Developing Virtue Boys School
Provided by Developing Virtue Boys School &
English Translation by Hwei Ru Ong (Grade 10)
Every June, a joyous and touching ceremony takes place in the school. The students have accomplished much from the intense academic training and character education after all these years; ready to enter another episode of their lives. Living together for several of years, the departing from close friends evokes much emotion.
On June 7 at 5:15 pm, six jubilant graduates from Developing Virtue Boys School entered the Dao Yuan Hall in a solemn procession to Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstances, hence opening the annual commencement exercises.
Qin Zhi Lau came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in 1994. He has been here since Kindergarten, Instilling Goodness Elementary School, up through high school, Developing Virtue Secondary School. As a result of his scholastic aptitude, he was accepted into Princeton University.
Michael Hsieh, originally from Taiwan, has been here for a decade. He is a student who has both an exemplary character and intellectual ability. Because of this, three University of California campuses admitted him. For financial reasons, he has decided to study in Santa Rosa Junior College.
Albert Shay, born in the US, has been studying in the school at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas for five years. His experience living here will be unforgettable for the rest of his life. He had quite a dramatic college application process. The anxiety in waiting for the colleges to answer and the despair of rejection fortunately evaporated and turned into great elation upon his acceptance to UC Berkeley.
Simon Huynh, who comes from Los Angeles, has been in this school since seventh grade. He was admitted into first-choice school, UC Irvine, which is the nearest UC to his house. His parents are devout Buddhists from Vietnam. They have deep faith in this school such that last year they enrolled Simon𠏋 younger brother as a student of Developing Virtue Secondary School.
Ken Cheng has been through all the four years of high school. After all these years, Ken has become more self-confident and has discovered his ambition. He was accepted into his first choice school, California State Polytechnic University ---Pomona.
A native of The Netherlands, Kim Vinh Ta came here three years ago. Because of the school𠏋 character education and its unique lifestyle in a monastery, his ethical character was naturally molded with a strong foundation. He is returning to Holland to study and wishes to influence others towards good.
The Abbot of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Heng Lyu Shr, and the school principal, Mr. Bostick, congratulated the graduates and also thanked the Venerable Master for establishing such a unique school for the students to study in. They also urged the graduates to take their future into their hands and shape the world into a better place.
 Mr. Tek Hock Lau spoke as the parent representative for the Class of 2007. He pointed out that the school has exerted great effort and made great sacrifices to educate the students, and will continue doing so for generations to come. His family has been here for 13 years and he is a long-term volunteer in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. Nakula Hertz delivered a speech on behalf of the rest of the alumni. He had studied in both Instilling Goodness Elementary and Developing Virtue Secondary School, and graduated in 1998. After graduating from UC Berkeley, he has returned to volunteer as a dorm supervisor in the Boys School. He said that the graduates will have a positive influence on the world. His younger sister graduated this year from Developing Virtue Girls School.
During the commencement ceremony, there was the presentation of awards to students who have had outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics. Three of the seniors --- Qin Zhi Lau, Michael Hsieh, and Albert Shay --- received the Presidential Scholar Award. The Boys School performed outstandingly this year in the Chinese Competitions. In the Northern California Chinese Talent Competition, Michael Hsieh, Sunny Chye, and Bill Kao all received first place in impromptu speech, translation, and essay writing, respectively. In the Northern California Chinese Cultural Competition, out of the twenty teams participating, the team consisting of Bobby Tang, Davy Kuoui, Wesley Sun, and Hwei Ru Ong came in second place. In the various mathematics competitions, the students also performed very well. Albert Shay was honored as the Most Valuable Player in basketball; Davy Kuoui received this year's Jerry Huang Scholarship.
The six graduates delivered their speeches, and they all expressed their gratitude to the faculty and everyone who had helped them. They said that they would retain all that they had learned as they transitioned to college, and not be influenced by the mundane world. Kim Vinh Ta promised that when he returns to Holland, he would industriously study Dutch, so that he could translate the Venerable Master𠏋 teachings into Dutch.
The Commencement Ceremony came to a close at seven. But the teachers, students, and family members still had a few words to say to each other and were somewhat reluctant to part; a distinguishing attribute of the annual commencement exercises.
Developing Virtue Girls School
By Jessica Fong, Grade 10 & Chinese Translation by Joanne Phua, Grade 9
On a fine summer afternoon, Friday, June 8th, laughter and cheers filled a little-used building in the heart of CTTB where the Venerable Master used to give Dharma talks and teach matching couplets and which still carries memories of his wise and compassionate teachings. The Commencement Ceremony for the Girls Division of Developing Virtue Secondary School, attended by about 100 people, re-energized Wonderful Words Hall with youthful exuberance.
 Anyone who has ever attended CTTB graduation ceremonies knows that these events often overflow with warm feelings and genuine reflections. Rare among high schools, our ceremonies can be so endearing that past graduates often show up just to relive their own rite of passage. Indeed, about ten alumni ranging from the Class of 1988 to the Class of 2006 came back to cheer on the new grads this year.
Perhaps inspired by the name of the hall - Wonderful Words, the speeches this year were especially wonderful. After the Sangha, teachers, and graduates entered the hall in procession, DM Heng Liang opened the program by observing that while the challenges facing this generation are greater than ever before, she is confident that our graduates will make a big difference to help the world.
The keynote speaker, Mr. L. M. Bostick, who taught several classes in the Girls Division and also serves as Boys Division Principal, spoke eloquently about the true meaning and value of education. [See "The Tassel is worth the Hassle"] Parents and teachers gave heartfelt speeches underscoring the close relationship they have with the graduates. Chinese teacher Jin Yu Shr, for example, spoke with humor about the graduating seniors?individual traits and virtues. Junior High teacher Ms. Misri (who is a teacher and a parent) spoke several times, showing great affection for all the graduates, including her eighth graders and, of course, her daughter Gopika.
After the four sixth graders and seven eighth graders of Instilling Goodness Elementary School were awarded certificates of promotion and other special awards had been given out, came the moment that everyone had been waiting for: the speeches given by the five graduating seniors.
Jennifer Dede, affectionately known as Dede by everyone in school, is a very proper, upright person; responsible and hardworking, she consistently receives excellent grades and is the leader of several clubs, including the Association of the Student Body. Jennifer received a President's Award for Academic Excellence and will be attending University of California, Irvine, in the fall.
Tiffany Hu, with her quirky sense of humor and easygoing character, is also known for her modesty and helpfulness --- she is always there when people need help or support, and takes the initiative to quietly do what needs to be done. Under her leadership, the Model United Nations and Chinese Orchestra clubs have flourished. Tiffany will be attending University of California, Merced, this fall.
The third speaker was Aline Huynh, who hails from Belgium. Not only is Aline good in math, she is fluent in both English and French, writes beautiful poetry, and served as a capable and efficient usher leader for Honoring Elders Day and Cherishing Youth Day as well as doing considerable work organizing the school library. Aline will be attending Vesalius College in Brussels, Belgium.
Next came Gopika Misri, a talented singer and leader of the Chinese dance troupe. Gopi, as she is nicknamed by her fellow DVGSers, was editor of the school newspaper and also in charge of organizing the weekly school cleaning and community service. Calm, practical, and responsible, she also loves to make obscure jokes and is one of the best non-native Chinese speakers. Gopika received a President𠏋 Award for Academic Excellence as well as a Model Student Award, and will be attending the University of San Francisco this fall.
Last, but not least, was Hue Anh Ta, of Holland. Anh, a caring, responsible and hardworking student, has been active in Model United Nations, Chinese Orchestra, and basketball. When it comes to getting things done (a circumstance which comes along often in everyday CTTB life), there is no one more efficient and sensible than her. With her solid work ethic and kind, selfless nature, she is sure to find success in pursuing her interest in design. Anh will be attending college in the Netherlands.
In a world that seems to grow more problematic everyday, the need for young people who are grounded in virtue grows. We wish these graduates not only individual success, but also collective success in propagating the deep transformation they all went through while studying at Developing Virtue Secondary School. It is the mission of our school, and it is the essence of the teachings of our founder. |
