For every Cistercian student, graduation always feels so far away, but it isn’t for my fellow Form members anymore. In the Junior Ring Speech, I talked about how our Form was the embodiment of a TV show. It feels surreal that we have finally reached our series finale. We made it through one last year, and one last round of exams. Tonight, everything will be over for the Class of 2018. While the rest of the school is easing back into the summer, we will be racing to prepare to leave home. All of us, no matter where we go, will move on with a strength of character that comes with being a Cistercian student.

By Senior year, you become a member of an unbelievably well-oiled machine, grinding through review sheets and essays together week in and week out. Impromptu review sessions during breaks become easy and successful. The community we have established is truly unique. It’s rare to find a group of people so happy to spend time together. Much of our Form, for example, saw Star Wars and Infinity War together (as I’m sure many of the other Forms did too). For most of the people you will meet during the college years, this isn’t even within the realm of reality.

It is also exciting to see where everyone in the class is going. Some students are staying close by in Dallas or going deeper into the heart of Texas. Many others are going across the country (and one even is even going to China!). It’s all thanks to Mr. Blackwell, the most phenomenal college counselor we could ask for, and Fr. Augustine. They talked with us and advised us until we found the perfect school to go to. Once again, the caring, close-knit spirit of Cistercian shone through them.

Thank you as well to all of the teachers who acted as our producers and directors during our time at Cistercian. Thank you to all the younger students for guest starring in our show over the last few years, from sharing the bench on the football field to the buzzers during a quiz bowl match. Make the best of your remaining time at Cistercian. Even if the math classes or pages in an English book seem endless,  you will miss the strength of your cast of classmates.  This is the final opportunity for me to say it, so, on behalf of the Class of 2018, I’d like to thank everyone at Cistercian for everything you have done to get our cast to where we are now.