To Muck or Not to Muck

Hi. My name is Muriel Walker Waugh, Professor of Chemistry, wife to a brilliant husband and mother of three awesome young men. One of which is now a senior here at Thacher, Aidan Lake Waugh. I feel honored and blessed to be able to address you today. 

This morning when I got up to put the finishing touches on this speech, a thought struck me: this might be the last time I have the opportunity to collectively thank you. You see, freshmen parents, four years goes like a flash. You will go to sleep, blink your eyes and just like that your son or daughter will be a SENIOR and ready to be released to the world of adulthood.

How many freshman parents do we have here today? 

           
How many of you NEVER HAD experiences with horses prior to Thacher?

Well, I wasn’t raised around horses and neither was my husband. So as we read about the freshman responsibilities four years ago, we debated the meaning of the word “mucking”. I thought that “mucking” was a new and adventurous sport devised by the rich and famous. I won’t even tell you what my husband thought. It means, removing “pooh” from HORSE STABLES. How does that play in the scheme of things at Thacher?  I asked my husband Bob, “Does he really have to get up at 6:30 in the morning to do that?” Well, I will tell you that Mr. Mulligan was correct; “to muck” really means to build character in young adults. Through our son’s adventures at Thacher, he has grown. No longer the “diamond in the rough”. He is a strong, thoughtful, and independent young man of quality. 

I’ll never forget his horse, Archie. I think that Aidan was initially afraid of that horse.  Heck I was too!! That horse was huge! I was so proud when Aidan overcame his fear and rode Archie down that gigantic mountainside during Gymkhana. YOU KNOW THE ONE I MEAN. It was a miracle. It was like watching Jesus walk on water. But over that freshman year, Aidan got to know his horse and got to know himself, thanks to the guidance of the Schryver’s and Mrs. Halsey. May GOD bless you! You took the time and had the patience to work with our son. You made such a loving difference in his life as well as ours. THANK YOU! Before Aidan’s freshman year was over, he and Archie became good friends. He did everything for his horse. He even wrote a poem for Archie called “Ode to Archie”. The horse program has given him such a deep sense of pride that permeates in every aspect of his life today.

           
The loving and understanding staff and teachers here have become his second family. This 6 foot 2 inch, PROUD 245 pounder simply LOVES the cafeteria staff. He always smiles and laughs whenever he sees any of them. He tells me, “They really like me in there”. Thank you Thacher, because I know how much my son can eat. I’ll never forget when his freshman counselor, Mr. McGowen, whom I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART, told us about the eating contest that Aidan won during freshman year. He has continued to TRY to win any eating contest that has come his way at Thacher and beyond. 

           
But most importantly, the Thacher education, provided by these outstanding faculty members, is TRULY IS the BEST in the NATION. As an educator, I can attest to the fact that the rigor that Thacher incorporates into the learning environment is outstanding. Aidan now operates on a learning-level FAR HIGHER than many of my college students. He was always a hard worker – NOW HE IS CONSISTANTLY EXCEPTIONAL WITH HIS WORK HABITS. He has learned to work until the job is done. His essays are eloquent and far more concise. This is from a child who refused to write a paragraph for me at the age of five. His love for math has only accelerated. During parent visits yesterday while in Mr. Okin’s AP-Calculus class, Aidan taught me about the integrals that I forgot more than 30 years ago. We are so proud of him academically. But most importantly, we are so THANKFUL to everyone at Thacher, including the students. I want to thank the students. Your hugs and love over the years has sustained us. It’s a joy to see you every time we visit.

           
Don’t get me wrong. It hasn’t been a “BED OF ROSES”. Aidan is still a SLOB, and still forgets where he leaves his cloths and shoes. But overall, we know that because of Thacher, he is going to be all right. 

           
Releasing Aidan to Thacher was extremely difficult for me. I cried to entire way home the first day we left him here. This is something that many of you might have already experienced. But we realize that releasing our son or daughters to adulthood is a necessary task for every parent. You know:

THERE WAS A TIME IN MY LIFE

I THOUHT I HAD TO DO IT ALL BY MYSELF

I DIDN’T KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD WAS OF INSIDE ME

I DIDN’T KNOW THE GRACE OF GOD WAS AT HAND!

 

NOW I CAN SAY IF YOU’RE DISCOURAGED

STUGGLING JUST TO MAKE IT THOUGH ANOTHER DAY

YOU’VE GOT TO LET IT GO

LET IT ALL GO

AND THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY

I re-lease and I let go,

I let the Spi-rit run my life.

And my heart is op-en wide,

Yes, I’m on-ly here for God.

No more strug-gle, no more strife,

With my faith I see the light.

I am free in the Spi-rit,

Yes, I’m on-ly here for God.

 

I re-lease and I let go,

I let the Spi-rit run my life.

And my heart is op-en wide,

Yes, I’m on-ly here for God.

No more strug-gle, no more strife,

With my faith I see the light.

I am free in the Spi-rit,

Yes, I’m on-ly here for God.

I am free in the Spi-rit,