Good afternoon: Mr. Myers, Mr. Brown, Mr. Marth, Abbot Hugh, Abbot Austin, Benet faculty and staff, family, guests, and of course my fellow graduates of the class of 2013!
If I challenged you to think of the most important thing you’ve learned in your four years at Benet… could you do it? Something that gives direction and meaning to everything else we’ve learned and accomplished, and that defines how we should live it out in the future. I know I couldn’t answer that question until just this year, and it’s a reality that has gradually become more clear to me throughout my senior year beginning with the Logos 104 retreat this past January. The beginning of the Gospel of John talks of God’s gift of life, life that is “the light of the human race”, saying, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” I can’t explain it quite as well as Mr. Russ, but I can tell you that the amazing thing about this light is that, when you divide it, it doesn’t diminish; it only spreads and multiplies. This light that is love; this love that is God. Love is contagious in much the same way that laughter is. And just like sharing laughter doesn’t make the moment any less funny for either person, but rather does the opposite, love multiplies, rather than divides, when it is shared with others. This reality, I truly believe, is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. Love divided by 2 = love squared might not make sense mathematically, but it makes sense to God. …Come to think of it, it probably makes sense to Brendan Caseria, too. But God can do that sort of thing because God IS love, and he is infinite – that’s the beauty of this light that shines in the darkness.
So what’s the point – how does this light that I am talking about tie in with our graduation? Well, it got me thinking. This light isn’t just a Logos thing. It has been a common theme throughout our entire Benet experience, especially senior year. And I see this light in every single one of us. Benet has been kindling the flame in each of us, and now that we’re graduates, we will be taking that light with us and spreading it to so many different places and so many other people.
I saw that light in our service to those in need, in the Christmas Drive, or through the Appalachia trip over spring break – in people like Tony Matteson, who went on the Appalachia trip twice and served others in countless other ways.
I saw that light in the Benet senior who started the Random Acts of Kindness, or RAKs, by putting little treats inside the lockers of other seniors just to brighten their day.
I saw it in the writers, the artists, the actors, and the musicians of our class – people like Peggy Flavin, Matt Garvin, Claudia Dockery, and many others who are always creating, performing, and inspiring, and will be throughout their lives.
I saw it in the commitment, passion, and integrity of our athletes – and as you heard from Abbie earlier, we couldn’t have asked for a better senior year for sports.
I saw that light in the adventures of Brittany Kmieciak, traveling to every corner of the cafeteria to sit at each lunch table at least once before we graduated – in fact, I see it in everyone who made an effort to get to know our senior class even better before graduation. Sometimes it’s the little, simple things that we remember the most.
I saw the light in the Benet community – all of the incredible people who challenged us and guided us intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. By leading through example, they taught us the values that make us who we are. A huge part of that community was our teachers, and I want to mention six teachers in particular who, as Mr. Kohne said at Baccalaureate, are in a way graduating with us this year. Madame Lukowski, your love for the French language came through in every lesson, and your constant smile and energy made it fun for us as well. Madame Laird, we all learned SO much from your class, and I really enjoyed our little chats in French even when I had no clue what I was saying. You are so kind, and you have inspired me to continue with my French studies in college. Mr. Kohne, you have an unbelievable sense of humor and are always there for students in need of help. “Biscuits for breakfast” and the song “Take It to the Limit” will forever have a new meaning after your class. Mr. and Mrs. Strahl, your passion for foreign languages is so apparent, and it is fun to talk to you about your experiences with different languages and places around the world. And, of course, Mr. Taska – I think David Mills captured the experience that is Mr. Taska’s class perfectly at Baccalaureate, but I just wanted to say that you are one heck of a teacher, “saxomophone” player, and friend. It was awesome being up on stage with you in the Guitar Club concerts, and you always have our back, whether it’s help on a lab report, advice on life, or just making us laugh as always. I also want to take a moment to remember Father Bob and Mrs. Jacklich, who taught us courage in the face of life’s challenges, and Jennie, who touched so many of our lives as a part of the Benet family. Their light will forever shine in all of us.
Kindness, integrity, service to others, commitment, passion, and courage – we showed these values in so many ways at Benet, and it’s up to us to continue to live them out.
The light in the darkness captures the essence of what makes Benet such a cool place. When I decided to come here, I had no idea what the Benet family really was. Four years later, I know exactly what it is, and it’s starting to hit me now more than ever that we’re part of that family for life.
We’re Benet alumni beginning today. So let’s take that light with us wherever we’re going next year and beyond. Let’s take what we learned and what we accomplished here and spread that friendship, that sportsmanship, that creativity, that drive to do incredible things, and above all, that love and spirit.
As Mr. Gaughan reminded us in his Senior Leadership talk, we shouldn’t look at high school as the best four years of our lives. It’s not downhill from here. Each year is our best year – an opportunity to live our passions and follow our dreams – to make a positive impact. These last four years are just a piece in the puzzle of who we are becoming – just a chapter in a story that is becoming all the better for the accumulating memories of where we’ve been and the excitement at new things to come. Our time at Benet can’t be looked at as just a training ground for wherever we’re headed, either. It’s become a part of who we are. Red and white will always mean something different to this Benet family than they will to anybody else. We’ll never sing “We Are Called” the same way again. And now, we have this (hold up diploma). Think of all the work that went into this. Not just the school work, but the work at building new friendships, trying new things, and discovering ourselves and our passions. And now look at where we are going because of this (diploma).
My fellow graduates, we have great things coming our way, and we’re going to do great things. As Mr. Kazlauskas says, “Never settle.” We have so much to look forward to. …Because each of us has a piece of that light – that light that is love, that love that is God. That light that spreads but never spreads thin – that can’t be extinguished. Benet grew that flame in each of us and shaped it. Now, we get to take it with us and use it to change the world. That flame is ours to command.
Congratulations, Class of 2013!
Thank you.
Benet Redwings 