At the 2008 Graduation Mass on June 5, 2008, All Dominican Girl Evelyn Spahr gave a moving farewell speech. By request, her speech is being posted below for all to read – and for everyone to truly see what it means to be an All Dominican girl. Congratulations again to the Class of 2008! 

“I find it hard to believe that a bit more than three years ago, we were directed towards those pews, for our first mass, as freshman. Right smack in the middle, all eyes looking at us. And what these a few hundred pairsof eyes saw was a facial expression solely designated for freshman. It isseen every year, without an exception. Its a look full of the fervor to learn, the passion to grow, but most of all, an immense impulse to run back home, jump back into bed and fall into a “deep sleep”...aka die. Or simply retrograde to a time where being the “new girl” was not an issue,when we did not wake up hoping our bangs or miniscule earrings no one can even see will strike up some conversation, and from that conversation, a lovely fulfilling relationship will blossom, and all will be great, and everything will very, very, very much less awkward. But somewhere between figuring out what stockings will not make us bankrupt from paying fines and realizing that Ziploc-ing every book in your locker is probably the only way of preventing them from getting destroyed in the case of some type of “natural disaster”, we figured out how to walk this scary tight rope we have called high school. As we wobbled along the wire, we not only dropped our fears through achievements we worked so hard to obtain,but also through learning lessons that were painful to learn, and making mistakes we cannot change. We, as humans, fear what we have not tried.Once we have stood our ground in battle, our wounds do not stay wounds.Rather, they become badges of courage, honor, and love, on display for the entire world to see and marvel at. We had many hurdles to overcome, the tests we spent hours studying for,exams that ultimately decided our future, essays that, in 3500 words or less, described who we really are; it was all so very difficult and challenging. So many times did we have to stand still to make sure we were okay, and that we had not misplaced our faith while memorizing facts for one class, and making pneumonic devices for another.But this story does not end with us fallen on the ground without any hope,without any love, without faith. Our God is so magical that he has put himself within each and every one of us and we can find him not simply through prayer but also through that first moment we look into someone’seyes and know we are cared for. Every breath, every word spoken, every smile, every embrace, every hand extended so that we may get up is God,body and soul, on this Earth, showing us the enormous amounts of love heused to create our very beings. Who would have known that the omnipotent God who millions of people search for everyday resided in Dominican Academy, a little townhouse with a shaky plumbing system. Today I do not want to simply thank the faculty, administration, and everyone else who puts so much effort into making Dominican Academy function properly for coming to class everyday or photocopying worksheets, but for taking on the roles left for mothers and fathers, for looking into our eyes and making it known that we are cared for and for helping us find our faith, an inexhaustible gift that will serve us for the rest of our lives. You have molded us from smart girls who pray for only good things to happen into intelligent women who understand that reality is reality, filled with both good and bad, who revel in happiness, and bleed willingly and joyfully in sadness, knowing that faith will bring them back once again. So thank you for making us realize that we too can be like you, a group of people,filled with potential, honor, and backed up by the most divine and pure being known to woman. And this knowledge is more precious than you will ever know. It shall probably sustain us until we meet him again on our final day. With those last words, I say “For the Class of 2008, Hip Hip Hooray !” And now, I ask the Class of 2008 to stand up and recite the DominicanAcademy Pledge.”