OLIVIA BAPTISTE VALEDICTORIAN, CLASS OF 2022 | BROWN UNIVERSITY An Excerpt from the Valedictory Address

The stories of our journey over these four years have created many memories. The Lasallian beliefs of St. John’s run through its walls every day, pushing the core principles of faith, concern for social justice, respect for all persons, quality education, and the strength of an inclusive community.

Believe in yourselves, Class of 2022, and remember this phrase, “Per aspera ad astra” (Through the hardships to the stars). We can achieve our highest goals with trust in the beauty found within us, despite the difficulties presented. Dream, Class of 2022. In our next steps of our lives, I compel you to attack your passions, pursue your goals, and think to the highest possibilities. Those dreams of leaving an impact on the world are possible. I advise you not to be afraid to chase after those dreams. Do not limit yourselves to an idea of your life pushed onto you, choose what you are passionate about and continue to dream. I hope to see those dreams come true. Try, Class of 2022. We are capable individuals, so try, try, and try once more to find the opportunity that creates a place for you to prosper. You may not know what you want to do for the rest of your life, and that is okay. But please do not stop trying. Apply yourselves in countless ways to find that drive; I am confident we will achieve greatness. Do good, Class of 2022. The simple gesture of kindness is beyond measure. A helping hand to someone or a smile in the hallways can bridge the gap between us. The Lasallian words written above us in the student walkway, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” have represented the experience of learning tools to go out and serve our Lasallian mission. In the recent years, the world has presented us with both good and evil, shown through the protests for social justice. And so, I call upon you all to change the world, using our formidable strength in numbers.

Although today we emphasize our students’ achievements, this is also a celebration of our beloved parents. Thank you for the hours spent driving us to school, games, and more. Thank you for staying up late, helping us with homework, and for being our guiding hands when lost and the shoulders for us to lean on when down. Our teachers’ accomplishments during online learning, battling every difficulty to make sure we received a quality education, and teaching us beyond tests and quizzes over these past four years helped us develop into confident and kind-hearted individuals. Thank you for staying after school, arriving early, and everything in between to allow us to reach our academic goals. Thank you to the counselors for allowing us to share extremely vulnerable and personal experiences without judgment. Thank you to the administration and staff for continuing to perform your responsibilities to keep us safe, supply us with structure, and for all you do behind the scenes to make St. John’s look and feel like a home. Now we are faced with a crossroads between the past and the future. We have looked back and appreciated the moments that allowed us to develop into individuals we are proud to be. Yet, we look out into the future, clouded with the unknown of who we will become, who we will meet, and what we will experience. This is our time to take that first step into our new homes for the next years to come. Our four years at St. John’s are now over, but our time as a Cadet will forever live on. Thank you.