Good afternoon, graduates, parents, family members, students and friends.  My sincere gratitude to Mr. Barry Hynes, an angel among us, for following his dream to establish a young man’s prep school here in New Bedford, and my congratulations to the principal, Patrick Moore, and his fine, dedicated faculty, all the volunteers, staff, and the Board of Trustees for another stellar academic and extracurricular year.  As an aside, thank you for the Abe Lincoln—he hangs in my office.

Today marks an important day in each of our lives.  First, for those students who are matriculating to another grade, you will always remember this past school year, what you’ve learned, the friends you’ve made and the various significant events in your life which have occurred over the course of this term.  For the eleven graduates, this is an important milestone; you have completed your elementary education and are now poised to enter high school, which will further shape your intellect, your aptitude, and your outlook on your place in our ever-evolving community and your universe.

For those who love you, this is a day of immense pride and reflection on how quickly you have grown.  It was just yesterday that you were taking your first steps, saying your first words, all under their guidance.

To all the students, look around this hall, your homes, and your family circle.  The people who are here are people who are committed to your success.  Further, every person affiliated with Nativity Prep has a sincere love for young people and realizes that shaping generations to come in a positive manner will ensure a bright future for all.

I ask that each student here, whether graduating or not, show your gratitude to your family and friends, each and every day.  Be kind, considerate and helpful.  This is the way you compensate those who love and support you in all of your activities. 

Again to the graduates, you would not think of taking a journey without using a map to chart your course.  High school is your next journey.  You must have a carefully thought-out plan for continued success.  You have developed the tools to formulate a plan which will allow for high academic achievement, positive social interaction, and plenty of leisurely activities.  You must sit down with the responsible adults in your life and talk over every significant choice you make while on your journey through high school.  Collectively, the adults in this hall possess tremendous life experience and can help guide you in your journey.

This communication will lay the foundation for your next journey which will be that of higher education, in the form of college, trade school, professional school, perhaps graduate school, or possible service to your country.  After all, a well-rounded comprehensive educational foundation, regardless of your aptitude or interest, will lead to a successful career, a fulfilling life, and allow you to be an important contributor to our community and society.

You life in a very challenging but exciting time in the history of mankind.  Society has yet found a way to life in a peaceful world.  However, your generation and those to come, due to rapidly evolving technology and the fragility of our environment, will be forced to confront and resolve the issue of people living in harmony.

For those who lament the prognosis for the future, I offer the following observation.  We are on the cusp of dramatic progress in the areas of medical research, environmental protection and sustainability, the development of non-carbon-based fuel sources, the continued rapid evolution of telecommunications and many other astounding technological breakthroughs.

For those who believe that our problems are beyond solution, I call on your generation to prove them wrong. 

In the past 159 years, we went from speaking through a non-mechanical megaphone, which would allow only those within earshot to hear the message being conveyed—to speaking instantaneously through the internet, to anyone in the world.  In the past 30 years, our technology has evolved from wire-based to wireless.

The breakthroughs in medicine in my lifetime have meant the difference between life and death—from infants to our most senior citizens.

It wasn’t very long ago that the only computer Americans were familiar with was the UNIVAC.  We then went to pocket calculators, then elemental work computers, personal computers, then laptops, and now small computer devices in every conceivable configuration.  Much computer technology is devoted to entertainment, but this same computer technology will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in all of the areas I have previously mentioned.

The breakthroughs will come from you, whether they are small acts of kindness and respect to each other, which will make a better world, or whether they are the grand inventions which are scientifically significant to a much larger segment of the population.

You have the ability to determine not only your future, but the future of your surroundings.  Don’t take this responsibility lightly.  The people in this hall, who are your family, remember very clearly your growing up day-by-day into the young man that you are.  They have taken their responsibility very seriously to bring about a better future by having you attend Nativity Prep.  Now it is your turn to take responsibility for your future.

In closing, my personal advice—always let your conscience be your guide; it may sound trite, but Jiminy Cricket was right on point.  Be the best person you are, every day; never settle for anything less than your best, and always be aware of your surroundings and how your actions impact on others.  God bless each and every one of you.