Commencement begins in an hour and seniors are gathering on the lawn in front of the library for their Class of 2012 picture. I remember clearly when this group arrived on our campus and marvel at the incredible accomplishments that the Class of 2012 have made over their short four years here. They have impacted all of us, the SMC community, the greater Burlington community and yes, our world by their compassion, their energy, their ability to understand that THEY have to make a difference in our world. They WILL BE missed - the emotions were running all over the place yesterday afternoon at Baccalaureate and afterwards at a small dinner for Jill Monahan and her friends at the Doubletree Restaurant. I got to meet more parents/families and to thank them for sending US their sons and daughters. WE ARE a better place because of our students and I wish them all of the very best as they leave here and embark on the next phase of their life's journey. I posted the following on FB as a reminder to them all as they get ready to leave this College on the hill above Winooski, Vermont:
Please remember that you don't have to be Black or Asian or Latino to be concerned about issues of race. You don't have to be a woman to be concerned about the issues confronting women (including women's health choices) and you don't have to be GAY to be concerned about issues of LGBT folks - you DO have to be human to be concerned for HUMAN RIGHTS. I also have asked them all to make sure that they are registered to vote this November AND that: ONCE YOU ARE AWARE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. Hopefully, Saint Michael's College has made them much more aware than they have ever been.
God bless our graduates and we are grateful to your families for sending you to us.
Take care, be well, and please remember to keep all of the members of our military, our veterans and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment