Dear Graduates

Dear Graduates . . . 

Our graduates have learned so much. Our graduates have so much more to learn. Although many of our high school graduates surely feel they have finally “completed” something, and they have, it is my prayer that this critical first stage of their lifelong learning not stop their zeal, their yearning and their need to continue to embrace all the knowledge they can to become the very best humans possible.

As Catholics, I hope the lessons of our faith that we have lovingly and tirelessly tried to give our students during these years will remain with each of them. It also is my prayer that each will take those strengths and talents given to them by God and use those to their fullest for the benefit of others and to help themselves become the best people they can become. Not necessarily great or rich, but their best in the eyes of God.

This is the the call each of us is given; to share our gifts with one another for the benefit of all. Giving our best in life to others is essentially the way to follow the commandment given to us by Christ, that is, to love one another.

To our graduates: keep working. There will be setbacks and stumbles, but keep your faith. You know how; your parents, teachers and many other people that you know and will come to know have shown you and will continue to support you. Be good. Do good. Love. The greatest people we know have done these things.

You may enjoy the Paradoxal Commandments. These statements are clear as are the steps they call us to follow.

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith for a student leadership booklet that was published and copyrighted in 1968. The Paradoxical Commandments subsequently spread throughout the world. St. Teresa of Kolkata is said to have put them on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta, which is why they are sometimes attributed to her.