question each school makes for personal connections. It is EU would stand united if the nations shared # # the quality of the relationships we develop a common culture. If there is one thing we and adjust to a life away from our parents full with friends and teachers that makes learning of surprises and disappointments. The culture personal; we learn as intellectuals but also through our memories or look ahead to the we adopt depends on familiarity, where ev- mature as people. As we look to the future, I hazy future, I think it can be summarized erybody knows everybody else. If you take \ R the time to talk to the people who spark your However, we’ve created relationships thicker relevant for two reasons. One, because at curiosity, it’s easy to learn more about them. than blood here. The fact that we could do it Woodstock, we come together from different You begin to discover the stories of the homes even with our diversity of opinions reassures cultures to be part of one unifying ‘Wood- we leave behind in joining the Woodstock me that we could do it again. stock culture’, and two, because this culture bubble. Our interactions and familiarity make it easier for us to understand and empathize Graduation marks a quarter of our lives— - Quadrangle
R Secondly, I have learnt that there is going to be a Woodstock education. There are far too many Salutatorian tension between being idealistic and going with # about the people in this community and the Nishant Agarwal the idealistic man. world around me. I could not entirely satisfy my curiosity here, but that’s okay. We have With constant criticism for following the right & " path, telling the truth, not swearing and being we’ve learnt from these past few days, time chivalrous, one often feels the need to deviate ' R | - from this empty path and follow the crowd. I pression. The past few days have made many have often felt that maybe being truthful or doing of us an emotional wreck. Time did not stop, what is right rather than what the crowd thinks and we coped by marking our limited time is right is the hard path, and have often faced together. But why did we have to wait for harsh criticism for it. In fact, I was torn between the last few days to make memories? Why choosing to talk about the populist things, as in couldn’t we be fascinated by everything follow your dreams, etc. etc., or revealing what around us even while we drifted through our Honorable Friends and Family, it is my distin- I believe is the truth. Often, the popular way is time here? guished honour to speak to you today. the easiest path, with the least resistance and the It seems just like yesterday when I came to this thorns. However, if we were to follow the easy \ \ path we will become ‘that person’ who someone the clocks were measuring the movement of mind and I cannot believe that I no longer have looks back at ten years down the road as just the clouds above. For days after I learnt how to run up a hill or convince myself that the food another follower of the crowd. Then would we to read time, I would sit in the garden after is not so bad. not be another person whom someone ten years school, watching the clouds pass until it was down the lane look at and join the crowd? Yes, dark, fascinated by how I could watch time ( it’s a chain and it can only be broken by a brave literally pass before my eyes. I remember their fair share of lows and highs, but they have few who dare to stand up against what is wrong. feeling dizzy because I stared for so long. also taught me something very fundamental Just imagine, if, for once, instead of swearing to I feel a little like that today. We have liter- about life. describe an emotion, you were to use an actual ally lived in the clouds, watching them seep adjective, would it not inspire others to do the through the windows of our classrooms. We Firstly, I have learnt that it is fear and emotions, same? Therefore, though you may feel that have walked through clouds and walked not facts and reasons, which prevent us from # through time. doing many great things. to think about the repercussions. It is hard, I know, but try. This is supposed to be a ceremony commenc- As my classmates know, I spent my entire high ing life but let us also celebrate our lives so school career studying alone. I would wake up Thirdly and lastly, the many conversations, ( * : > arguments and debates I have had have taught here has prepared us for this journey. The pm. Rarely, if ever, did I have any interaction me the value of an open and accepting mind. ourselves. None of us can tell the future, but I to books and books. Slowly I became scared I have always abhorred communist ideology have thought about how I want to approach it, of starting a conversation and relied solely on and though I am not the richest man, I have and have made three commands to my future the other person’s initiative. I thought this was never appreciated the idea of a forced wealth self. I want to end with these three commands. a cyclical change and would wane with time. distribution. My dislike used to run so deep that $ # # I hoped that I would become more sociable as any reference to communism would guarantee time passed. However, I was trapped and this my walking out of a room. However, an hon- First, mark time with intention; fear only grew worse. Whereas earlier I talked est discussion with a friend convinced me that to almost everyone, I no longer conversed with \ # Second, this requires you to be authentic, so anyone. I had become the typical mad scientist. have been used throughout history. It was not stop hiding; the idea, but the implementation that wracked This last month, however, I tried to break free my nerves. After that conversation, I studied " # # - of this fear and started to talk to friends I had communism in depth, and though I still am not der, to be fascinated by your journey through not talked to in years. Slowly, I realized that it a fan of it, I understand the reasoning and the the clouds and beyond. was not that they disliked me or hated me, but many instances when this might be the right rather simply that they were fearful of entering approach. I was able to do all this because for the imaginary boundary line I had carved up for once I stopped ignoring an idea simply because myself. Having come out of the fear, I could now it seemed senseless and really actually tried to start a conversation as well as talk about things I understand it. had come to consider taboo. In fact, it was not a matter of great perseverance, but rather simply of I now challenge you to change the world with staying up a little late or sitting in a group. I realized an open mind, a fearless attitude and a will to that fear was in fact not a great mountain, but just do what is right. # # Thank you. Quadrangle - Graduating Class of 2015
First Row: Setse Bush, Shreya Gautam, Shivangi Kulshreshtha, Eriko Shrestha, Bamaejuri Sohkhlet, Yong Jung Na, Sofiya Yakovleva, Samiha Thapa, Stuti Garg, Michelle Bajwa, Upasana Shrestha, Raheel Dhingra, Margaret Groff (Advisor).
Second Row: Ajay Mark (Advisor), Rhea Malani, Patthamawadee Tongsuk, Disapron Trakanthaloengsak, Hyun Young Baek, Aelin Kim, Manvi Seth, Miriam Dunn, Raya Kaplan, Anupama Mitra, Amaani Mehra, Tseki Lhamo, Istuti Singh, Juhi Lilwani, Akansha Paul, Melanie Reichwald (Advi- sor), Chris Rhatigan (Advisor), Preeti Rajendran (Advisor).
Third Row: Tahhira Somal, Jenah Black, Frances Kelleher, Khyati Singh, Yeon Sol Lee, Sadrish Pradhan, Ishika Guha, Aashna Gupta, Nafia Din, Kheytsun Rinchhen, Lalrinhlui Songsiama, Minhee Kim, Parishma Shrestha, Chloe Owen, Anvi Rajpal, Mary Ellen Pesavento (Advisor), Aloke Maiti (Advisor).
Fourth Row: I-Hsin Yang, Daniel Lee, Armaan Mehra, Karl Ferro, Dhananjay Prahladka, Aman John, Sumair Sapam, Salman Karmali, Saksham Ja- tia, Priam Vyas, Apurv Kaushik, Johann Arthur, Pukar Mahat, Brett Gore (Advisor), Judy Crider (Advisor).
Fifth Row: Jonathan Seefeldt (Advisor), Inwook Jung, Donghyun Lim, Apurva Adit, Tenzin Lungrig, Kabeer Narikunni, Tenzin Taklha, Tenzin Jigmey, Vitchaphong Laohabutr, Ju Heon Suh, Jungshi Jamir, Rahul Patel, Sang Hyun Park, Raghav Gupta, Zachary Conrad (Advisor).
Sixth Row: Nishant Aggarwal, Sidhant Seth, Joshua Missal, Angad Makkar, Kyung-Ho Jung, Wali Zahine, Yuthok Rinzin, Gurnihal Singh, Harry van Doorn (Advisor), Saharsha Singh, Pranit Garg, Sahurya Dhingra, Hritik Nautiyal, Rattapong Owasitth.
Alumni parents, Vinay Mehra ’80, Bandana Shrestha ’87, Brian Dunn ’89 and Soe Soe (Thwin) Bush ’84 with their graduating children, Armaan Mehra ’15, Eriko Shrestha ’15, Miriam Dunn ’15 and Setse Bush ’15 - Quadrangle 2015 Awards Each year outstanding achievements by Woodstock students are recognised through the presentation of awards, many of which have been established to honour the lives of former teachers or students. Below are the recipients of the major awards in both Upper and Middle Years for the 2014-2015academic year.
SENIOR AWARDS 2 6 & • 4 ! . Cory Diamond • " Rahul Patel + Eriko Shrestha (4.234) 1 . Nishant Aggarwal (4.226) • 7 Anjoli Lahiri . . • 8 Khushi Agrawa • 4 Nishant Aggarwal / 01 . & • " Hyun Young Baek Eriko Shrestha, Manvi Rajan Seth, I-Hsin • " " Raya Kaplan Yang & Inwook Jung • 9 Prasiddhi Shrestha • $; Angel Yoanna . ! & • $$ Nangsay Seldon Eriko Shrestha & Sang Hyun Park • YeonSol Lee 4 • > Aya Wakita • $% Manvi Seth • . Parishma Shrestha OTHER SENIOR AWARDS • 4 Manvi Seth 1 & 2 , . • 7 Palden Dorji Gonsar + & Shaurya Dhingra • 8 Detsen Rinchhen • Miriam Dunn
& • . Aelin Kim • 9 Nikunj Dalmia • < Junshi Jamir • ( 3 . • $; Vashisht Agrawal • / I-Hsin Yang Manvi Seth • $$ Mashrur Arvid Haque • 2 Patthamawadee Tongsuk • 3 Emmett Salzer 4# 4# 3 & 2 " 2 • Q [ Eriko Shrestha • $% Tenzing Takhla . ! & . ! ) & ?@K & Q OTHER MAJOR AWARDS • Shanti Mathias • $% Aelin Kim, Amaani Mehra, • Pranit Garg Angad Singh Makkar, Apurva Adit, 2 . Class of 2018 (Grade 9) • Marina Popova Armaan Mehra, Eriko Shrestha, Hyun Young Baek, I-Hsin Yang, Inwook Jung, & Shaurya Dhingra & Kheytsun Rinchhen, Kyung-Ho Jung, • ) Setse Bush, Hyunyoung Baek Manvi Rajan Seth, Nishant Aggarwal, " 2 & • Shaurya Dhingra, Rattapong Pranit Garg, Rattapong Owasitth, • Manvi Rajan Seth Owasitth Raya Kaplan, Sadrish Pradhan, Sang • ) Grace Cahill Hyun Park, Setse Aung Bush, Shaurya • Raya Kaplan & Dhingra, Shivangi Kulshreshtha, Tseki • < Dhananjay Lhama, Yeon Sol Lee # $ " • $$ Amrita Yeshi, Ankit Ranjan, ( & Saigal Chaitanya Prashant, Devika Nautiyal, • )# & 2 • . Parishma Shrestha Duong Tri Dung, Eera Sarda, Haesoo ( 2 Corydon Diamond Park, Hannah Kim Yi, Jiyeon Chun, • 5 5 6 2 Jenah Black 0+ 2 & & Linh Thao Bui, Loc Xuan Ngo, Marina • Aman John Popova, Mayuri Kakkar, Namita Jain, 2 & Not any this Nangsay Seldon, Rachel Mulavelil, year as there was just one Inter House event 2 [ < ! Sara Krishnan, Satyam Kedia, Shikhar (cross country) that took place. 3 Dhingra, Yejin Son • $; Aashna Jain, Ambar Sarup, Anh Bui, Aseem Aggarwal, Dechen OTHER AWARDS • Nishant Aggarwal Chuki Khangkyil, Hyeji Jun, Isabella Shaw, Jinhye Park, Kartik Adityan, 2 " . ! & Apurv . Khanh An Tran, Meghna Das, Rishabh Kaushik, Elizabeth Khosravi, Ambar Sarup, • / " Eriko Shrestha Poddar, Saral Tayal, Shanti Mathias, Saral Tayal • 2 " Shivangi Kulshrestha Sharhirah Mathias, Su Lin Kim, Taegyeong Lee, Yeshi Seldon Tshering Quadrangle -
• 9 Abigail Gokavi, Avanya Joab, Dobson, Jahnvi Garg, Rhys Fernandes, Bhandari, Sunggon Cho, Yongbean Healeam Jung, Hyechan Jun, Jay Yunas, Rishi Thomas, Shefali Rangi, Shubha Chung, Micah Crider, Tej Dhungana, Joon Kang, Kabish Shrestha, Kavya Tripathi, Taekmin Nam, Yu Jin Eo Theresa Dunn, Amul Kakkar, Juyoung Kataria, Mehar Bhatia, Nikunj Dalmia, • $; Aadeng Apang, Angel Kim, Giju Kim, Phasin Laplamool, Phunsok Norboo, Sooyeon Park, Sophie Yoanna, Apoorva Thapa, Bobby Sharma, Radha Laplamool, Huijeong Lee, Mero, Tenzin Yigha, Tshokey Gyaltshen, Cha Hat, Dhruv Mukhija, Erica Harp, Jia Loomba, Rohan Mathias, Saira Udit Garg, Vatsala Chaudhry Kartik Rajpal, Namhoon Cho, Sara Mehra, Abhik Mehra, Kayan Mehta, Bhatia, Satvik Sindhu, Umang Bansal, Rak Ogan, Vikentiy Pashuk, Rishabh . ! A students GPA Vanalika Nagarwalla, Vashisht Agrawal, Poddar, Navya Sethi, Dhrubhagat Singh, Viraj Rijal, Yerim Lee Visakuo Tsurho, Joanna Victor, Rigpea academic year and the second semester • 9 Egor Suvorov, Noah Douglas, Wangchuk grades of the previous academic year for Ameya Singh, Anubhav Khanna, Arjan )# )) )~ Purewal, Charis Crider, Eva Khanpara, W & W . " & Grade 9) Hamin Yoon, Humaid Juned, Ishaan Charis Crider (2018), Joon Kang (2018), Pilant, Kavi Ahuja, Kiara Kanwar, Tenzin Yigha (2018), Vanalika Nagarwalla For Grade 7 & 8 is based on A Honor Roll Meghan Kulkarni, Noel Archer, Parth (2017), Aadeng Apang (2017), Bobby Sharma Parikh, Passawit Puangseree, Prasiddhi (2017), Shinyoung Kim (2017), Apoorva Shrestha, Shivansh Singhal, Tanya Thapa (2017)*, Kartik Rajpal (2017)*, Yerim Aggarwal, Tanya Sandhu, Tara Bajpai, Lee (2017), Namhoon Cho (2017), Vashisht • $% Avni Rajpal, Daniel Lee, Varun Khanna, Yong Chung Aggarwal (2017), Shikhar Dhingra (2016), Dhananjay Prahladka, Donghyun Lim, • 8 Khushi Agrawal, Abdul Elizabeth Khosravi (2016)*, Jahnvi Garg Hritik Nautiyal, Istuti Singh, Jenah Ansari, Jaydeep Bajwa, Tarini Boparai, (2016), Aditi Saigal (2016), Donald Blank Black, Ju Heon Suh, Juhi Lilwani, Hyenjin Cho, Kritin Garg, Alisa (2016), Isaac Dobson (2016), Ankit Ranjan Kabeer Arjun, Minhee Kim, Parishma Husain, Ye Hyang Jang, Hyunyoung (2016), Haesoo Park (2016), Jin Hyun Lim Shrestha, Rahul Patel, Samiha Thapa, Kim, Khenrab Delek Tenzing Norgay, (2016), Wangchuk Sadutshang (2016), Emmet $ # $ $ # $ Cassidy Percevecz, Malsawmsangi Salzer (2016)*, Sidhant Seth (2015)* Yakovleva, Stuti Garg, Upasana Shrestha Ralte, Karsten Shaw, Ran Singkarin, • $$ Aditi Saigal, Bao Tran, Corydon Shawn Smith, Yehun Son, Shubham *These students are honorary inductees Diamond, Donald Blank, Elesh Kasana, Tibrewala, Aarushi Vardhan, Nikolai not counting toward our chapter numbers Elizabeth Khosravi, Emmett Salzer, Farid Von Moltke, Jonathan Vu Rajkotia Zaheer, Hannes Ehlert, Isaac • 7 Shivaansh Garg, Siddharth Woodstock. Authors, Producters & Creators
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Jeet Singh ’81 Dr Shobha Arole ’78 Chris Anderson ’74 Rahul Amin ’71 Mark Kenoyer ‘70 Tom Alter ’68 Philip DeVol ’66 Gabriel Campbell ’65 Robert E. Scott ‘62 Jagdish Sagar ’60 Marty Alter Chen ‘60 Dorothy Irene Riddle ‘60 Richard Brown ‘58 Frank Mayadas ‘57 George H Carley ’56 Margaret Loehlin Schafer ’56 Bob Fleming Jr. ’54 James Taylor ’52 Dr. Robert B. Griffiths ‘52 TZ Chu ‘52 Ashoke Chatterjee ’51 Bhavenesh Kumari Patiala ‘50 Dr. Frederick S. Downs ‘49 Smt. Nayantara Sahgal ‘43 Dr. Robert C. Alter ‘43 Gerry Williams ‘42 Brig. Hukam Singh Yadav ‘38 Dr. Carl E. Taylor ‘32