Valedictory Speech

Good morning.

Four years ago, seventy-three unique freshman joined the class of 2009. Some of us were excited for a fresh start; others were accompanied by the same friendly faces with whom we had gone to school since kindergarten. Some of us were excited to not have to pick out an outfit in the morning for the next four years; perhaps even more of us were less than pleased to find ourselves in a place that had the nerve to limit our self-expression with uniforms.

Whatever our particular situation, we were all here, and we had a blank canvas of four years together on which to paint our legacy. Regardless of what school we came from or what previous experiences we had, we all have surely gotten a bit more than we bargained for.
We were challenged to make this place more than a school, but also a church, a playground, and a home. In a school so new, we were forced to step up and become catalysts and creators, innovating and establishing in areas where once there was nothing. We saw the emergence of vibrant programs from our own hands. When we arrived here, the school was taking a colossal leap with its first-ever year of varsity team sports. Now, four years later, we’ve seen a CCS sectional championship in volleyball; an SCCAL title in women’s basketball; a sectional championships spot in baseball; and we can boast that we are the smallest school in history to ever receive a CCS berth in football. The class of 2009 was integral in the development and enhancement of almost every existing program on campus: an auspicious VITA program for freshman; a thriving mock trial team; full-fledged drama productions and choir performances; Project Santa and the Second Harvest food drive, both significantly benefiting the local community. Even those of us fatigued with the regimen of high school—I mean, what’s up with detention on the last day of finals for a uniform violation— have learned to exercise our freedom in other and more sophisticated ways, resulting in cogent thinkers who express themselves with eloquence in language.

As were the architects, contractors, and donors who generously built this school for us, we were expected to build something from nothing, and the relationships that we forged with each other allowed our efforts to be successful. These efforts were born from necessity, but by choosing what we each wanted to invest in our high school, we were, each of us, unknowingly developing the character that will ultimately shape our adult lives. As Sister Helen Prejean notes, or as Phil will tell you, the movie “Batman Begins” insists, “it’s what you do that defines you.”

On our best days we realize how truly blessed we are. We have been given a superior education in the true Salesian way, not merely academic, but an education of the whole person. But in a much more basic sense, we have been given much that we often take for granted – we are not hungry, as the world is; we are not homeless, as many are; we are free to say what we think, as many worldwide are not. Yet our blessings are never without purpose. Luke’s gospel reminds us “to whom much is given, much is required." And so we are charged with this: we live in a world where technology and communication continue to permeate every corner of the globe. This universal communication gives us unrivaled tools for peace and understanding and, simultaneously, makes us painfully aware of the extent to which our world is troubled. This awareness very necessarily comes with the responsibility to propel us to action. It is inevitable that at times we will feel impotent or overwhelmed by this onslaught of disturbing facts, horrific news, and the realization that such a multiplicity of problems demand our attention. In our moments of helplessness, we may feel drained and try to shut out the pain of a world so troubled. But we are reminded by Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel, "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference." Love, in contrast to apathy, becomes equivalent to action.

Each generation is defined in history by the collective response to the challenge of modern injustices. Women’s suffrage, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War; these are 20th century issues faced; 20th century issues combatted; 20th century issues improved upon; and yet, their legacies for the 21st century are still in need of final, complete, and just resolution. Our generation, lead by students graduating today, needs to be prepared to confront our issues head-on. Our population is poisoning itself with carbon emissions and plastics in its constant desire for convenience. Every day we are destroying more and more of our most precious resource, the earth, which is inextricably linked to our own health and survival. We also must be prepared to defend the human dignity of people across the globe who do not have the opportunity to experience the joyous freedom of existence when their realities include human trafficking, slavery, starvation, and disease.

As we take our next steps into a world plagued by injustice we take with us a foundation of morality bestowed upon us by our families and our Salesian roots. Our friends and our relationships with one another have endowed us with joy, vivacity and creativity that will lend us strength. And our time here has not only served as a venue for these bonds, nor has it simply armed us with superior intellects and the chance to test the depths of our talents and our passions. This place, above all, has given us a sense of hope.
Fitzgerald once wrote, and it’s true, “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” That hopelessness stands in sharp contrast to the parallel yet more powerful hope that we now carry. The odds are long; the challenges are many and complex. But with our tremendous and innumerable gifts, we can change the world. Classmates, it is with profound respect, deep affection, and infinite hope that I extend a call-to-arms for us all: let us go forward, confident that our love, in action, indeed has the power to heal even the deepest wounds and build the world of our wildest dreams.

Thank you.