VALEDICTORIAN: ROSE GOYETTE

Rose Goyette, a graduate of Winston Churchill Middle School, was selected from the top ten percent of her graduating class. She was a member of the Chamber Singers, the cross country and track teams where she was Captain of the throwing team. She was also a Big Sister and St. Francis Ambassador. Rose’s future goals include becoming a teacher or advocate as it is in her nature to support and nurture others to help them be their best selves. Her use of words and command of the English language are true gifts that she will no doubt continue to develop as she moves on to the University of California, Berkeley where she plans on majoring in English. The following is Rose’s valedictory address given at the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2021.

Good evening to Bishop Soto, the Board of Trustees, President Rodgers, Principal Mendoza, administrators, teachers, coaches, parents, distinguished alumnae, including my grandmother, Barbara Wakefield Goyette, Troubie Class of 1952, and of course, my fellow classmates. My name is Rose Goyette and I am honored to pay tribute to the Class of 2021 as your valedictorian.

We did it. I am beyond proud of each and every one of you for getting this far. This wasn’t the senior year we envisioned, or the senior year I think any of you deserved. But let’s not let that take away from our big moment. Let’s take time to reflect on our past together, to see how we’ve belonged to each other. Most importantly, to recognize how we can build on what we’ve learned within this community as we move into the next chapter of our lives.

We are a faith that belongs to each other by definition. The word “catholic” comes from the Latin word “Catholicus” meaning “universal,” or “of the whole”. We are all-embracing. This means having open hearts and open minds, an idea that is well-supported by the four pillars we know and love: Faith, Excellence, Leadership, and Service.

We used Faith from the moment we took our first steps on campus. Corinthians 5:7 says “For we walk by faith, not by sight,” and we did exactly that. Simbas arrived at St. Francis much the way we arrive into the world, confused, a little afraid, and knowing absolutely nothing. From navigating Naviance to remembering which shoes to wear at Mass, we frequently relied on the counsel of others, believing things we hadn’t yet seen. We believed together, in our community, and in each other. We will continue to take this faith and move on with it, as we grow and find our places in this world. We will trust in new people, new places, new opportunities. The faith we developed here will move us forward onto even bigger and better things. Keep that faith with you always.

Our class quickly learned to aim for Excellence: “Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23) At SF, we knew to expect the very best of each other, striving to be what God saw in us. Sophomore year Simbas roared onto the Troubie scene, exceeding expectations with our homecoming skit. From that point on, our openness to going above and beyond pushed us to new heights. We excelled as a group, winning state championships on stage and soil, breaking athletic records, challenging assumptions. We learned here at St. Francis that excellence goes beyond mere accomplishment. It is about having the courage to do things excellently, even if we are alone in our task. As we leave this place, we will encounter more assumptions meant to be challenged. Our excellence will be doubted, but we will persevere, because we have been prepared to pave the way.

In this way, we are leaders. As we grew at St. Francis, we became role models for those around us. Junior year got weird, fast, with the pandemic’s abrupt entrance, but we found ways to stay connected. When hate tried to divide our world, and when personal pain was posted for all to see, we listened and empathized; we supported our sisters. As Matthew, 7:12, tells us: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you”. We stepped up, making leadership about representation and community. We took care of each other because we are nothing without each other, leading to make life better for others. Most importantly, in that moment, we didn’t let our age stop us. Students took the lead in the call for leadership and action. We now enter the world with this same call for leadership, and I am confident that all of you, wherever you end up, will find a way to lead your community with justice and love.

Finally, our time at St. Francis taught us to serve others. Matthew 23:11 reminds us, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Leaders serve, and never was this more evident than our senior year, as Mr. Poggi and his department of admissions aces worked bravely in this new world of college counseling, writing letters, answering questions, endlessly uploading. We watched our staff work hard for our futures, all by virtue of virtual reality. We learned through their example how service makes us whole, as individuals and as a community. Now it is time for us to carry that lesson with us into our adulthood. I implore you all to continue to serve those around you. To put love and respect first. We are richer when we give. We have more when we share.

Now, as we begin to look ahead, take a moment to look around. Remember what you are feeling in this very moment. Take the time to etch every detail, every emotion, the whole experience, into your soul. Remember what it is to belong here. Thank the people around you for their service in your lives. Thank your families for their support. Thank your classmates, your counselors, your coaches, but mostly? Thank your teachers.

Fun fact: The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word “docere,” meaning “to teach.” In this way, we heal our world with education. Jesus Christ was a “teacher.” He exemplified our four pillars to the highest degree, and his example reminds us that love is education. I believe education is the ultimate expression of love, of selflessness. Education is providing a future not for ourselves, but for others.

Of course, education involves making mistakes, and, as I mentioned earlier, being open to growing with new ideas. Seeing the value in what we don’t know. St. Francis was the first Catholic school I attended, and I learned very quickly the value within making mistakes. As Mrs. Harris always says in choir, “If you’re going to make a mistake, make a loud one, so we can fix it.” And while that has a much more literal meaning in choir class, I have taken it with me elsewhere. Over the past four years I have been no stranger to error, and I urge you all to take with you the idea that mistakes are the best way to grow. Whether you’re playing soccer, or learning Spanish, or sitting in a calculus class with absolutely no clue what a derivative is, don’t be afraid to speak up and be wrong. Because being wrong gives you the opportunity to listen, to learn from others. I leave St. Francis with more than shared memories and amazing friends. I take what my mistakes taught me. Without these mistakes, I wouldn’t have found my faith, both in God and in my community. I wouldn’t have found what excellence means to me. I wouldn’t have found the places where my leadership was needed most. And I wouldn’t have found the true meaning and joy behind service. It is through trial and error that I discovered what these pillars mean to me. It is through my many mistakes that I kept going and felt what it truly meant to be a Troubadour.

Pillars traditionally stay in place, but these we take with us, our faith, our inner excellence, the ability to lead and the need to serve. We will lean on them when we struggle for strength and seek direction. They allowed us to get into colleges and graduate. They will allow us to become doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, politicians, and women who change the world.

Whatever the future holds, we bring brightness to it. We share our shining time as Simbas, as seniors, as Troubies, as tomorrow’s light we are all brave enough to be. St. Francis has given us this light, and now it is our time to share it with the universe. The world does not belong to us; we belong to the world. We belong to each other.