2017 Valedictory Address: Marissa Moran '17
The following is a transcript of the Class of 2017 Valedictory Address given by Marissa R. Moran '17 on June 10, 2017
Good Afternoon Mr. Lorenzetti, Mrs. McGinnis, Mr. Raphael, Mr. Wagner, Father Dettmer and members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, families and friends of the Class of 2017, and of course, the Class of 2017.
I would like to begin by saying thank you to Mr. Lorenzetti for his time here at St. Edmund. In a number of ways you have certainly been an inspiration to us all, as a principal, and as a teacher. From creating the Latin class for those of us who requested it, to making the time in your schedule to teach Theory of Knowledge junior year, and always reminding us that your door was always open if we needed assistance, you have demonstrated the true meaning of “Caritas”. Thank you Mr. Lorenzetti, and congratulations on your retirement.
Today my fellow classmates and I are all matching in our purple caps and gowns, marking the day that we leave our status as students of the Prep behind, and become alumni. These purple caps and gowns, for the majority of us, are the symbols of the successful completion of four years here with a balance between pushing ourselves to do well in our studies and still maintaining our social circles, while enduring the exciting, yet stressful roller coaster that is high school. For some of us, the caps and gowns may only represent one, two, or three years spent here at The Prep, but nevertheless, are still symbolic of the family we were all welcomed into.
The color purple which is abundant in this auditorium is symbolic of power, wisdom, and even mystery. Therefore, our caps and gowns are a testament to the immense amount of wisdom we have gained through taking high school courses and experiencing the events surrounding them, and the power we have gained through said wisdom. The mystery that purple also represents is symbolic of our futures, rather than our pasts as students of The Prep.
I would like to begin by saying thank you to Mr. Lorenzetti for his time here at St. Edmund. In a number of ways you have certainly been an inspiration to us all, as a principal, and as a teacher. From creating the Latin class for those of us who requested it, to making the time in your schedule to teach Theory of Knowledge junior year, and always reminding us that your door was always open if we needed assistance, you have demonstrated the true meaning of “Caritas”. Thank you Mr. Lorenzetti, and congratulations on your retirement.
Today my fellow classmates and I are all matching in our purple caps and gowns, marking the day that we leave our status as students of the Prep behind, and become alumni. These purple caps and gowns, for the majority of us, are the symbols of the successful completion of four years here with a balance between pushing ourselves to do well in our studies and still maintaining our social circles, while enduring the exciting, yet stressful roller coaster that is high school. For some of us, the caps and gowns may only represent one, two, or three years spent here at The Prep, but nevertheless, are still symbolic of the family we were all welcomed into.
The color purple which is abundant in this auditorium is symbolic of power, wisdom, and even mystery. Therefore, our caps and gowns are a testament to the immense amount of wisdom we have gained through taking high school courses and experiencing the events surrounding them, and the power we have gained through said wisdom. The mystery that purple also represents is symbolic of our futures, rather than our pasts as students of The Prep.
Now that we are receiving our diplomas and moving into new chapters of our lives, we should stop to look back to realize that over the past four years, we have each begun to find ourselves, and discover who we may want to be in our mysterious futures. St. Edmund Prep, although just one institution, has managed to begin to develop a different, individualized path for each and every one of us: a path that will hopefully make us happy, and perhaps even one that we never imagined we would take.
From a young age, I have enjoyed learning about math and science and I envisioned myself finding a career in the sciences, leading me to elect to take both IB Biology and IB Physics for junior and senior year. After taking IB Physics for two years, I’ve certainly come to develop a profound respect for physicists, theories, and the challenge of understanding the way in which the world works. Therefore, I’m inclined to respect the renowned physicist Einstein’s quote, “If you want to be happy, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.” People change, and the value of objects depreciate, but we are in control of our own goals. We can control the goals we set and if we achieve them.
I believe that success is ultimately defined by a person’s happiness, not their wealth or status. Therefore, we should test Einstein’s theory. We should find our own, individual goals, strive to reach them and beyond, and success will be found, through the happiness that results. I don't look to understand what is to come in the mysteries of our future but as we embark on own individual journeys, it is my hope that this theory of Einstein’s will prove to have some merit.
This theory coincidentally seems to be the theme of my summer reading assignment. I remember being excited at the end of last summer once I finished my summer homework that I would likely never have summer homework again, since I would be going into college. However, I was sorely mistaken: I’ve already received my first assignment from Fordham. It’s simple enough, I only need to read one book and answer a few questions. I read the prologue of the book, which is entitled “The Promise of a Pencil.” I can already see that it puts forth a profound message. In the first pages, the author looks back on his life and stated, “a restless voice kept me up at night, telling me that until I found meaning, the money wouldn’t matter. It told me that I’d find far more fulfillment if I measured my life in purpose, not profits.” He took the advice of the voice in his head and turned his path around. The author, Adam Braun learned that he needed to do work with a purpose, rather than work for the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck. He wanted to leave his mark on the world and change lives, and he did exactly that. He shows that it is possible to be successful through following a passion, and that it is okay to leave something behind to chase something which you believe will make you feel successful.
From a young age, I have enjoyed learning about math and science and I envisioned myself finding a career in the sciences, leading me to elect to take both IB Biology and IB Physics for junior and senior year. After taking IB Physics for two years, I’ve certainly come to develop a profound respect for physicists, theories, and the challenge of understanding the way in which the world works. Therefore, I’m inclined to respect the renowned physicist Einstein’s quote, “If you want to be happy, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.” People change, and the value of objects depreciate, but we are in control of our own goals. We can control the goals we set and if we achieve them.
I believe that success is ultimately defined by a person’s happiness, not their wealth or status. Therefore, we should test Einstein’s theory. We should find our own, individual goals, strive to reach them and beyond, and success will be found, through the happiness that results. I don't look to understand what is to come in the mysteries of our future but as we embark on own individual journeys, it is my hope that this theory of Einstein’s will prove to have some merit.
This theory coincidentally seems to be the theme of my summer reading assignment. I remember being excited at the end of last summer once I finished my summer homework that I would likely never have summer homework again, since I would be going into college. However, I was sorely mistaken: I’ve already received my first assignment from Fordham. It’s simple enough, I only need to read one book and answer a few questions. I read the prologue of the book, which is entitled “The Promise of a Pencil.” I can already see that it puts forth a profound message. In the first pages, the author looks back on his life and stated, “a restless voice kept me up at night, telling me that until I found meaning, the money wouldn’t matter. It told me that I’d find far more fulfillment if I measured my life in purpose, not profits.” He took the advice of the voice in his head and turned his path around. The author, Adam Braun learned that he needed to do work with a purpose, rather than work for the sole purpose of receiving a paycheck. He wanted to leave his mark on the world and change lives, and he did exactly that. He shows that it is possible to be successful through following a passion, and that it is okay to leave something behind to chase something which you believe will make you feel successful.
I am passionate about the sciences, as I previously stated, and although I saw science in my future, things have changed...for now. Through being a member of the Investment Team with Mr. Raphael and touring my future school I realized that math and business may be the backbone of my future career rather than science. I imagine that others had similar experiences, where entirely new passions were unexpectedly found or developed throughout high school. This then begs the question, as we enter these new parts of our lives, will we perhaps discover something new once again? This is the mystery of our futures. This is the mystery that the color of our caps and gowns represents. In just four years of high school, each and every one of us have changed in ways we may not have expected. Consequently, it would be naive to attempt to definitively plan any one future, since the next four years may bring even more change.
The reality is that each of us will likely change again, and this cycle will probably not end. While it is important to think about the mysteries the future holds, they are just that: mysteries. We must not fail to live in the moment and appreciate what life offers us as it happens. Therefore, while looking forward, as the cliché goes, we should remember to stop and smell the roses, and always remember the saying by St. Edmund of Canterbury which we were so often reminded of each day we walked into school or passed through the lobby, to "work as though you would live forever but live as though you would die today". After developing our faith over the past years, we should trust in God to lead us to where we will be our happiest, and understand that while we may feel that our future plans change often, God has plans for us.
So for now, while the future is unknown, let us simply celebrate the present. Class of 2017, we did it! Congratulations to us all and God bless. Thank you.
The reality is that each of us will likely change again, and this cycle will probably not end. While it is important to think about the mysteries the future holds, they are just that: mysteries. We must not fail to live in the moment and appreciate what life offers us as it happens. Therefore, while looking forward, as the cliché goes, we should remember to stop and smell the roses, and always remember the saying by St. Edmund of Canterbury which we were so often reminded of each day we walked into school or passed through the lobby, to "work as though you would live forever but live as though you would die today". After developing our faith over the past years, we should trust in God to lead us to where we will be our happiest, and understand that while we may feel that our future plans change often, God has plans for us.
So for now, while the future is unknown, let us simply celebrate the present. Class of 2017, we did it! Congratulations to us all and God bless. Thank you.