Friends,
All my life I’ve wanted to be special - to be recognized. I tried to excel at surfing, motorcycle racing, triathlon and mountain biking - to name a few. However, I wasn’t special at any of these things, in truth, I was one of the crowd.
For the past 36 years, it has been the community of Cherrywood, especially the students, who have helped me discover what I really wanted all along....to make a positive difference with others. Your love and admiration allowed me to find my inner purpose. I am what I am because of you.
Any positive deed I’ve ever done was made possible because so many people helped me along the way, especially my parents who provided a loving, stable home for me when I was young. So, please pass forward any good that I’ve ever done for you.
Space doesn’t allow me to thank everyone I should, but I want to acknowledge Gary Erickson and everyone at Clif Bar for being our corporate sponsor. I want to thank Sue Beckham who has volunteered to run a class play for the past 21 years. I am indebted to Eddie and Maryann Patterson for making our chess program possible. All of you and your selfless dedication to children inspires me in a profound way.
My final words of wisdom are to remember our class pledge:
This day has been given to me fresh and clear. I can either use it or throw it away. I promise myself, I shall use this day to its fullest - knowing it can never come back again. I am the only person who has the power to decide who I’ll be. I make myself who I am.
I’ll leave you all with a verse of Shooting Star, which you’ll remember we sang at Science Camp as we said good-bye:
“I was thinking somewhere later down the road, after all our stories have been told, I’ll stop and think of you - the dear friend I once knew. Shot through my life like a shooting star.”
My best wishes and love to you all,
Mr. Hunter
To see all class photos, t-shirt photos and other miscellaneous pictures from the years, click the links at the top of this page.
Photo above: Mr. Hunter with his wife, Jen and his 2 Grandsons Hunter and Westly - June 2014
