President Fink, trustees, faculty, honored guests, family and most importantly the graduating class of 2009; I am truly humbled and honored, to be given the opportunity to reflect upon the memories we’ve made and the challenges we face. We are living in a most turbulent and pivotal time.  Our obstacles and opportunities are unprecedented. Yet we are fortunate, the class of 2009 represents the diligent and innovative minds of this generation.  Together we can face the future with confidence.

While we are a community of learners from different backgrounds we share a common experience.  Together we have grown in our understanding of who we are and how as individuals and a collective community we can affect lasting change.

We the class of 2009, are connected by the Dominican ideals: the love of truth, the beauty and life of the mind, and a deep respect for the dignity and worth of the individual.  These ideals are exemplified in our classes by our professors as well as in our interactions with one another.

The second integral connection we share is our application of the four pillars of Dominican life: study, reflection, community and service.  Each of these has served in equipping us to become accomplished in our disciplinary fields. These standards by which we have operated for the past four years, have instilled in us the keys we will use to unlock the future.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “Difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to truth.”

At Dominican we have wrestled to uncover new truths in the pursuit of study. In just about every class I have attended here, I can remember my professors asking questions and prompting students to respond. Because the class sizes are small, there is something that has been preserved in our class discussions.  Every student is an active member in the classroom, and their participation is not only valued, it is vital. 

I remember fondly the animated and lively discussions in Professor Shreibman’s courses.  Any student who has sat in one of Shreibs’ classes could tell you,it is impossible to fall asleep.  Professor Shreibman is gifted with the incredible ability to ask probing and thought provoking questions without revealing his own opinion.  This forces his students to really discover what they think and learn how to support their ideas. 

The academic atmosphere here at Dominican has pressed us, challenged us, motivated us and caused us to succeed.

The second pillar of education at Dominican is reflection. Now, I know if you are a liberal studies major, there have been times when you would rather pull your hair out than reflect.  Reflection is the mantra of the education department.  I believe all teachers are trained to reflect until we can reflect no more.  As a learner, it is critical to be postured in humility.  When we can recognize that which we do not know, we can begin to truly understand the learning process. 

As we reflect, beginning with the questions “How can I improve?’ And ‘what can I do differently to be more effective?” we open the door to endless possibilities and unleash ourtrue potential.  If we as the graduating class of 2009 take away anything from our Dominican experience, I believe the art of reflection should be considered our most valuable tool.

As valuable as reflection is, without the integration of the third pillar, community, we will remain limited in our ability to advance our ideas and dreams.  Many of life’s challenges cannot be met alone; they must be aggressively met and conquered side by side with others who share a common vision.

In a conversation with Sister Clair who recently celebrated her 100^th birthday, she recounted her experience as a member of the Dominican community during the Second World War.  Despite facing the fear of sporadic air raids and the challenge of food rationing the sisters supported one another and set a courageous example.  Although the fear of uncertainty was ever present they demonstrated the value of interdependency.

 Lastly, we come to service.  Dominicans’ commitment to service is demonstrated locally in Marin County through the nursing program’s umbrella project, as well as beyond the borders of our country through the annual La Bamba mission’s trip to Tijuanna, Mexico led by Father Bob.

Here at Dominican, we are truth seekers. Our schools motto, Veritas Fax Ardens means truth is a flaming torch.  In an honors ceremony I attended last year, inductees were required to recite the societies’ maxim; “The truth will set you free.” As I stood there chanting, wondering why on earth I was being asked to embarrass myself in front of my family and friends I began to ponder the meaning of this statement. The truth will set you free. It is definitely a bold declaration. After some reflectionan idea began to resonate in my mind. Truth cannot be discarded nor neglected, it must be proclaimed.  One of our greatest challenges when we leave the halls of Dominican will be to hold truth as a beacon of hope to those we encounter.

The truth is, the current state of our economy is challenging.  The truth is we are living in unstable times. But the truth is, this is only the beginning. With every diagnosis of a new disease, there sits in this audience the potential and skill set to create a cure.  With the rise of poverty and increasing social unrest there sits a mind great enough and heart compassionate enough to offer a solution.  And with the increase in population and demand for natural resources, there are many creative and innovative members of this generation who will help be the answer to the question “What next?”

One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie Amazing Grace.  The film depicts the life of William Wilberforce the man whose sole mission was to abolish the slave trade in England. At the height of British decadence, Wilberforce faced insurmountable obstacles and fought for over thirty years to bring down the well-established trade.  In the movie, there is a scene in which Wilberforce discusses politics with his close friend William Pitt.  Pitt was the youngest prime minister ever to serve England. He encourages Wilberforce to persevere and candidly remarks,

“We are too young to know that some things are impossible, so we will just do them anyway.”

As I look out at many of the graduates sitting on stage both the day and pathways students, I am struck with the reality that age does not determine success.

It is now our job to take the skills, knowledge and ideals we have been equipped with and use them to make a difference in the world.  If we can apply the ideals taught to us at Dominican, the ideals of: loving truth, believing in the beauty and life of the mind through reflection and study, and upholding a deep respect for the dignity and worth of every individual through community and service, we can make a lasting impact.

And so I close with a quote by Anne Frank: