Following is an abridged version of the address given by salutatorian Kyra McKeown at the Paul VI High School commencement on June 3.
In preparing this speech, I had to do a lot of reminiscing and reflecting: on myself, my experiences, and our class. Looking back, there was one word that kept coming to mind: resiliency, the ability to be resilient, to recover and to rise.
This word perfectly embodies the spirit of our class. Last March, in the middle of junior year, our lives stood still. With normal life stuck in slow motion, our collective creativity and unity allowed for our continued academic successes as well as keeping our connections, our friendships, and our goals in new and innovative ways. We stood still only for a moment and then we moved forward.
When September rolled around, we continued to move onward and upward into our senior year. With small changes, we returned in person and took our attitude of resiliency out of Zoom and relocated it right here to Hopkins Road. That leap has helped us to rise to this point and land here on this football field surrounded by a class of accomplished students and admirable individuals.
I am proud to speak on behalf of our class who has adopted an air of resilience not only academically but outside of the classroom as well. The Paul VI community has continued to foster in us a commitment to God and a commitment to important values. Such religious experiences as Kairos and retreats have shown our strength in groups as students came together in faith.
We must also ensure that we remember all of the memories we have made and the good times we have shared, because we, the Class of 2021, have made history in more ways than one. During our time at Paul VI, we have sold out performances of our spring musicals, created the first ever girls golf team at Paul VI, became girls volleyball sectional champions, and raised thousands of dollars for cancer with Soar for a Cure. These are only a few of the ways in which we have shown our resiliency in breaking boundaries and making history.
It is also important not to forget the ways our class has created awareness for inequity and advocated for change within our communities. In remembering our past actions and achievements, I know with full certainty that our class will carry this perseverance with us on our future endeavors and use this momentum to continue to leave the mark of an eagle wherever we may travel. …
As a class, we have each grown as Catholics, students, and friends as the values of Paul VI helped mold us into capable and resilient individuals. We have made lifelong friends and lifelong memories. In reminiscing, I know it may be sad to remember all that we have enjoyed and experienced in retrospect to all that we will do. However, take into mind the wise words of Winnie the Pooh who said, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard.”
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