Mother McAuley Valedictorian Talks 'Life Lessons' in Graduation Speech

Good afternoon Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, families, friends, and graduates: today is a bittersweet day. While today marks the beginning of a new chapter of our lives, it is also the end of our high school career, our glory days.

Because of our teachers here and the people in our lives who have supported us throughout these four years, we have been given the opportunity to experience this amazing place. I have grown tremendously these past four years, and I can say with confidence that everyone graduating today has also been impacted by the McAuley experience. From this experience, I have discovered three life lessons that embody the essence of Mother McAuley.

Life lesson number one: When one door closes, another opens. When I first started at McAuley, softball was my life. I was always known as the athlete, and I prided myself on my athletic accomplishments. Winning the GCAC championship on the JV softball team my freshman year will always be a highlight of my high school career. However, after rupturing a ligament during a game my sophomore year, I was advised not to play anymore. Although a major door was closed, a new door was opened at the beginning of my senior year when I signed up to go on the Spring Appalachia Mission Trip. We accomplished our purpose of making a little girl’s dream come true with the gift of her own, personalized bedroom, all while forming a sisterhood with a group of amazing girls, hiking to the top of a mountain, two-stepping at a town-hall dance, and learning that I am a pro at tiling a bathroom. Going on Appalachia was the open door I was waiting for since my sophomore year, and if we learned anything at McAuley, it is that with hard-work, a little faith, and a friend on your side, we can persevere and open our hearts and minds to the adventures that lie ahead.

Life lesson number two: Love others and live fully. McAuley did not only teach us academically, but it taught us how to be loving individuals. As you may know, all McAuley students are required to do community service hours every year, and I know many us went beyond the required number of hours. I remember my best friend telling me that she does not perform service for the recognition, but for the joy she gets from helping others. This mindset seems to be a common one amongst us McAuley girls, although it may be an unusual one in today’s world. However, we aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty to do our part, because we are proud to be women of mercy; sharing our love, helping others, and of course having fun while doing it.

One of the most important things I learned here is to enjoy the little moments in life, because those are the times that make our lives worth living. We have all had these moments at McAuley; it is the school atmosphere on Mercy Day, singing in the halls with friends, enjoying the sunshine on the walk to English wing, the Senior song at the closing mass, and a hug from a friend you haven’t seen in forever, or two periods. These moments are not filled with the kind of happiness you get after you ace a test or score the winning goal, but it is happiness you feel only when you witness the beauty of the things around you. There is no doubt in my mind that we will have successful futures, because we are confident, intelligent McAuley girls who are not afraid to work hard. But in the midst of our rewarding careers and life changing travels, I hope everyone here has the chance to experience the little moments that make us smile. As the wise, philosopher Kenny Chesney once said; “Step back, smell the rose, feel the sand between your toes, unplug, unwind, and step out in the sunshine.”

Life lesson number three: We are ready for anything. We would not be here today if we were not intelligent, hardworking young women, the best of the best. And after four years of dedication at McAuley, I know every one of us can overcome whatever the world throws at us. Because of the education we received here, there is no doubt that we can achieve anything we want for our futures. Some of us will be doctors, others teachers or lawyers, but whatever we choose to do with our lives, our McAuley experience will stay with us and help us succeed. Just look at what we’ve done here; we tackled the infamous leaf project in freshman year biology, a grueling four final exams a day, Mrs. Vandertuuk’s notorious derivative packet, and tests and quizzes after Prom. While I do not know what the world has in store for us, I do know that we are ready for anything.

So there you have it; the McAuley legacy down to 3 keys to life. I hope you all remember your time here at McAuley as a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know that when you leave here today, our lives will take us on different paths. Some across the neighborhood, some to different states, and some to different countries. But wherever your lives lead you, remember that you are strong, women of mercy. Don’t be afraid to go out of your way to help another person or take a risk for something you love. Whether we feel it right now or not, we are ready to graduate and embark on our future endeavors. So congratulations class of 2011, I wish you all lives full of love and happiness. Luck is something we do not need, because we are the young women of Catherine McAuley, and we can and we will accomplish anything we want for our futures, and we’ll do it the McAuley way; with our hair in a bun, our faith in God, and our trust in ourselves.