July 13, 2023 at 12:45 a.m.
'THE ATMOSPHERE OF A HOME'
‘The atmosphere of a home’
I wanted to start this speech by thanking some of the people who have sacrificed their time and effort to help me succeed and reach this important milestone. First and foremost, I want to thank my teachers who have supported and taught me lessons that will stay with me as I move forward and my friends who have taught me more about myself and about friendship throughout these years that we have spent together. I want to thank the adults in my life that may not have been my teachers, but have left me with life lessons that I will cherish. Most importantly, I want to thank my sister who pushed me to succeed and supported my aspirations more than anyone else. And thank you to all of the people that I didn’t mention who have been rooting for all of us this entire time.
Pope John XXIII once said “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” I feel as though this quote represents the ideals that have been taught in the years that I have been at SCC. Just like in every venture, there have been times of failure, but through the support of teachers, friends, family and others we have overcome the obstacles that led us to today. No matter the struggle there has always been someone that has been willing to give a helping hand and that’s why SCC is so special. There has always been a teacher willing to sacrifice their time to help make sure you understand or students who are willing to give a few helpful words of advice. This is what makes SCC different from other schools and what makes SCC feel like a home. Without the support of everyone in the community, I firmly believe that I wouldn’t have made it this far or been able to succeed this much.
SCC is not only a place where students can cultivate their academic abilities, but also a community where each of us can individually grow. SCC has the atmosphere of a home where each student is a part of the family and is included in the benefits of being a part of the community. I have learned so much from everyone here and I feel blessed to have been able to spend these last few years with all of you.
While it’s true that we are graduating from our time at SCC, I am certain that the lessons that we have been given will continue with us throughout our lives and we will never forget the time that we spent here. I know that all of the effort that we have put into ourselves and the support that the community has given us will not go to waste as we all move on to the next chapter of our lives. I know that each and every one of the students in the Class of 2023 will be able to succeed in the future and I hope that even when we inevitably experience failure that there is a community like SCC there to support us. I wish everyone in the Class of 2023 the best of luck in the future! Thank you.
Jessica Barnes
Valedictorian
‘Willing to lend a helping hand’
As my time at SCC comes to an end, I have come to realize that over these past four years, I was not only able to gain an education, but with the help of the SCC community, I was molded into the person I am today.
In Ecclesiastes 7:8 it states, “The end is better than the beginning and patience is better than pride.” In my mind this perfectly describes the community of SCC, as everyone in the community is always willing to lend a helping hand no matter the circumstances. I would like to thank some of these members personally for the impact they had on me during my time in high school. Starting off with my coaches in soccer and basketball. I would like to say thank you to Coach Pompa, Coach Luciano and Coach Kumlander, as they helped me grow in my sport all four years of high school and made me a better leader in my respective sport. I would also like to thank Coach Shea for this past year, as it was the best season I have personally had and one of the most fun.
As for teachers, I would like to specifically thank Mrs. Crowther, Ms. Izzo, Ms. Schutter, Ms. Barbolt and Mr. W, as they went above and beyond their job and took time to get to know me personally and made the classroom more enjoyable. I would also like to thank my classmates in the Class of 2023 for welcoming me with open arms when I first came to SCC as a freshman and making high school more entertaining. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family who are here today. To my friends from the Class of 2022 who are here, I want to thank all of you for always being there for me and supporting me no matter what.
And to my family, Mom, Dad, John and Pops, I want to thank you all for all you have done to put me in positions to succeed, and for all your support.
Thank you, SCC!
Aidan Dunne
Salutatorian
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