Editor’s note: OFJCC President and CEO Zack Bodner had the privilege of addressing the Leslie Family Preschool Class of 2021 on May 30, 2025 as they marked the end of their preschool years and journey forward. Please find Zack’s speech below.
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Welcome to the class of 2025! Congratulations on making it through your preschool years. If you’ve made it this far, and it only gets easier from here. Right, parents?
It’s wonderful to have you all with us today. So many people have made this possible – and I don’t just mean this wonderful celebration. I mean the last few years of your family’s Jewish Journey.
You, kids—and your families—have played with teachers in the classroom, administrators in the front office, helpers on the playground, as well as song leaders, master gardeners, counselors, therapists, and so many others. This has been a community effort—but we have loved every minute of it, because you are our family.
And here you are, about to go off into the “real world,” so I want to send you off with something special. Each year, I give the graduating class a few words of advice that will hopefully help them in their journey.
And today, I’d like to encourage you with these words: BE BRAVE.
I know, I know—easier said than done, right? But seriously – if you can summon your courage, you can do anything. And I don’t just mean jumping out of airplanes—yeah, I’ve done that—but for you, I am talking about really scary stuff, like …
Have you ever gone to a new school or joined a new classroom and been scared that no one was going to like you? Well, guess what: Everyone else felt the same way—and you ended up making friends, right? So, BE BRAVE.
Have you ever had to get a shot from the doctor for some medicine, and been worried that it was going to hurt? Well, the shot didn’t really hurt so much; it’s just the anticipation leading up to it that’s scary. So, BE BRAVE.
Have your parents ever asked you to try a new food, and you thought it looked sooooooo gross, there was no way you were going to be able to do it? Well, guess what: if you don’t like it, you can just spit it out; it won’t hurt you. So, BE BRAVE.
To quote a former US President, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” President FDR said that when our country was having a very hard time [in the Great Depression.]
Yes, the world can be a scary place. But worrying about things we can’t control, things our leaders do, for example, is not worth it. And the anxiety leading up to things that may or may not happen is also not worth it. You can make yourself crazy for no reason. Trust me—I’ve done this to myself before…
Once, there was this time when I was sitting quietly by myself, I felt something tickling my leg and I looked down and it was a spider crawling on me, and I went AHHHH! But it was just a little spider, and it would have been easy to gently flick it away. But then the next time I was sitting quietly and felt a tickle on my leg, I jumped up and freaked out! And guess what: it was just a flower, rustling in the breeze. So, I felt really silly.
There was no need for me to be scared. It was my fear of the fear that got to me. So now the next time I feel a tickle on my leg, I’ll calmly look down and approach the situation with curiosity and courage.
So, that is my blessing for you today: Go forth in life with curiosity. Greet each new day with awe, wonder, and hopefulness. And remember: BE BRAVE!
Congratulations Class of 2025!
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