Dear President-elect Cervelli,
Welcome to Saint Mary’s College! We’re sure President Mooney has told you how special it is here, but I, on behalf of the entire Saint Mary’s student body, want you to know just how special.
When I was eighteen, I rolled down The Avenue for the first time ever. I looked up at the gorgeous trees inviting me to campus, I gazed at the open green in front of LeMans Hall, and I wondered what this place had in store for me. I wondered what would happen here, and who I would become, who I could become. I stepped out of the rental car loaded down with all the things necessary to get me through that first year. I looked up at the bell tower before opening those gorgeous, heavy front doors. I took a left and walked down the beautiful, pine-scented hallway up to the front desk, where I was greeted with a smile, where I signed in, where I received instructions on obtaining my student ID card, and where I was handed my keys to McCandless Hall. My first home away from home. I rented a cart and started making trips up the elevator. I made my bed, I toured the building, I opened all the windows to let in some air. I knew five people, and three of them were my family dropping me off.
I spent the next few days becoming a Belle, and by the last night, when our parents had left and we had opened the circle, I had become friends with the girls who are my sisters, now three years later. I walked down the road chanting with them, and the rest of the Class of 2016, towards Notre Dame for Domerfest. We were all wearing matching t-shirts, and were too excited to see some boys. As silly as it was, linking arms and taking selfies, I realized in that moment, I wasn’t alone anymore. I was with my friends. I was happy.
When my room was all set up, deposits were paid for, and forms turned in, it was time for my parents to head to the airport, to get on an airplane, to fly away and leave me here. My dad said this was the place for me, my mom already knew that when I was accepted. I walked them downstairs. I said goodbye… and they told me I was going to take the world by storm, I was going to bloom here, and that they loved me. It was the first time I ever saw my dad cry, it was the first time I felt real panic as my mom closed the passenger door, and it was the first time I saw my little sister look out the back window as they drove away without me. But it was all okay, because I was home.
I know that’s what you’ll find here, President-elect Cervelli…a very special, new home.
It’s difficult to put into words the feeling you get here, and the moment you start to appreciate it. For me, it was September of my sophomore year. It was a tough year to begin with, and it seemed as though nothing was working out the way I wanted it to. But one day, I came back from a run around the lakes. I always end my runs at the exact same spot. Sitting cross-legged in the grass staring at those majestic LeMans doors. I was annoyed with my time on my run, it was two minutes slower than I had set for my goal. I was annoyed with the new leggings my mom had mailed me, because the zipper was a different color than what I originally had wanted. I was annoyed because I realized I wasn’t going to have enough time to eat in the dining hall, shower, finish all the homework I needed to, do my hair just how I wanted, and pick an outfit out before hanging out with my friends. Then I looked up to sigh at the sky, just as a seagull flew over my Princess castle. A seagull! I wondered about this bird for a second. Where did it come from…we’re in Indiana, right? Why was there a seagull in South Bend? The bird landed in the grass a few feet away from me. She (let’s say, because #AllGirlsSchool) looked at me, it seemed, and then turned and stared at LeMans, too just as I was doing. Before flying away, I felt as though this bird looked back at me, as much to say, “Look at all you have.”
I realized I had the choice in this exact moment, to slow down. I realized that the only moment I had for certain was that very one I was present in. In that moment, I vowed to myself to never be so wrapped up in the nonessential stuff that I would ever forget to really enjoy myself…because this moment was about to be over. I was about to go inside and start my evening. Instead of worrying though, I planned to take my time. I was going to look around at the old photographs in the LeMans halls, rather than look down at my phone as I walked. I was going to have a little chat with the woman swiping me into the dining hall, who knows me all too well now. I was going to look up and smile at the girls who smile at me each time I walk around this campus.
I know I’ll look back and remember that day as the day I decided to make every moment in this place count, to relish each hour as if there would never be another. Every “aha!” moment I had here, every time I thought to myself, “There it is! That’s what I’m good at.” I found myself here, I found my gift here, and as Saint Mary’s taught me to, I gave it to others, I gave it my all, I gave it my best. Every time I see my ring glisten in the light, I smile. Every person I’ve met here in my four years has taught me something. Some of the most important people I didn’t meet until my senior year, but they showed me all the love of someone who has known me for years. All of this and more is what I found here.
Saint Mary’s loves you, Saint Mary’s wraps you up and holds you as you cry, and applauds you when you succeed. She offers you peace and solace in the chapel, she guides and supports you as things you thought were supposed to fit in your plan, change at the drop of a hat. She smiles as she watches you find your nitch, and rock at what you’re good at it. She helps you find that passion buried deep down, and there is no better feeling in the world than when she gets it out of you, and when you find yourself, and hone those skills, those talents, those gifts. I’m still the girl who loves her family, her faith, and her friends. I’m still daddy’s little girl, I still call my mom every single day, I still ~try~ to tell my little sister what to do. (Like “GO TO SAINT MARY’S!!!”) But I’m different. I’m still me, but me in a better version. I do more. I laugh more. I smile more. I run more. I help more. I pray more. I know more. I am more than who I was at eighteen years old.
I am more than the timid, shy girl who was dropped off at McCandless. The girl who was told, “this is the place. This is where you will discover yourself. These are the years you find out who you are.” I never understood what that meant, but now, four years later, I know that truer words have never been spoken.
Sister Madaleva painted them perfectly, “We promise you discovery. Discovery of yourself, the discovery of the universe, and your place in in it.” They told me this at orientation. They told me, “You are Saint Mary’s.”
Now I get it. They were right. I am Saint Mary’s. And we are happy you are, too, President-elect Cervelli.
On behalf of all the women at Saint Mary’s College, especially those of us who are about to graduate, thank you for choosing us. Thank you for wanting to be apart of, to be in charge of the greatest place on the planet. We see already how much you love Saint Mary’s College. Thank you for such a beautiful speech when you were announced and introduced to us. You get it. You see what Saint Mary’s does. You see how she educates the whole person, how she empowers women, how she rocks. Thank you for wanting to “toot the horn” and tell the world what Saint Mary’s women do with their amazing lives post-graduation. Thank you for asking us to “dare to be whatever we want to be.”
As a freshman not having a clue as to what I wanted, and having to switch my major four point five times before figuring it out, I get what it means to be daring. Without the way Saint Mary’s groomed me to be daring, what it really means to be confident … I wouldn’t have done half of the things I got to do. I wouldn’t have lived in New York City for the past two summers, now for the next couple of years. I wouldn’t have met some amazing alums who will help me move forward in the right direction for the rest of my professional career, for the rest of my life. I owe it all to the way this place, this sisterhood, and these women have molded me to be me.
With 2016 came cheers and confetti. But with 2016, also comes the greatest, proudest, and most bittersweet moment of my life; when I walk across that stage. When I get sent out to give the world a bit of what Saint Mary’s gave me. A purpose, a sisterhood, an amazing love, and a home.
Welcome home, President-elect Cervelli, I wish I could stay to experience all you will do for my home. Thank you for your drive to make Saint Mary’s even better than she already is.
Love,
A Senior Belle
Oh…and we LOVE your outfits! :)