Our time here is up, but the values still go on

The Jollowing are excerpts from senior valedictorian candidate Dina Tartaglia's graduation speech:

To the class of 1999, the last graduating class of the millennium, I wish to ask one question: Isn't it about time'?

It is about the time we have spent working to get to this day. It is about the time we have spent at Cabrini, a college based not only on providing quality education but also developing potential. It is about the time we have in the future, to share our knowledge, to attain our goals and to demonstrate our values we have shaped here at Cabrini.

Upon first stepping on this campus, it is apparent what this college is about. If not completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the campus itself, the small class size, the personal education, the Catholic heritage and mission, Cabrini invited us into an experience like no other. The time we have spent here has shaped our lives. We were invited to celebrate in the mission of Mother Cabrini. A mission to educate, to instill values of social responsibility and to develop as individuals. Many of us made a transition to Cabrini, some corning from other cities, states, and even countries. But, we all have one thing in common. We are all part of a college committed to welcoming diversity, providing a quality education and helping us attain our goals.

Time has brought change to Cabrini. In the last four years, we have seen new buildings, new courses, more students, new teachers and professor, but the personal attention we received as students and the mission of the school have remained intact. Tlllle has changed us, too. We have matured into educated adults ready not only to take on our future, but a new millennium. Change will occur throughout our lives. But, the past four years have prepared us for that. We went from teenager, to adults, from living with our parents to living on our own, and from students to graduates. Our parents are probably asking themselves, "'Where has the time gone? It seems just like yesterday I was cutting the crust off your peanut butter and jelly sandwich." We are grown up now. We have the degree we worked so hard to attain. We have the self-confidence and motivation to succeed. We have faith to make it happen. Those are the things that matter. Those are the things that we will need in the future. It may have taken some time to get to where we are today, but we arrived and it feels so good to be here.

Right now is the time for change and maturity. It is time to think about a career. We have spent enough time warming up, now it is time to enter the game full speed. The careers we are choosing are going to affect our perception of time. If we are doing something we enjoy and excel at, time will not matter because we are happy. Some of us may even choose to further our education, by earning masters degrees and doctorates. Some of us will want to express ourselves creatively through art, dance or music. Whatever we decide to do, whenever we decide to do it, we need to know one thing: We can do it. We have come this far, haven't we?

Our time in the future brings responsibility too, in addition to going to work and paying the bills. We have a responsibility to others in need, and I do not mean by donating a few dollars here or there. Think about what we have learned over the past four years and how lucky we were to receive this education. Think about how the college in- " volved us in community service. It feels good to help people. Now is the time to realize that it should not stop there. Education should be continuously sought and given. What Mother Cabrini did was donate her life to that mission, all I am asking is we realize how important that mission still is today. Time has brought change, but the values remain the same. The time we have in the future is immense, full of possibilities.

As we mature, as we grow old, our minds will be full of memories. The time we had in our careers, the time we shared with our families, the time we gave to people in need. Hopefully, the time we have spent at Cabrini will not fade, for that is the one memory we all share. It is one of the most important aspects of our lives because we have developed into the person we are today, and gained the potential to be the person we want to be in the future.

And here we are today because we are ready for the next level in our lives. It is time to ride the road to our destinies. I do hope that the ride will be pleasant for everyone. We have been preparing, and now it is time to put everything we have learned and gained into use. So, here we are today, the class of 1999, on the dawn of our future, on the brink of the 21st century, with knowledge, values and hope, saying it definitely is about time.