LATROBE, PA – Kimberly (Kim) M. Colonna, Esq., C’94, a distinguished education lawyer and vice chair of Saint Vincent College’s Board of Directors, delivered the commencement address at Saint Vincent College’s 179th Spring Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 10.
Archabbot Martin - President Taylor – Faculty – Families and Other Distinguished Guests, and Saint Vincent Class of 2025
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your celebration today. I am deeply honored.
Thirty-one years ago, I sat among my classmates in this same space, eagerly waiting to cross this stage, and hoping the commencement speaker wouldn’t talk too long. He didn’t, and I don’t intend to.
As I stand here, I marvel at how different the world is today, than it was 31 years ago, and how some things haven’t changed at all. I’ll share one trivial example. I brought with me, this little gold “Ask for Package” card that I have kept, with other college mementos, since I was a student at St. Vincent. I understand that the campus post office still uses something like this, so that hasn’t changed.
And I understand that when one of you got an “ask for package” card in your mailbox, it meant that the item you ordered, on your smartphone, from Amazon, had arrived.
When Donna put this card in my campus mailbox some 31 years ago, it meant that my mom had mailed a box of cookies to me.
Because when I graduated in 1994, Jeff Bezos had not yet begun to operate Amazon out of his garage, and almost no one had a mobile phone, let alone one that could order things from the internet. We did not have email!
It’s no exaggeration to say that you grew up in a world that I could not have imagined when I sat out there, 31 years ago. So, I had to ask myself, what do I say to you today, knowing that I have little idea of what amazing things will happen over the next 20, 30, or 50 years.
But, there is value in words that were spoken hundreds of years ago. St. Catherine of Siena lived in the 1300s, and her words are often quoted as relevant today. So, in the end, I decided to share one simple message with the graduating class, which I hope is timeless.
And that message, is “Raise Your Hands.”
I’m sure you heard those words a lot in your years as a student. You had to raise your hand to be called on in class. In grade school, you were told, “Don’t call out; Raise your Hand.”
But, that’s not what I mean, when I say today, “Raise Your Hands.”
When I invite you to raise your hands, I’m first asking you to commit your energy and talent to the community around you through civic engagement and a willingness to participate in a dialogue about difficult issues.
The world is ever more complex; many challenges require multifaceted solutions. There are situations where justice and fairness have not been the governing principles, and changes are necessary.
And, there are times when people who are earnestly trying to do the right thing disagree about what the right thing is, and difficult decisions have to be made.
When a community needs complex solutions, needs a remedy to a problem, or has to make difficult decisions, the best minds need to come together.
But, today, there is a trend toward polarization, distrust, and isolation that, too much of the time, gets in the way of people working together to find the best answers.
No matter where you go next or what you do next, you are going to see one of these really difficult issues arise. And when that happens, you will have choices: you could do nothing; you could raise your voice and shout down opposing views; or you could Raise Your Hand and offer to dialogue with others to find solutions.
I encourage you to Raise Your Hands. In fact, I ask you to make the choice to engage in the work of finding solutions, even when the problems are daunting; even when you are younger and less experienced than others; and even when the people around you who are making the other two choices (doing nothing or shouting down other viewpoints).
I urge you to Raise Your Hands, because your community will need you to connect with people you don’t agree with, to solve problems.
In the law, you can’t be an effective advocate, unless you understand the arguments of the other side. Sometimes, hearing and understanding each other’s positions allows us to resolve a dispute. When it doesn’t, eventually, a judge or jury is going to hear the other side, so I had better really listen to what my opponent is saying, and understand them, even though I don’t agree with them.
I am convinced that no one completing a college degree this Spring is better equipped than you, Bearcats, to discuss difficult issues respectfully and to build bridges across the divides that separate us.
Why? First, because you have the benefit of a liberal arts education (increasingly rare among college graduates) which allows you to consider an issue from perspectives of math, science, history, ethics arts, politics, and religion - not just from the viewpoint of your major field of study.
Second, because your St. Vincent education is founded in Benedictine tradition. That tradition includes the hallmarks of stability, stewardship, community, and obedience, which the Rule of St. Benedict tells us includes training yourself to listen to others and respect other viewpoints. There is no better foundation for doing the work that the world desperately needs.
It is true that you will contribute a lot to the world, class of 2025 -- and it’s also true that you aren’t going to solve society’s ails tomorrow. But, you can make the decision today not to turn away from challenging and controversial issues when you see them in your community. And then, you can engage with them, and you can keep doing that, one day after another; one year after another. And in that way, over time, you will do real and lasting good in this world. But, it starts with just being willing to Raise Your Hands.
St. Catherine of Siena said it his way, “Start being brave about everything.”
When I invite you to raise your hands, I’m also asking you to reach out and help people who need it, even people you don’t know. There’s a natural tendency to take care of our own – our own families, friends, and classmates. That’s important and right.
But, some people out there don’t have anyone looking out for them. Look out for those people; raise your hands to offer them assistance, just because you can.
Lawyers have a tradition of doing “pro bono” work, in addition to doing the work that we get paid to do. The full phrase is actually “pro bono publico” – Latin meaning “for the public good.” You can do your own “pro bono” service, by doing something meaningful for the public good.
When you walk out of the Carey Center today, you will have advantages others do not have - a degree and earning potential or a path to graduate school, certainly; but also connections to your classmates and other alumni, the inspiration of your faculty and campus leaders as role models, a track record of academic success and personal growth, and a realistic opportunity to fulfill your aspirations.
Yes, you will also have hardships and setbacks – but you will be better equipped to handle them. And the mere fact that you have those advantages is reason enough to help someone who does not.
So, volunteer for a nonprofit, drop off food at the foodbank, give blood, sign up for a charity 5K walk, or write a check to a cause that’s meaningful to you. There will be lots of opportunities, class of 2025, for you to raise your hands to help someone else, and I urge you to do that.
To quote St. Catherine of Siena again, “We ought to serve and love every rational creature.”
Finally, I encourage you to Raise Your Hands to celebrate victories, big and small. Athletes raise their arms when they win. You should do it too - when you win, and when those you care about win, and when those you have helped win.
In fact, if you can get away with it, I suggest that you not only raise your arms in victory but also blast the chorus from Queen’s “We are the Champions” from your phone. If you think I haven’t actually done that in the straight-laced environment of my law firm’s offices, you’d be wrong.
The reality is that you will have a lot of days where you don’t feel victorious. You will experience failure and loss, your plans won’t always turn out as you hoped; you and people you love will face hard times. So, when there is a win, big or small, to celebrate, take the opportunity to raise your hands in victory.
Two summers ago, I participated in a sprint triathlon, and I finished 5th in my age group. So, I decided to participate the next year and try to be in the top three; if I moved up just 2 places, I could stand on the winners’ podium.
So, for the next year, I trained consistently - 5:30 AM trips to the pool to swim laps, early morning bike rides, evening runs on the treadmill, long rides and runs on the weekends. I trained in the heat, so I’d be ready for that; I used protein powder for the first time in my life!
My best friend came to the race; so did my brother; two of my friends from Chicago even came to the east coast to watch me compete; and other family watched my progress online. And, that day, after a year of training, I crossed the finish line TENTH in my age group.
It wasn’t the glorious moment of victory I had in mind, but I finished the race and improved my total race time, and my family and friends celebrated that “win” with me.
Celebrating success is proven to boost motivation and reinforce a positive mindset. I think it can start a positive feedback loop that leads to more successes and more celebrations.
The message to Raise your Hands, is a reminder to look for wins and celebrate them.
So, as you go forward, remember to
I’ll share one more line paraphrased from St. Catherine, which says “Be who you are meant to be, and you will set your world on fire.”
Thank you, again, for letting me be with you today.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. Now go raise your hands and set your world on fire.
