'A COMMUNITY I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED'

Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbon's valedictorian and salutatorian graduation speeches

Ava Giordano, valedictorian, and Sophia Verbicky, salutatorian, of Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbon's class of 2023. (Provided photos)

‘A community I could have never imagined’

I began attending Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons when I was in sixth grade. When I entered the school, I was extremely shy and unsure of myself. Now, when I reflect on my time at NDBG, I see the growth that has occurred because of my time here. I did not know at the time that this school would give me a family and teach me countless life lessons.

Attending NDBG in sixth grade was the first time I was ever in a Catholic school. NDBG has given me a community I could have never imagined. When I began school, my sister was a graduating senior. It was great to have her there when I was starting at a new school, but once she graduated, I did not know how I fit in the school. Over the years, I was able to create a group of friends I have grown up with and have been able to pursue all different kinds of extracurricular activities. 

The first extracurricular activity I joined at NDBG was the school musical in sixth grade. Over my years at NDBG, I continued to be involved in musicals in various different ways. I began on the stage and ended behind the scenes, as a co-stage manager. I have also been able to pursue sports here. My senior year I decided to join the track team for fun. Even though I was definitely not the fastest, I made new friends and learned what it was like to be a part of a team. One more activity that I have taken part in at NDBG is student council. I became more involved in my school community as I grew older. During my senior year, I became the president of the high school. All of these opportunities have given me great leadership skills that will help me in college and my future career.

One experience from NDBG that has shaped my character today was from math class with Mrs. Thibault. The first time I had class with her was in eighth grade for Algebra I. I always put a lot of effort into my schoolwork before, but I needed a harder work ethic if I wanted to keep up with my grades in this class. Having class with Mrs. Thibault has taught me that if I put in the effort, I will be able to work through difficult problems. Finally understanding a difficult concept in math was the most rewarding experience.

During my time at NDBG, I always had the support of my teachers. I would like to thank my teachers for all they have done for me. Thank you for believing in me and giving me the tools to succeed in high school and beyond. You all always thought of innovative ways to keep class interesting and your dedication to teaching is apparent and immensely appreciated.

I am so grateful for my time at NDBG. The lessons I have learned from this school will be lessons I will use throughout my whole life. I have learned to put passion into every activity I do, and I have learned to appreciate the little moments in life. Wherever my future will lead me, I will always remember what NDBG has taught me.

Ava Giordano

Valedictorian

‘A wonderful rollercoaster’

I started going to Catholic school in first grade at Saint Mary’s Institute in Amsterdam. My time and experiences there set me up for success in the next phase of my life. I learned how important working hard in school was and that it was possible to learn more about my faith while getting a better education. In sixth grade, I began attending Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School. The time that I have had here has been a wonderful rollercoaster I will remember for the rest of my life.

Everyone can agree being a teenager in high school is hard but for the Class of 2023 there were a few more unexpected challenges. COVID-19 changed the world we live in. It changed how we lived, how we grew up and how we were educated. Across the nation, if you ask seniors most of us can agree we “survived” high school. There were so many challenges we faced every day. During our high school years, students across the country faced social, moral and political injustices. Kids fearing for their lives just trying to attend school plagued our nation just as much as the global pandemic we faced. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons gave us a safe place to not just survive but to thrive.

Despite the crazy world we live in, the people I look up to most at NDBG show all of us there is beauty everywhere we look and to be unapologetically ourselves. Our teachers, administrators and coaches show us that we are all important individuals with our own paths and purposes. The small class sizes of NDBG create strong friendships and result in the teachers caring about the success of each student. Despite the small size of the school, these bonds have created a large community that is like a family. As I get older and move on to new phases of my life, I know I will always have people I can count on.

My goal going into high school was to participate anywhere I could to grow as a person and member of my school community. Sports, honor societies, clubs, musicals and the arts became key components of my life at NDBG. During these activities, I met amazing people I will remember for the rest of my life. When COVID hit, our school worked tirelessly to make sure we did not lose these programs and found safe ways for us to continue doing what we loved. During the height of the pandemic, NDBG also provided us a safe place to go to school in person when most of the country was still virtual.

The struggles we faced made us stronger and more prepared for our future. We learned to adapt and carry on when things felt hopeless. My time at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons has taught me many things. Some of the biggest lessons I have learned are to find what makes you happy and do what you are passionate about. As I continue my studies at the University at Albany in the fall, I will never forget the lessons I have learned, the people I have met, and the memories I have made along the way. 

Sophia Verbicky 

Salutation

MORE NEWS STORIES

Fire of Faith event coming this Palm Sunday

Read more

BISHOP HUBBARD TIMELINE

Read more

LEGAL NOTICES FOR JUNE 6, 2024

Read more