80th Commencement Valedictorian Speech

 

Sarah Donais '11

Sarah Donais, of Granby, Massachusetts,  is a double major in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Early Childhood Education.  She achieved a grade point average of 4.0 through her four years of study at the Elms and received the 80th awarding of the Founder's Cross, presented to the student with the highest GPA.  Sarah has been involved in student government, student organizations associated with both of her majors, a tutor in the academic resource center and a three-year athlete.  She will be attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in their 2-year Speech Pathology Master's Program.

On behalf of the Graduating Class of 2011, I would like to welcome:

  • Chair of the Board of Trustees, Linda Mansfield;
  • Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, The Most Reverend Timothy A. McDonnell;
  • Honorary Degree Recipient, Dr. John Paul Lederach;
  • Distinguished  Alumna Award Recipient, Sr. Eleanor Spring;
  • Mayor of the City of Chicopee, Michael Bissonnette;
  • President  of  the  Congregation  of  the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, Sr. Mary Quinn;
  • Members of the Elms College Board of Trustees;
  • Facul­ty, Students, Alumni, Family, and Friends.

I stood in lightly drizzling rain in the middle of the field. I was standing in what felt to me like the center of the entire world. Anxiety and anticipation seemed to be radiating from all directions. I was waiting for my chance to influence the final result of not only this game, but of months of preparation filled with laughter, sweat, tears, muscle pulls, friendships, and rivalry. I was about to take a shot in the tie-breaker penalty kick round of the 2008 Women's Soccer New England Collegiate Conference Championship Finals. I took a deep breath, approached the ball, and felt my foot make contact, sweeping the ball forward. I watched the ball roll towards the goal, soar past the goalie, and eventually hit the back of the net. Instantly, relief and excitement overcame me. I knew that the penalty kicks were not yet over, but the members of the women's soccer team were one step closer to where we wanted to be.

I know that many people are not athletes, but we all face situations of anxiety and overcome challenges each day. Throughout our colligate careers, we have been faced with numerous challenges and yet have all made it to this room to celebrate the victories that enabled us to complete the requirements for graduation and be sitting here today. On some days, our challenges may have been seemingly small.  On one particular morning, your only goal may have been to make it over the mountainous speed bump coming into the parking lot without bottoming out your car, or it may have been to find a parking spot in A Lot so you wouldn't have to swim through the lake that forms in C Lot every time it rains. At one moment during your college experience, your most aversive enemies may have been the four flights of O'Leary stairs that you had to climb while carrying your books, a case of water, and your huge bag of laundry. You may have been forced to lead search parties to your friends' rooms for snacks late at night because you needed something to eat while you were studying, but the cafe had closed at 10:00.

At other moments, the challenges that you had to overcome were a lot more serious. You may have had to learn how to console a friend or roommate when their loved one passed away. One another day, you might have been waiting to take an exam knowing that you had to get a passing grade or you would be kicked out of your program of study. On multiple occasions, you've probably felt the pressure of trying to print a paper for your class that starts in five minutes, yet every computer in the college center, Berchmans, and the library are taken, or the printers are somehow out of paper AND ink.

The good news is that no matter how small or large the feats that we faced at Elms were, we were able to overcome them. Just as I made the penalty kick in my playoff game due to the dedication of time, energy, and practice, and with the help of a little bit of luck, myself and the other 341 members of the Elms College Class of 2011 have put in the hard work and devotion necessary to make it to this point. Though we may not have jobs, houses, or every detail of our futures figured out, we have each taken one more enormous step that will put us closer to where we ultimately want to end up on our paths of life. As we go on to become the future leaders of our community and country, we will continually face challenges, and as we confront these predicaments, we must remember to learn from the past, live for the present, and work to influence change in the future.

I would like to thank our friends, families, and the Elms for helping to prepare us for this day and for our adult lives. Congratulations Class of 2011. God Bless.