My Valedictorian Speech

As many of you know, I was a candidate for valedictorian, but sadly I was not chosen. I was disappointed, but I was so proud of my final speech. Thank you so much Kathleen and AJ for all of your help with the revisions. For those of you who didn’t get to hear or read my speech, I was hoping that the first time you would hear it would be at graduation. However, since that wasn’t meant to be, I figured I would post it on here.


“We keep on waiting, waiting on the world to change.” With these words, John Mayer expressed the feelings of our generation. The graduating Class of 2008 does not need to wait for the world to change, because we can change the world. By living lives characterized by integrity, we can make an impact on each and every person we meet. What is integrity and how does one become a person of integrity? According to Webster’s dictionary integrity is defined as, “firm adherence to a code of especially moral values.” A person of integrity is consistently honest and compassionate, in all the little things he or she does throughout life. I hope that each of you has someone in your life that has helped you develop your own moral compass. I would like to share the individuals who have shaped my life, and the impact they have had on me.

I learned about honesty from my dad. He has consistently told me to “always do the right thing, even when no one is looking.” That is truly how he lives his life. He is the type of person that if he is given back the wrong change, he will go back to the store to make sure he paid the right amount. Even if the cashier only gives him back an extra nickel and he is already home, he will drive back to the store to return it. One time while at a tollbooth in Pennsylvania, the attendant charged my dad forty cents less than required. My dad had already passed the booth, so he could not give the money back. When he came home from work, he wrote a letter and mailed in the forty cents. Even though the amount was so small, (less than the cost of the stamp he mailed the letter with), he felt this was the right thing to do. My dad actually received a letter from the Pennsylvania Highway Department thanking him, saying there should be more honest people like him. The best thing about my dad is that he does not do these small things to be noticed or to brag. He would simply say that he is just doing the right thing.

I learned about compassion from my mom. She was truly the most giving and loving person I have ever known. She would do anything for anybody, and I have so many memories of how my mom took care of others. She was not the type of person to sit back and wait for something to be done. She saw the needs of others and knew she had to help. In a world that is motivated by money, my mom saw the value of a person’s time and actions. For example, when she was working as a secretary in a lower-income school district, she met a student who became pregnant. My mom asked friends and neighbors to give her any baby items that they no longer needed. She then gave these items to the student, so she would be able to set up a full nursery for her new baby. Most people would not have handled this situation with the compassion that my mom displayed. I hope to emulate her character in my life.

We all learned a lot about honesty from St. Joseph’s College as well. For each class taken over the past few years, we received a syllabus with the college policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Every faculty member made it clear to us that cheating and plagiarizing were not options. Those same faculty members showed us that we could succeed without choosing a dishonorable path. They gave us the skills and tools necessary to strive academically and we knew that if we put in the time and effort, we could do well in our courses.

I have also seen how compassionate the students of St. Joseph’s College Class of 2008 can be. Each club on this campus used their time and talents to help others. I have seen extensive fundraising efforts for various charities. We learned about different cultures through an assortment of events held on campus and we all worked together in a mutual environment of respect. One of my greatest memories of St. Joseph’s College is “Make a Difference Day.” Seeing our college community come together to host a free carnival for underprivileged children was truly amazing, and I am sure anyone who has participated in this event would agree. As we enter into the world of adulthood, I challenge you to continue to live a life filled with compassion for others. Continue to use your skills and talents to help others, and little by little we can change the world.

My mom unfortunately passed away from cancer the summer after my freshmen year at St. Joseph’s. I needed to do something to help end the horrible disease that has touched so many of our lives. My mom taught me how to crochet when I was younger, so I created the organization “Crochet for a Cure” in her honor. I sell homemade crocheted goods, from which a large portion of the profits are donated to the American Cancer Society, for cancer research. I held my first event last year, and it was a remarkable success. It was not anything monumental that I did, but again, the little things make a difference. Plans for this year’s event are already underway, and I am certain that it will be even more of a success. In the future, find something you are passionate about, join an existing organization or start your own, and spread a spirit of compassion around the world.

As we enter the world, I challenge you to continue to live an honest life. If you majored in biology or psychology, remember to be truthful with the future patients with whom you will work. If you are entering the world of business or accounting, do not be lured by dreams of wealth, but instead remember to always use fair business practices. Child Study and Secondary Education majors, inspire your students to succeed, and teach them how to be honest both in their assignments and their lives, through your example.

If you adhere to your ethical principles, I guarantee you will not only find success in your own life, but be amazed at how much you can have an impact in the lives of others. Take steps in your every day life to live honestly and compassionately. That is what integrity is truly all about. Remember Class of 2008, the little things change the world.