Graduation 2011 (May-2011)
Mrs. O'Connell presented each of the girls with an engraved Newbridge Silver pen as a memento of their days in St. Mary's and a reminder to continue with their education.
The girls presented Mrs. O'Connell with framed memorabilia from their very successful F1 in Schools project, in which they won 2 National Awards during Transition Year.
Graduation Speech
Lydia Mendes
Good morning, friends, family, teachers and fellow graduates!
Freedom! I mean graduation, at last (laugh) I thought we'd never get here, but the last seven years really have flown by.
I have to say, writing this speech was hands down one of the most stressful speeches I have ever had to write, it has been an emotional few days. I toiled over what to say, worried that as you sat there anxious to graduate, I would bore you, or say the wrong thing rather than leaving behind a positive memory.
I believe we all share the same emotions and feeling of nostalgia as we reach this point of departure and say goodbye to an important part of our lives.
Today marks a new era. Years of classroom learning, study, plays, dances and sport have all led us to this important moment in our lives. As we, the graduation class of 2011 sit here watching as the last of our secondary school careers fade into twilight and nervously await what new adventure tomorrow will bring. It is important that we stop for a moment to reflect on and appreciate the enormity of this time of transition. Our graduation is a time to celebrate and say "thank you".
To all the Moms out there, thank you for your constant support and endless encouragement and advice. We could not have become the young women we are today if it was not for the beautiful seed of grace you planted and nourished in us.
Dads, thanks for the cash (laugh), caring hugs and constantly being on our case to study, our parents have been the most important people in our lives. We love you and thank you.
To our principal, Mrs O'Connell, Deputy Principal, Ms McNamee, our teachers from Marian and Rosary school and the other staff of St. Mary's, we thank you for not only educating our minds but your profound belief in us and our abilities. Thank you too for tolerating our sometimes silly behaviour as we matured. You have taught us to forge our own paths and to be leaders rather than followers. Your praise and encouragement has shaped us.
It feels such a short time ago when we entered the educational system, excited to learn our ABC's, play hide and seek during break and create masterpieces with finger paints. By now, we have hopefully mastered these skills, because ready or not here we come world!
Out time in St. Mary's has so many outstanding memories:
• Performing the school musical "Oliver" in front of over a thousand people was nerve wrecking but there is no way we will forget the buzz of those performances.
• Our appearance on the "Late Late Toy Show", meeting Mc Fly and the presenters of Top Gear. Which one of us will ever forget the excitement of those weeks?
• Paula and Ciara from 6B were invited to meet President Mary Mc Aleese at Áras an Uachtarán at the start of her second term of office.
• We were lucky to jet off to, not one, two or three but four trips abroad.
• Our visit to the gardens in Salsburg in Austria, where the famous musical "The Sound of Music" was filmed.
• Visiting the salt mines in Poland, where we had a guide who unfortunately had a very monotonous voice. (Our maths teacher, Mr O'Leary, does a wicked imitation of him)
• The visit to Auschwitz concentration camp was very difficult but really brought the realities of the 2nd World War to life and changed our perspective to life.
• The amazing experience of winning two awards in the Formula One Racing Car Competition
• Last but not least the extraordinary feeling of being in a football stadium in England watching Manchester United play football. Followed by wild eruption from the crowd each time their team scored. Despite the fact Ronaldo didn't play, he still looked great!
Last, but not least, to my fellow graduating students, Today we sit here full of hope for the future, we are the doctors, scientists, teachers, artists, beauticians and parents of tomorrow. Our dedication to our studies will lead us to further success. Despite the diverse roads we will take when we leave this school, we will remain connected and find ways back to each other and we will always be a part of St. Mary's Community. St. Mary's offered us a foundation for our friendship and some where along the line we became sisters.
With the support of our parents, teachers and each other, we have achieved much. Today we are full of hope and confidence for the future. Whatever the future holds, we will always remember today's celebration with pride and pleasure.
So, class of 2011, Congratulations.
