Commencement speech (excerpts) by Cadesh Odou
This year came with a lot of “lasts”, “last first day of high school”, “last day of classes”, “last school dance”, or “last time I’ll ever have to take an AP exam.” And although it does seem sad, sort of, it’s important to realize, with lasts, come firsts. After this ceremony, it will be the first time we are called Saint Mark’s alum, the first time we move our tassels from right to left, the first time we are high school graduates.
All of these lasts and soon-to-be firsts made me reminisce on our first day of freshman year. I remember when I first walked these halls and was greeted by the upperclassmen, faculty, and staff. As my fellow graduates may know, freshman year, our class was dubbed Saint Mark’s largest class in a long time. It was everywhere we went and was made a pretty huge deal. Our teachers would often tell us we were an outstanding class. Honestly, we just assumed the teachers would say that to everyone, but it made me realize how strong we indeed are. I mean, how many classes at Saint Mark’s have won the Homecoming Spirit Stick two years in a row? We should have won sophomore year, too, but you didn’t hear it from me.
But really, what makes a class strong as the one standing before me today? Was it our amazing school spirit, our friendships made, or our ability to come together as a community? The answer for me, at least, would be all of the above. Our class has been shaped by Saint Mark’s four core values: faith, excellence, humility, and integrity. But more than that, we’ve lived them. We’ve let these values guide us, mold us, and empower us to become the young men and women standing today, ready to graduate, ready to chase success on our own terms.
During these past four years, we have built a community together, one we will cherish for a long time. Whether you have been a part of our Spartan family since our freshman year or joined senior year, today marks an occasion where we are all united as one class, one community, one family. The indescribable bonds created here at our time at Saint Mark’s aren’t just meaningful, they’re the kind that stay with you even after we walk across this stage and receive our diplomas. We should all treasure the once-in-a-lifetime friendships made here, because they don’t come by easily.
And if, like me, you are attending a college or progressing through life without any of our fellow graduates and close friends, it is OK to feel scared or uneasy, but know that you aren’t going through any of it alone, We’re all facing new firsts, taking bold steps, and growing into the people we are meant to become. To quote one of my favorite and most rewatched movies, “we’re all in this together.”
As a final note, I want to say this: these lasts and these firsts all come with changes, and we are all facing big changes in our lives and yes, change is terrifying to say the least, but change is proof that you are brave enough to chase growth and bold enough to succeed. Thank you and congratulations to the Class of 2025.
