Class of 2025 Salutatorian Speech | Ava Henry
Hello and welcome faculty, family and friends, and of course, most importantly, the Oldenburg Academy class of 2025. I would like to thank everyone who made today possible.
To our parents, thank you for your endless support, the opportunities you’ve given us, and the faith and guidance that brought us here.
To our extended families, thank you for showing up and cheering us on at concerts, games, and countless events throughout the years.
To the faculty, thank you for constantly challenging and pushing us and inspiring us throughout the last four years.
And of course, a thank you to each of you, the class of 2025, who have become some of the closest friends and family that we have. Without each and every one of you, there is no way any one of us would be where we are today.
We are all gathered here to celebrate all of the accomplishments of the last few years. We have all grown as people, from nervous freshmen to the group of confident young adults in front of me right now.
We have spent countless hours together, playing sports, hanging out, and of course, all of the hours we spent in the walls of this school. We have been challenged by our classes, and we have been able to get through the hours of homework and studying, even though a lot of it seemed impossible in the moment.
We have had the opportunity to grow together as a class, and even though we have lost and gained a few members throughout the years, we have still been able to continue to grow together.
While we have all been given amazing opportunities to grow academically in our years here, most importantly we have been able to grow in our faith. Without the faith that I have had the opportunity to grow here, there is no way I would be where I am today.
Whether it was learned in class, from people we encountered, opportunities we were able to take, or from our friends and family, there is no doubt that God and a growing faith got us to where we are today. I know I have been able to grow in my faith throughout my years here. From just seeing how certain people, like Mrs. Gregg, live their lives with the glowing light and love of God, to the moments I have been able to have in His presence.
Every retreat we have had together has brought us all closer together and closer to God. We have been able to spend time volunteering together, playing games, hearing about our faith, and we have spent time adoring God with each other. Every time an opportunity like this arises, our class always seems to form memories together that will never be forgotten.
We have all been given so many moments throughout the years that will always be remembered:
The walks around Oldenburg with Mr. Moorman in freshman year PE.
Every game of super volleyball and pickleball we have played together.
Every retreat filled with laughter and tears that we have spent together, from the late night football games to the deep moments of faith and reflection we all shared.
The sports we have all bonded through, and the times we have spent cheering on our fellow teammates and classmates.
All of the times we spent with the sisters, from the Adopt-a-Sis lunches to the block days in religion we spent visiting them and exploring the convent.
The unforgettable class period we spent walking through the forest and tree-tipping with Ms. Yane.
And the time in religion when we ran back from Sr. Cleo’s in the pouring rain, in formal, and were all scrambling to find dry clothes when we came back.
These are just some of the memories from here and with each other that will never be forgotten.
OA has allowed us to be able to strengthen our faith, further our education, and form new friendships. The fact that we are all in here today means that we have lived through all of these memories—the good ones and the trying ones—and we have grown from every experience.
We are leaving the home we have come to love here and going on to explore the next chapter of our lives. That chapter would not be possible without the moments that shaped us into who we are today—the moments of laughter and happiness that brought us all together, and definitely a few moments of tears and trials.
Each of these times, the exciting ones and the difficult ones, helped to strengthen us and get us ready for our futures. While I know we have all been looking forward to this graduation and wishing it would come sooner, let us never forget the faith we grew here and the memories we shared.
While there will be moments from here that we miss, I have no doubt that each and every one of us will accomplish great change in our world and bring light into every person we encounter along the way.
As we part ways here, remember this, an excerpt from Matthew 17:20:
“Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Congratulations, Class of 2025!
