It is an honor to stand before you today. It feels surreal to be here because just four years ago, we were freshmen walking into DSHA for the first time, feeling nervous, excited, and unsure, all at the same time.

 

At our freshman retreat, our retreat leaders told us to truly appreciate every moment because these next four years would go by faster than we could imagine. Sitting there as a freshman, I did not believe them. Four years felt like forever. But now, looking back, I can honestly say they were right. High school goes by in the blink of an eye.

 

So, to any underclasswomen here today, my advice is simple: Take time to make memories with your classmates and appreciate the little moments because your time at DSHA will go by faster than you think. One day, you will be where we are now, wishing you had one more Dash-A-Thon, one more homecoming, one more day wearing plaid, or even one more ordinary day sitting in class with your friends.

 

When people would ask me where I went to high school, I always proudly said DSHA, as this school has shaped my life in so many ways. I came here expecting to receive a great education, and I certainly received one, but I gained so much more than that. I gained lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and a community that constantly encouraged me to grow.

 

Over the past four years, we have done far more than attend classes and complete assignments. We balanced practices, games, jobs, clubs, volunteering, friendships, family responsibilities, and countless late nights trying to finish everything on our to-do lists. Through all of it, we have grown into the young women we are today.

 

At DSHA, we often hear the phrase, “educating the whole person.” When I first heard that phrase during my tour, I was not sure what it meant. Now, I understand it clearly. DSHA has helped us grow intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Because of that, we are leaving here not only prepared for college but also prepared to live meaningful and impactful lives.

 

We have become confident young women who walk into rooms with our heads held high, speak with purpose, and lead with intention.

 

None of that would be possible without the teachers at DSHA, who are some of the most dedicated and supportive people we have been lucky enough to learn from. They challenged us, encouraged us, and truly cared about us not only as students, but as people.

 

Whether it was [Theology Faculty Daniel Pavlovich's] class discussions about Bruce Springsteen, lunches spent in our teachers’ classrooms during our freshman year, gratitude prayers in [Theology Department Chair Lisa Metz's] class, or weekly debriefs with [Applied Wellness Program Director Joanna McQuide, DSHA '93,] during Wellness, our teachers helped make DSHA feel like home.

 

The all-girls environment at DSHA is something very special, and it is true that all girls make all the difference. Here, we never had to go through anything alone. Whether it was teammates cheering each other on at games and meets, classmates supporting one another at concerts and performances, or someone sitting with you at lunch on a hard day, we were always surrounded by people who cared.

 

DSHA taught us what it means to support one another:: to celebrate each other’s accomplishments instead of competing against one another. This sisterhood did not develop overnight. It was built through laughter in the hallways, shared stress before exams, meaningful conversations on retreats, and every moment in between.

 

We are also fortunate to have many traditions that connect us not only to each other, but to generations of Dashers before us. Whether it was Dash-A-Thon, Thankful Thursday Masses, making PB&J sandwiches during lunch, singing “We are One Body” at Mass, Gr8Lengths, or service experiences like Vocare. These traditions created so many memories and strengthened our community in ways that are difficult to fully describe to someone outside of DSHA.

 

One of the most meaningful lessons DSHA has taught us is the importance of service. At first, service can feel like another responsibility added to an already busy schedule. But over time, many of us realized it was never simply about completing hours. Service taught us to look beyond ourselves, recognize the needs of others, and understand that even small actions can make a meaningful impact.

 

The lessons from service connect directly to leadership. At DSHA, leadership is not about titles. It is about showing up with a positive attitude, taking initiative, supporting others, and using your voice to make a difference. Through sports, retreats, clubs, and countless other opportunities, DSHA gave us the chance to grow into leaders in our own unique ways.

 

Of course, along with all the incredible memories came challenges. There were moments when we questioned ourselves, weeks when our schedules felt overwhelming, and times when balancing everything seemed impossible. But those moments taught us resilience and tenacity. They taught us how to adapt, persevere, and keep moving forward even when things felt difficult. And while I am still not entirely sure how having no running water during senior retreat will help us in the future, I do know it proved that we can handle challenges together and come out stronger because of them.

 

I would like to take this time to thank everyone who has helped us reach this moment. Thank you, [Principal Dan] Quesnell, [President Katie Brown Konieczny, DSHA '92,] all of our teachers, coaches, staff, and the Sisters of the Divine Savior for creating a school community that believed in us from the very beginning and encouraged us to become the best versions of ourselves.

 

To our families, thank you for your constant support, patience, and encouragement. You celebrated our accomplishments, helped us through challenges, and stood beside us every step of the way. None of us would be here without you. 

 

And to my classmates: thank you. Thank you for the memories, the friendships, the laughter, and for making DSHA such a meaningful place to call home these past four years.

 

As we look ahead to what comes next, there is excitement, but also uncertainty. Some of us know exactly what we want to do, while others are still figuring it out. Most of us are probably somewhere in between. But no matter where life takes us, I am confident DSHA has prepared us well.

 

Looking back, I think the moments we will miss most are often the everyday ones we did not realize mattered at the time: the conversations in the hallways, the routines that once felt ordinary, and the people who made this place feel like home. The greatest lessons we are taking with us are not just academic. We are leaving with the faith that surrounds us, confidence that strengthens us, and a sisterhood that reminds us we never have to face anything alone.

 

I do not think we fully understood it while we were here, but DSHA shaped us in more ways than we can put into words. And while we may no longer be students here, we will always carry the friendships, memories, and confidence this school gave us.

 

So, as we gather here today as graduates of the class of 2026, I hope all of you take a moment to realize how far we have come since freshman year, how much we have grown, and everything we have accomplished, not just academically, but personally as well.

 

We have become the kind of women everyone here at DSHA believed we could be. Congratulations, class of 2026!