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Cecilia Anthony, Class of 2015

6/19/2015

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        When I first started at CHA in seventh grade, not only was I completely unprepared for the mental challenges I would undergo, I also never fully expected to be standing here today, even though I’ve been preparing this speech since seventh grade. The seniors at that time were cool and older and amazing to me. It was such a great honor and privilege to be noticed by the older high schoolers, particularly the seniors. And I couldn’t wait to be a senior. Yet at many times I wondered if I was going to make it through CHA alive. And yes, I am a drama queen. But I really did wonder at times why I was here? And if I was going to make it? The classes were so hard at times, the homework load very heavy. And for most of my years here I didn’t fully appreciate my education or my tutors.

            As a young seventh grader, while my mom had given me a great education at home, I was a lazy student. I used to tell my mom I was “going to the bathroom” and really I just hid in the bathroom reading a book for long periods of time, several times a day to get out of chores and school. So coming to Christiana where I would get a zero if I didn’t turn in a piece of homework, and where I had a ton of homework that I had to get done, was a wake-up call to what hard work is. And it was a chance to shape who I am today. I didn’t understand the journey I was going to undertake with my classmates, who I can honestly say are like my siblings, but now looking back I understand just how important my time here actually has been. I was given the opportunity to learn how to work hard and decide who I wanted to be in a safe environment. I couldn’t just tell my tutor I was “going to the bathroom” to get out of work. I had to sit in the classes just like everybody else, and complete my homework just like everybody else. And to my amazement I did it. At first I had missing assignments and there were many tears, but even when I was begging my mom to take me out of the Academy, I knew in the depths of my heart I didn’t want that. And the real reason in seventh, eighth, ninth, and even tenth grade that I didn’t want to leave was my classmates. But in eleventh grade, when my eyes were fully opened to all my possibilities and potential, the desire to stay came from both a love of my family of friends as I called my classmates, and a true love and hunger for what I was learning.

            I want to extend my thanks to the administration at CHA, and to all of the tutors I have had over the past six years, but in particular I’d like to thank a few very important tutors who I have come to deeply appreciate and love. Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. Landry, Mrs. Jones, and Mrs. Tiller. These four tutors have been there for me and helped me, encouraged me and guided me. They have taught me how to listen, and how to question, how to debate and how to learn. So thank you so much. I couldn’t have survived CHA, and I don’t think I would have been prepared for the real world, without you all.

            I do also want to say a quick thank you to my parents for making me stay at CHA. I don’t know if you both realized how CHA was going to change and shape me into the young woman I am today, but I wanted you to know that being at CHA has changed and shaped me for the better.  

           I didn’t think I would make it for a long time. But I have made it. Alive. I am here today. I’m the cool and older senior. And now I truly understand why I was here and I really do appreciate my education and my tutors. I have learned how to work hard. To open my mind to endless possibilities. To ask questions instead of to give answers, and question answers even when they seem right. To seek truth above all else, but not forget to show love while seeking it. To be accepting of everyone and not try to force my opinion on anyone. To argue the right way, with calm logic, and an understanding of my opponents’ opinions. To stand up for my beliefs even if no one else supports me. And to laugh, to love, and to live to the fullest

          And finally I would like to end with a special note to my class:  guys, we made it! We’re here! Graduating! And honestly I can’t even imagine having a better class than you guys. We’ve been through a lot together, and I can say quite sincerely that I have three brothers and three sisters for life. And don’t worry I’m going to try to stay in contact even while at college in Wyoming! I can’t say goodbye to you guys. I don’t want to say goodbye. And I don’t think that we need to say goodbye. Because to me goodbye doesn’t really exist after all. There is only, till we meet again. And so guys, truly like a second family, I’m not going to say goodbye. I’m only going to say: till we meet again.

Thank you.     

 


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Matthew McKenna, Class of 2015

6/10/2015

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Hello, I would like to thank everyone for coming here and supporting us.  There are some people I would especially like to thank. 

First, my Great Books teachers: Mr. Jenkins, thanks for starting me out on my journey.  Mr. Cox, thank you for teaching me how to think.  Mrs. Landry, thank you very much for teaching me how to write.  And Last of all Thank you Mrs. Jones for making it all make sense. 

A special thank you to Mrs. Milstead, I had her every year of my time here.  She’s a very, patient, woman. 

Thanks to all my friends for helping me and for being there for me. 

A very special and big thank you to my awesome classmates, you guys are the bomb.  Or as Mrs. Jones would say the talking bomb. 

Thanks to my family!! Especially to my mom... she’s supported me this whole time and driven me to school and everything, thanks mom. 

I”d like to leave you all with this poem by Tecumseh.

“Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and
     demand that they respect yours. 

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. 
Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people. 
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a
     friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place. 

Show respect to all people and grovel to none.
When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy
     of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only
     in yourself. 

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones
     to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are
     filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep
     and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song and die like a hero going home”

Thank you.


 


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Olga Soderstrom, Class of 2015

6/6/2015

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My fellow students, we only arrived here four short years ago, (though for some of us it was less,) and now it's already time to leave. How did it all go so fast? It seems like only yesterday that we were little freshmen trying to figure out where our next class was, and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen. Now we are the upperclassmen, the seniors who stand here ready to graduate and move forward in the world. Yet at this seminal moment, we can't help looking back.

How do we measure the time we've spent in high school? In the beginning, we measured it in class periods, counting down the day to eventual freedom. As the days and weeks passed, we measured it in semesters, and later in years as we moved from being those clueless freshmen, to becoming sophisticated sophomores who thought they had it all figured out. (Though I skipped 10th grade) By the time we reached our junior year, we were confident that we were prepared to take over for the graduating seniors, and we couldn't wait to "rule the school."

And now here we stand. Our rule is over, and it's up to the next class to step into our shoes and take over. With these shoes I hope that you will choose to live out the rest of your time here with diligence and respect. Don’t give up! Take your thesis piece by piece; take your great books seriously doing all the readings considering what each author wishes to impart to you. And lastly, cherish your time here and the people with which you spend it.

To my fellow seniors, I know that as I look out at all of you, at this ending point, I will measure my time here in a much different way. I will measure it in all the friendships I've enjoyed these last 3 years. Some were pretty casual and others were much closer, but I'll remember each one fondly, as I'm sure you all will, too. And when many of our high school memories begin to fade, that's how we'll ultimately measure the time we spent here, not in periods or semesters or years, but in the friendships that we made and the times we shared together.

As I conclude, I would like to quote John Walsh:

Do one thing at a time. Give each experience all your attention. Try to resist being distracted by other sights and sounds, other thoughts and tasks, and when it is, guide your mind back to what you're doing."



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Daniel Mattingly, Class of 2015

6/2/2015

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“…and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (IB Hebrews 10:24-25). This is a quote from Hebrews about the undeniable importance of community.

    Over the course of my growing up years, I have developed many friendships with siblings, relatives, friends, good men, priests and others who have been role models to me and have encouraged me in all aspects of life. These people have shaped me into the person standing before you today.

    In my years at Christiana, the same thing has happened: formation through communion. Whether it be elephant tooth paste explosions with my classmates in chemistry or having a rigorous conversation on theology in Great Books, these experiences with friends, teachers, and other role models have helped me know more about others, about myself, and about God. And ultimately, the relationships I have had with others have taught me how to love. While it may be great to learn about Utopian ideals or Plato’s perfect Republic, they do not compare with real examples of holy and fruitful communities among men and women. Over the 13 years that I have attended Christiana, I have been largely a beneficiary of these kinds of communities.

     However, I am not meant to be a mere recipient of love and support, but a giver of them as well. After all, as we learned from St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, the Spousal meaning of the body is both 100% receiving and 100% gift of self. I have found that God desires this relationship with all of us. And if with Him, then also with our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

       So while my involvement in the world in the next stages of my life may not solve any world class issues like the spread of terrorism and acts of hatred, violence, and destruction, I know that no matter how fast these evils spread, acts and messages of love and hope through community can spread all the faster. People these days are too experienced at pointing out the faults in others, in the world, and in themselves, myself included. Instead, we need to be role models of love, faith, and hope for others.

      Albus Dumbledore at one point says to Harry Potter, “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” This message is not just for Harry Potter; it is for all of us. Dreams are useful only so much as they lead us to action. I am steadily realizing this truth in my life. This is why it is time to wake up from our slumbers, from our wishful thinking. It is time to break out of the walls we have created for ourselves thinking they would keep us safe. It is time to be a people that is after God’s own heart. But, we cannot do this alone. I have found that we must look to Jesus who will lead us out of a stagnant life and bring us into communion with the Father; and, both will send down on us the Holy Spirit anew. Let us also look to the Holy Trinity to model for us the perfect community of love, and let us strive to have such communities in the world. Thank you.



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