Schools

Video: Skyline High School Graduation Speaker Brendan Hyland Delivers Words of Wisdom - as a rap

The Skyline High School Class of 2011 elected Brendan Hyland, a teacher, as one of its commencement speakers.

As the soon-to-be graduates walked into Safeco Field on Friday, the Symphony performed "Pomp and Circumstance."

Proud parents, wearing their best clothing, were in the bleachers, waving, smiling and taking pictures.

When it came to teacher Brendan Hyland, a Class of 2011 commencement speaker, he imparted his thoughts in the spirit of the academic values of the Sammamish school: Integrity, scholarship, pride, honor and excellence.

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Did he opt for the Socratic Method? No. Haiku, to make things sweet and simple? Not on Friday. A dramatic interpretation of some sort? Not this time.

Did he wave semaphore flags in the air for color and movement? Not one was spotted.

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Instead, he broke out a rap - especially written for Skyline's Class of 2011. The students sat in their caps and gowns. Teachers wore their black gowns and academic colors.

Sammamish Patch was there and brings you Hyland's sage advice which brought smiles to the audience.

Before his rap, he offered these words, delivered in spoken form, to the seniors: "Success will not come easy" and "When you reach your goal, set a new one."

For the record, when he spoke those words, he was a solo act. There were no backup singers on stage.

So, if rapping is one of his preferred methods of communication, we at Sammamish Patch are curious: How does he give instructions to his students?

Or better yet: What does he do at teacher staff meetings?Β 

At the end of ceremony, the Skyline Symphony played another song. It was "Overture from The Messiah" written by George Frederic Handel.

Editor's note: Sammamish Patch also has a photo gallery and short story on the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2011 from Skyline High School.


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