Congratulations Class of 2026!

Good evening, families, friends, faculty, staff, and most importantly, the Class of 2026.

Before we celebrate ourselves too much, I’d like to thank the people who made this night possible.

To our parents and families: thank you for every ride, every sacrifice, every prayer, every packed lunch, and every time you listened to us complain about an assignment we probably should have started earlier—but were too busy scrolling on TikTok. And for all of those with fried dopamine receptors and short attention spans, I’m sorry I don’t have Subway Surfers playing in the background.

To our teachers, faculty, and staff: thank you for your guidance.

And to our friends: thank you for making the journey memorable. Six years is a long time to spend with the same 60 people, but somehow it still feels too short.

A flock of geese.

Every year, geese fly thousands of miles in a giant V formation. Scientists say they do this because the goose in front breaks the wind resistance, making it easier for the others behind it. But here’s the interesting part: the goose in front doesn’t stay there forever. When it gets tired, it falls back, and another goose takes its place.

Nobody leads the whole journey.

They take turns.

And somehow, together, they make it.

That reminds me a lot of us.

Over the last six years, we’ve all had moments when we were the goose in front. Maybe you led a club, captained a team, helped a friend through a difficult time, or simply showed up when someone needed you.

And we’ve all had moments when we were the tired goose in the back.

The lesson isn’t that we have to do everything ourselves.

The lesson is that nobody gets where they’re going alone.

And there’s another lesson hidden in that formation: progress doesn’t always look like being in front. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is keep flying, keep showing up, and keep supporting the people beside you. Success isn’t just about individual achievement; it’s about the impact we have on one another along the way.

As we leave Seton, we’ll all take different paths. Some of us will move across the country, some will stay close to home, and some will discover opportunities we can’t even imagine yet. But wherever we go, we’ll carry with us the people who helped us become who we are. The encouragement we received, the kindness we were shown, and the lessons we learned here will continue to guide us long after tonight.

Speaking of journeys, there are definitely some things I won’t miss, such as:

Being the only person who couldn’t tell the difference between the Curran twins.

Running Senior Assassin, which is still going on, and realizing that being an admin is somehow more stressful than being NHS President. This was the first time Language and Logic actually came through with writing the rule book.

Hamlet Night.

And washing all my clothes three separate times because of the many, many bonfires.

But there are even more things I’ll miss.

Josh texting me at 1 a.m. asking, “What’s the move?”

The countless BeReals that documented moments nobody asked to be photographed in.

Hearing “Who’s Next?” and instantly knowing exactly what it meant.

Winning the Virginia Men’s Soccer State Championship thanks to Coach Fioramonti and Coach Vander Woude

The conversations in the hallways.

The inside jokes.

The friendships.

The people.

Soon we’ll all go our separate ways. Some of us are heading to college. Some are starting careers. And all of us are still figuring things out.

And honestly, that’s okay.

Because just like those geese, none of us has to have the entire journey figured out right now.

No one actually knows what they want to do when they grow up. They may have an idea, but we change, and that’s good. We just have to keep moving forward, help the people around us, and trust that when our turn comes to lead, we’ll be ready.

Class of 2026, we are leaving Seton with more than diplomas. We leave with friendships, memories, lessons, and a community that helped shape who we are.

So congratulations to the real Golden Graduating Class of Seton.

And thank you for making these six years unforgettable.

Viva Cristo Rey.

I’d like to begin my brief remarks by citing one of the great natural philosophers of Western civilization – Winnie the Pooh. He once said “I always get to where I am going, by walking away from where I have been”… These are wise words. Class of 2026, it is now time to “walk away from where we have been,”  but no matter where we are going, we have many things for which to be grateful. And I am personally grateful for the time I was able to spend with all of you. 

Boys of varsity soccer, we won the state championship. An honor that even our older brothers, thanks for being here, couldn’t quite bring to the school. Let’s be honest though, they did teach us how to play. Like all great things, though, it came at a price. I spent two days of cleaning after Robert Angsten, in a fit of joy, covered himself and half of my house in gallons of root beer during the after party. That was special. And worth it.  

We did our part to raise the culture at Seton as well. In 8th and 9th grade we brought organized competition to Seton lunch periods through the founding of the Tackle Basketball Association, also known as the TBA…A lot of blood and tears were shed on those courts. Some dreams were fulfilled, while others, crushed. 

Seton also provided many learning experiences. I was one of the group of lucky students who traveled to Guatemala where we did mission work and even hiked up a volcano together…and even though JJ Cooley climbed the wrong one, he lived to tell us about it… A valuable lesson for all of us… But most importantly, Seton has deepened our faith, shaped our minds and our characters, and given us friendships that will last a lifetime. I thank God for the time I was able to spend studying, praying, competing and celebrating with all of you. God has truly blessed us.      

I’d also like to thank Mrs. Carroll, Mr. Pennefather, and all of the teachers and faculty members of Seton School. We are extremely grateful for all the time and energy you have spent forming us into holy men and women for the past 6 years. Lastly, I’d like to thank my family. My siblings: Nate, Kayla, Ana, Peter, Katharine, Marisa, Cessie…as well as Sabrina, Josh, and John Paul. Thank you for your support and guidance over the years. I’d also like to thank my grandparents. My grandpa is praying for us in Heaven, and my grandma is still living with my family. To both, thank you for your years of guiding and encouraging me. Finally, Mom and Dad, Thank you for your love and support over the past 18 years. God has blessed me with the best set of parents I could have ever hoped for.   

When Saint Joan of Arc was beginning her mission to save France, she was asked how she could complete the task before her. Her answer, which has been quoted for centuries, comes  down to this: “I am not afraid, God is with me, I was born for this moment.” Our moment is not an easy one. It is not hard to see all sorts of problems in the world today. But Jesus Christ remains the answer. And our job is to live as his disciples – To live lives of virtue and courage and so bear witness to the Truth. Some people doubt whether such people are out there. However, I have already met 63 of them. We are future engineers, nurses, athletes, pilots, entrepreneurs, priests, religious, mothers, fathers, military officers, artists, dancers, and musicians. More importantly, however, we are courageous men and women who will inspire virtue and proclaim Christ in the public square. We won’t save the world, that is Jesus’ job, but we have our part to play. And so, let me end with the words of Saint Joan of Arc. Class of 2026. Be not Afraid. God is with us. We were born for this moment…Thank you.          

Theme: the new challenges our class will face and how Seton has prepared us to meet them and how our individual gifts and talents need to be developed to face these challenges and fight moral relativism 

Open: 

Before I start, just take a second. We’re almost there, and though some of you wanted me to, I’m not gonna start with ‘If you had told me four years ago…” ‘ Instead, how about a quote from St. Augustine

  ‘God provides the wind, but man must raise the sail. ‘ If we look back at our Seton education, we have gained the tools and experiences necessary to know how to raise that sail and cooperate with God’s plan. Think back to the sailing trip we went on a couple of weeks ago. In order for the sails to be of any use at all, we had to pick up the lines and work to raise the sails. While this may have been a difficult task, we can all agree it was far easier than rowing out to the bridge and back (Mr. O’Keefe). Just like when we are going through difficult times, it is purposeful when we have God on our side, as long as our effort is aligned with his plan

Now, we will be called to sail in many different directions. Some of us may attend the same schools, but all of our journeys will lead us down different paths that will present different challenges. Even if we are prepared to raise the sail, there will still be rough waters as we face the challenges of the modern world. While God promises wind, he doesn’t necessarily promise smooth sailing. Remember our Junior year theme? I’m not talking about Thunderstruck, but the concept of the storms, which, with God, we do not have to fear. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and steadfast, have no fear or dread of them, for it is the Lord who marches with you; He will never fail or forsake you. 

We are not alone, and we are not the first…  Seton classes over the past 50 years have been confronted with challenges as they leave the Seton bubble. Our class is not the exception. This is inevitable withinSeton’s countercultural mission and meets JPII’s call to evangelize the culture. Previous classes have stepped into a world filled with a culture of death, a world that idolizes materialism, one that lacks real relations, seeking communication purely through electronics, and many more. “As for us, this ‘novel’ issue may be AI, given Pope Leo’s recent encyclical. It is becoming increasingly pervasive. We have to approach these discoveries with a thoughtful mindset and use technologies in a way that does not diminish human dignity. Future classes will face other battles. The Catholic guiding principles Seton has provided transcend these issues, and it is up to us to apply them in the world. They are applicable now, will remain applicable in the future, and have been applicable in the past. 

Though the challenges that confront us seem daunting, as Catholics, we know the value of truth and have a call to spread it. Despite all the opposition we may face, we are prepared to do so. There may be many stumbling blocks, but even if we doubt ourselves and our abilities, we have years of formative education to fall back on. A solid foundation established by the dedicated faculty and staff at Seton. Maybe you’ve felt like the religion classes each year regurgitated the same material. But if you reflect on those classes, each year has built a little more on the foundation from the year before. Dr.D often paraphrases Aristotle, saying that a thing has to be repeated seven times before it is remembered. A multidimensional understanding of our faith is essential if you want to effectively share it with others. Our classes emphasize building our ability to reason so we can analyze (one of Dr. D’s favorite words) any number of situations. We have learned how to discern issues for ourselves with an educated disposition and approach problems from a standpoint of truth and love. We possess the skills necessary to confront any new topic that the modern world may throw at us

Throughout our years at Seton, the school consistently focused on our value as individuals contributing to the greater honor and glory of God. I have experienced this truth by spending the past six years with all of you and seeing the way you live your lives. We all have different areas of interest and skill, and each of those offers a way to live a life focused on the true, good, and beautiful. Just looking back on the senior banquet, we can recognize the abundance and variety of our class’s talents. In tandem with Seton’s edifying work, we can combat the moral relativism that is plaguing our world. Countless people don’t understand the importance of truth and the fact of moral absolutes. Using our talents, the work we do, and the way we go about everyday life, we can guide people to the truth. 

If you didn’t enjoy the summer reading of Pride and Prejudice for any number of ridiculous reasons, you might have a sour taste in your mouth for Jane Austen, but she is one of my personal favorites. In her book Sense and Sensibility, she emphasizes the importance of actions, saying, “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us but what we do.” Through the use of our talents, we act in ways that define us as followers of Christ. I cannot specify every niche interest represented in our class, as that would take way longer than you want to be here. However, I can enumerate some general examples that everyone can relate to on how our talents can combat the secular state of our world. For the number of us pursuing fields of nursing, medical work, and scientific research, we have the opportunity to promote inherent human dignity in every stage of life. We must be prepared to take action, including speaking up, caring for, and seeking out alternatives to immoral medical practices. 

Some of us will study writing, philosophy, or law. And for our skilled orators. This can look like speaking on and spreading the truth- not necessarily preaching, but showing your core values in what you discuss and defending what is good. St. Augustine explains, “The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.” It is your job to release it. 

Some of us might play sports in college. Even this can be an avenue for combating issues like materialism. This involves being a good sport and giving all your victories and losses to God’s greater glory. These are all things you’ve heard before from the sports talks in the chapel, but the Seton staff has emphasized them for a reason. 

Watching the musical, looking at the artwork, experiencing the band and choir concert, and seeing our ballerinas- we definitely have artistic talent in our class. True art (a point exhaustively explored in English class) points to the transcendentals of the true good and beautiful, raising the mind to the Lord.   

Who we are and what we do with our talents sends a message. All the things that are special about each of us have a purpose and a role in promoting truth and goodness. As these gifts are from God, we have an obligation to use them. 

Keeping all this in mind, we are getting ready to leave our wonderfully tight-knit community. We are still called to hold ourselves to the same high standards- this does not mean we can’t chew gum or have to wear Sperrys everywhere, but it does mean we are called to live our lives in a way that reflects truth and Christ. Even in a world that promotes moral relativism, etc. St. Augustine points out that “Right is right even when no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it,” and Elizabeth Ann Seton also emphasizes that “Truth does not depend on the people around us or the place we are in.” 

I’d like to offer some advice, even though I don’t have the personal experience,  but there are many wise people who have come before me that I’d like to draw from:

First, it’s important that you find your core people. Even with your strong background, you will need a support system. People who share your same essential values.

Second, which might be a given, but I’ll say it anyway: keeping a strong prayer life. Some more wise words from St. Augustine: “The Holy Scriptures are our letter from home”. It’s like the comfort of hearing from your parents or friends. Something familiar to hold onto and ground you. 

Finally, if we’ve learned anything from Seton, it’s the importance of living in the present moment. Just think of the novena we do every year. Don’t let life pass you by because you’re always looking at something ahead or turning to glance behind- you’ll trip and miss what’s right in front of you. This goes along with appreciating the simple things. As Laura Ingalls Wilder puts it: “It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature.” We may have different priorities about what to appreciate, but we shouldn’t always wait for something big, or we’ll live disappointed. As the Killers put it, “it’s some kind of sin to live your whole life on a might have been.”

  If we have done great things, and we have, there are so many reasons why we were able to. A quote often attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, “If I have seen farther, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants”.There are so many people who have come before us and given us wisdom and experience. Think about all the truths we get from reading the classics. Maybe you zoned out in English or just used SparkNotes for the summer reading, but then I think you’re missing out on the wisdom offered through classic literature and stories. There’s a reason it’s lasted as long as it has- these books present something relatable and something human and something we can learn from. Continuing to read the classics is a way to broaden our perspectives and deepen our understanding of humanity. Those are the people we haven’t met to whom we must be grateful.

There are also so many people in our lives who deserve our gratitude. I’d like to start with Mrs. Carroll. Without her, none of us would be here graduating from Seton School. We never would have had a Seton experience if not for her dedication and faith. The teachers we’ve learned so much from wouldn’t have been in the same place to teach us what we now know. Then, of course, come all the teachers and those who make Seton a possibility. They have put in time and effort and done their best to pass on knowledge to us. And what is Seton without its volunteers? You see them all the time, making sure things can happen and go smoothly. They’ll be in the PAC afterward, so make sure to thank them. The Pogue family is a prime example, and they deserve our gratitude along with the rest of the volunteers. I’d personally like to thank my family and my friends- especially Helena and Christina. But you all should too. Thank your parents for sending you to Seton, supporting you on your journey, and helping you in ways you don’t realize. I couldn’t have done it without these people. Finally, I’d like to thank He who is the reason for everything, who loves us eternally, and gave everything for us: God. We can never thank Him enough and should be part of our everyday mission. 

We have already flipped our tassels, and you’ve probably been tired of me for the last couple of paragraphs. But I have just a few more remarks. 

‘To use the words of a very good book that I hope you didn’t sparknotes your way through, the Bible says that for everything there is a season, and the season has come for us to move on, to raise our sails and let God’s divine wind propel us into the future. We have the skills, the talents, the preparation, and the guidance necessary to face our next steps and to fight through the plague of secularism. Remember to act as a child of God, and everything else will follow, as Amelia Earhart says, “The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity”. Congratulations to the 50th graduating class of Seton School. As the Scarlet Pimpernel says, “The longest days, sooner or later must perforce come to an end.” Our days of high school have ended. Viva Christo Rey

This is really good, not very typical, but you stuck to the basics of the speech. Great quotes especially scarlet pimpernel, its self aware but not cringy. Very very good

Quotes:

1. Right is right even when no on is going it; wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it- St. Augustine
2. The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself- St. Augustine
3. God provides the wind, man must raise the sail – St. Augustine
4. A Christian should be an Allelulia from head to foot- Augustine 
5. The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home
6. We speak, but it is God who teaches
7. Disorder in society is a result of disorder in the family- Seton
8. Be attributive to the voice of grace
9. Truth does not depend on the people around us or the place we are in
10. Humanity, take a good look at yourself. Inside, you’ve got heaven and earth, and all of creation. You’re a world- everything is hidden in you.” _Hildegard of Bingen
11. The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity.”- Amelia earhart
12. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail- Queen LiliuoKalani
13. It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature -Laura Ingalls wilder
14. We do not need magic to transform our world. We carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better- J.K. Rowling