Meshi Roth Graduation Speech

Meshi Roth - Graduation Address - June 10, 2020

I have moved to a lot of different places in my life from living a year in Israel to moving schools in eighth grade, but Brandeis has always felt like my home away from home. The community at both  Brandeis San Francisco and Brandeis Marin have taught me respect, kindness, integrity, compassion, and tzedakah. From helping hatch chicks and ducks in my first-grade classroom to learning and researching about different non-profits in fourth and seventh-grade, Brandeis has made me a more considerate and loving person. 

When I was younger I always used to rush through everything: work, tests, reading assignments. I always wanted to know the endings; I wanted to finish my work or activity as fast as I could. There was a saying that all my teachers told me when they saw me rushing through my work: “Slow down Meshi, take your time. Nobody is chasing you so take a deep breath, look around, and then start working again.” My teachers taught me to slow down and appreciate the lessons that they were teaching me and the world that I live in. Since then I have taken my time on tests, re-checked all my work, and have enjoyed countless movies and books without knowing the ending before I started reading or seeing them. 

Like I said in my introduction, I have moved a lot in my life. I moved to a new school in Israel then I moved back to Brandeis San Francisco and this year I moved to Brandeis Marin. At first, I was scared about the move. I didn’t want to leave my old friends and teachers. I fought my parents about it but I have got to say I made the right decision to move. My first day at Brandeis was so amazing! Everybody was warm and welcoming. I felt like I have been a part of the school for my whole life. My classmates helped me adjust and feel at home and now I know I can face any predicament that comes my way. 

Moving schools in eighth grade was hard but it taught me to make lemonade out of lemons and to always be optimistic. My community at Brandeis Marin made my year full of happy memories that I will never forget, they made me a more passionate person and a better student. Thank you so much for the roller coaster of emotions and experiences through all my years at Brandeis San Francisco and Brandeis Marin. Both Brandieses have changed my opinion about being a Jew and a better human in the world. Thank you so much again and I hope all of you continue to do well and live happy and healthy lives.