108 Seniors Graduate From The Potomac School In McLean

McLean VA

13 June, 2022

4:49 PM

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MCLEAN, VA — On Friday, The Potomac School's senior class joined other regional schools in graduating with family and friend present. The class of 2022 featured 108 seniors who received their diplomas from Head of School John Kowalik and handshakes from Board of Trustees Chair Sameer Bhargava. Hundreds of family and friends attended the graduates' milestone at the McLean private school. During commencement, graduates heard from Kowalik, class of 2022 speaker Owen Diesenhaus and Upper School science teacher Laura Petro. Diesenhaus offered his fellow classmates both insight and humor in his speech. His advice for classmates were dubbed "Dieselations": One: rather than being regretful about the past or anxious about the future, live fully in the present. Two: Recognize that you are always changing and growing, and embrace that process. Three: Listen to your inner voice and "go with your gut." Four: Deepen your existing relationships and actively build new ones. Petro spoke on behalf of the faculty, calling the graduates "an outstanding class – rich in depth, character, and selflessness." She said the class showed courage, whether it was through trying out for varsity sports, auditioning for a play, signing up for a challenging class or speaking about their personal experiences at an assembly. The teacher told the graduates to hold onto their courage and willingness to grow. She also advised them to "put time and effort into forming bonds…so that you have a person or group to celebrate your successes, help carry your burdens, and share your dreams." Kowalik spoke to how graduates can help tackle challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, political divisiveness and violence. "There are no simple answers. But when I look at the faces of Potomac's Class of 2022, I see the antidote to all the misery I just cited," Kowalik said. "I see your generosity of spirit. I see your ability and your commitment to help make the world a better place. I also see some of the things you've learned during the pandemic – that patience and resilience matter, that being part of a community can give us strength, and – importantly – that there is a light at the end of every tunnel. We just have to keep moving toward it." The Potomac School is a private K-12 school founded in the early 1900s. Located three miles from DC on a 90-acre campus, the school had over 1,000 enrolled students in the last school year. RELATED: Class Of 2022: Share Your Graduation Photos From McLean