Jason Pohlmeier Principal – St. Edward Catholic School 8th Grade Graduation, May 19, 2011 Most graduation speeches involve someone standing in front of a group of graduates and giving them advice. It’s as if after all of your years of school, there is still something earth-shattering to tell you. No, I imagine that at this point you have learned all that you might hope to learn at St. Edward. I also imagine that even if I did have something amazing and new to teach you now, Mr. Lienhart would remind me that you all turned your learning switches to “off” quite a while ago. So, instead of me trying to come up with something new to say to you, I am going to let you, the graduating class steer me tonight.

In April, St. Edward updated its mission statement. As part of this process, I spoke with the 8th grade class about mission and purpose. I asked their input on a few things, including their thoughts about what a St. Edward student should be. Rather than come up with the points to make tonight on my own, I am going to use the words of our graduates. So to guide us, here are the top 5 things that a St. Edward student should be, according to the class of 2011. #5 – Trustworthy Graduates you have proven your trustworthiness. You have completed assignments, written papers and taken tests. You have served mass and served others in the community. You have shown the younger students how to act well, and how to make things right when you have not acted well. Now we trust that you will go forth and represent St. Edward well. You will go on to high school, and show new classmates how St. Edward students behave. You will show your parents more and more each day whether or not they can trust you as you grow older. Most importantly, God is trusting

you to make good decisions as you go along. Show everyone what St. Edward students are made of! #4 – Friendly This may come as a shock to some people, but I actually enjoy getting to go into our eighth grade classroom. Every time the day takes me to them, I am welcomed with smiles and a cheerful greeting. This is something special, and I imagine I am not the only person they greet this way. This may also shock some people, but not all eighth graders are like that! Graduates, do not lose this. Some of you have been here for a long time. Others have only been here for two or three years. However, you have all grown into a strong and unified group. Despite all of the differences that exist between you, you have chosen to become friends and treat others as friends, and this makes all of us here proud. Do not lose this joy! #3 – Respectful When I first came to St. Edward two years ago, I was told that our students had a reputation for being friendly and courteous to others in public. Since then I have had my own chances to see that this is true. I have heard from parents, both from our school and other schools, and others in the community about how well-behaved our students are. They are polite. They are nice. They are happy. Now graduates, when people know you are from St. Edward, this is what they will expect. You have set a high standard for yourselves. Because you are so trustworthy and friendly, we all know that you will live up to it. #2 – Hardworking Now remember moms and dads, I said this list was things St. Edward students should be, not necessarily things they are. However, they have been learning the importance of

this more and more during their time in middle school, and the fact that they put it on this list means that they know it has value! Graduates, I am sure that your parents will be ready to hold you to this! Again, we know that you can do it, and that is good, because you will need it. I already said I wouldn’t try to teach you anything new tonight, so I am sure that you already know that life will only continue to get harder. School work will get harder. Commitments will be more important, more time consuming, and more frequent. But this does not mean that you give up. This means that you take the values and virtues you have developed here at St. Edward and put them to use. Remember, St. Edward became King of England only after he worked his way back from exile! Get ready for life to be tough! And the #1 most important thing that a St. Edward graduate should be… Compassionate Kindness and compassion were listed by our eighth graders more than twice as often as #2. Eighth grade, this impresses me, and I am sure that I am not the only one. That you chose this as the most important value to possess says a lot about you and our school. For me, this brings to mind one of my favorite Scripture verses, from the First Letter of St. Peter: “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Never is this more appropriate than in this Easter season. You all know that you do have limitations and shortcomings. But you have also shown that you know love can overcome them all, love for yourselves and love for others. The more you practice this love and compassion, the greater you will become. If you always keep in mind that you are called to love others, you cannot help but be trustworthy, friendly, respectful, and hardworking.

These are the things that you have said a St. Edward student should be. Now, we send you forth to live it. Congratulations and God bless!