By Kristin Vivian, P’14 ’17
AHN Director of Institutional Advancement
We are proud to welcome you as our newest alumnae into the vast community of women who have graduated from this amazing institution.
We are living in a special time. Witnesses to the first modern soon-to-be Saint of the 21st century. The young man—Carlo Acutis. A peer of our newest alumnae and role model for us all. For those who may not have heard of Carlo, I encourage you to research and learn about his short but impactful life and the miracles already attributed to him. I recently saw a movie about Carlo and was struck by this quote, “We are all born originals, but many will die photocopies.” This quote struck me as appropriate for today as it aligns with the Christian belief that we are all born with unique, God-given gifts and talents while also highlighting the detrimental impact of our digital world. While here at AHN, you were given opportunities to develop your talents and discover the beautifully unique and special creation God made you to be. But isn’t it true that so many of us forget this. Influenced by our phones, we look down on ourselves and others and become a photocopy of a false image we think is who we may want to or should be, forgetting our authentic selves and failing to accept or embrace the other authentic selves around us. One of the gifts that Carlo Acutis embraced was the gift to love everyone and see God’s goodness in them—to see their unique selves—appreciating that each one had something to contribute to making this world a better place.
You are all a part of a unique and special family. Your Holy Names community and the sisterhood of alumnae is rich with individual women who share a common education, traditions and memories, but each has given a part of herself to our history that is unique and special. Your legacy is your own. What have you left behind? And what will you go on to do and who will you go on to become?
Soon, you will leave the safety of Holy Names for new experiences. I encourage you to reflect on your time at Holy Names. Remember the gift of your education, be appreciative of your classmates and the experiences you’ve shared, let all of these make you a better person and friend. The Holy Names values of hospitality, self-respect, respect for others, service to the disadvantaged and the poor are all values to embrace. Lean on your alumnae community, who are here to continue to help shape and guide you as mentors, friends and advocates. Most importantly, love your unique self. Don’t try to be a photocopy of anyone else. God has great plans for you and is with you every step of the way.
As each of you navigates your life’s journey, we hope the road always leads back to Holy Names. A philanthropic spirit is what sustains this school and makes it possible to continue to education bright and talented women, like each of you here today. We hope AHN will always remain close to your hearts.Thank you and best wishes!