I may never accomplish enough, or have enough letters before or after my name to be asked to be a commencement speaker, but if there has ever been a group of students I would love to address it would be you, the class of 2018 at DHS!  Most of you may never have known this, but you came into my life (fall 2014-spring2015) at a time when I was at a major crossroads for my future, and from where I stand today there is no question in my heart or mind you were given to me as a gift and special grace from God!  You all have been the best part of my life the last 4 years, and especially these last 2 that I have been working at DHS everyday.  As life can be for all of us, during this time there have been many high points and low moments, but for me I want you to know on my toughest days you all have served as my motivation!  The way I have seen you approach and enjoy life has inspired me daily.  When I have been tired, overwhelmed, and faced with the feelings of ‘is all this hard work worth it?’, I always knew that by coming to DHS and seeing you, I could find the strength to smile and encourage you instead, and soon whatever was holding me down was forgotten, and I knew it was all more than worth it!

Knowing you, hearing your stories, sharing in the experiences of life, and celebrating with you on your journey of growing into an adult, to me is the true riches in life; because of you I count myself a very rich man today!  Remember there will always be more to do and accomplish in life, but in all your growing responsibilities, what matters most is your responsibility to love others.  As I have told many of you who I had the privilege to coach, ‘you are not a man (grown), until you make decisions based on how they affect those who are close to you and count on you; it has nothing to do with age or ‘stats’ (accomplishments)’.  So I fully expect this amazing and talented graduating class to go make a powerful difference in this world, not based on the long list of your impressive accomplishments, but based on the capacity I have seen in you to love life and love each other.

As I learned everyday from my dad, a DHS alum who walked these halls before you 50 years ago (class of ’68), “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21); it is so important for you and me to remember this now more than ever.  Sadly, you have been exposed to and known more of the evil in this world in your short lives than any generation that has come before you, and what’s worse is many times you as ‘millennials’ catch the blame for what is wrong; to this I borrow a phrase and encourage you to ‘shake the dust‘.  Dust represents what is dead, so shake what is dead (negative) off of you and instead daily take a deep dive to look into your heart and find what God uniquely has put in you.  That is the goodness that overcomes the evils you have seen and experienced.  You are not alone, there are many who have found this life, light, and love within them before you; this is what my dad called ‘winning character’, and this is what you must find in your heart, it is the way to overcome evil with good!

Finally, remember that #GodsPlan is more than just a Drake song from your senior year, it is what you are created for; my deepest hope for your future is that you discover it and live it out!  If you ever have dark days and don’t believe it, I’d be happy to remind you, having confidence myself because you all have been a major part of #GodsPlan for me.  So whether I have known you for years, months or days, whether it has been in a classroom or the hallways, the gyms or fields (FCIAC Champs and best fan section!), on bus rides, during SAT/ACT/AP tests, or a whirlwind experience known as ‘High School Musical’, I am so deeply thankful that each of you have crossed my path in life.  Whether you think of me as a coach, teacher, mentor, friend, a ‘dad’, big brother, a fan on the sidelines, a high-5 and smile around the school, ‘Mr. Sub’, Mr. Wilda, or Coach Bolton, I honestly cannot thank YOU enough for being you; you have changed and impacted my life for the better, and I will never forget the names and faces of you Danbury High class of 2018, and the difference you have made in my life!!

You will be in my heart and prayers always, you can count on it!

Love y’all – ‘Coach Nate’