Every Friday the Waldorf School of Garden City High School gathers in the student room for the weekly Student Assembly. Most Student Assemblies consist of (1) an extended speech by a senior on a topic of particular interest to them, and (2) the recitation of a poem, either existing or original, by a junior. The Senior Speeches and Junior Poems are a rite of passage for Waldorf students and are a required part of the high school curriculum. This series of articles seeks to highlight their efforts.

Last Friday, Ardo Ali delivered the first senior speech of the school year. It was a powerful testament to her quest for balance in her life by counteracting adversity with positive actions. She detailed three recent challenging and tragic events that occurred in her family. From this, she went on to explain how her future aspirations serve to provide a sense of cosmic equilibrium. “I hope to counteract the misfortunes of others through studying and working in medicine,” said Ali. Ardo has chosen to study medicine, specifically cardio-vascular surgery, in college, so she can give back to others in this way. She also hopes to work for Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) an organization that provides emergency medical aid worldwide. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.