The act of saying goodbye. Truth be told, it is probably something to which most of us, most often, give little thought. The word, and more importantly the actions connected to the word, are a primary focus for me these days. Since I can think of little else, it naturally fit as the topic for this, my final Wit's End.

 

The act of saying goodbye. We utter the word to our kids, our parents, or others present as we exit the house in the morning. We say it when we part ways from those we've joined for dinner, or an event, a party or occasion at another's home, or to co-workers seen at the end of a day. We say it to our son or daughter as we drop them off at the dorm of a university on move in day. For loved ones who live a distance away, we say it when we have had the chance to visit them. We say the word so many times a day and pay no attention to the meaning it carries. Goodbye is a leave taking, a parting. Why unimportant? The simple answer is that we never voice the unstated assumption, that is, that such a word said in the majority of instances will be followed with a hello after a measure of time.  

 

We know this to be true and we also are fully aware that life's circumstances prevent this from being true all the time. Case in point, we say goodbye thousands upon thousands of times and we learn over time that we will never get the chance to again say hello. Think of the many people you have met in your lifetime, even people you spent considerable time with and you parted ways, never to see each other again. You said the word goodbye, and that was that. Friends you met in grade school, pals, chums, best friends then. High school connections. College buddies. Maybe you still have the contacts and maybe some are closer than ever, but you had a moment with hundreds of individuals in the distant past, when you uttered your final goodbye.

 

So back to my initial thought. The act of saying goodbye. Some moments are far more significant than others. The ones that quickly rise are moments of farewell that were final goodbyes but I had no advance knowledge that they would be. Death, unexpected loss or tragedy quickly make whatever I had as the moment of goodbye emotionally impactful. Over time, especially when the memory was of a loved one, I have learned to cherish the last goodbye.

 

So this final column is an act of goodbye on a larger scale for me than many. I say goodbye to hundreds upon hundreds of members of the Mercy family. I say goodbye to my place of employment, to colleagues and friends with whom I have worked over some five decades. I say goodbye to current students and their parents, acts of goodbye that began a few weeks ago and are now trailing off. But since I know full well that with my retirement, I have this last opportunity to say something more than just goodbye, I am not going to squander the chance.

 

This place, this particular school called Mercy, is quite extraordinary. I have learned this over time and and I have learned this through many circumstances. This school changes lives. It provides different things to different young women, yet all of those things are purposeful and all of them necessary. This place challenges each girl to tap her inner strength, to withstand hardships beyond what she sees as her capabilities. It requires each girl to take a stand, to accept leadership at times when others are satisfied with complacent following. This place forces each girl to wrestle with personal mistakes, difficulties that hopefully propel her to learn what it is that she must learn. This place is, and hopefully will remain, an institution that is counter-cultural. Here, young women are asked to be more, to think more, to want more for themselves and their fellow man, than society would suggest possible. They are asked to work on behalf of social justice, and to care about one another, to do what is right, not just what is expedient. Here, they grow a conscience, and a backbone, and hopefully a spirit and determination that will make them unstoppable.

 

This place plays a major role in the formation of these young women, the ones who have walked these halls in past years, those who walk here now, and for all those who have not yet crossed the threshold. Because the education at Mercy is so transformational, it is my deep desire that this education continue. My dear husband, who has supported my work at Mercy from the very beginning, feels as strongly as I do. To that end, we have initiated a scholarship fund, the Carolyn and Robert Witte Scholarship. We want to grow this fund so that young girls who just need a small portion of financial support in order to come to Mercy can get that assistance. We hope that over time, this fund can impact girls' education here in a very tangible way.

My act of saying goodbye is therefore also one of invitation. It is an invitation to invest in the future of Mercy by making a donation of any amount to this scholarship. So many of you have shared your kind remarks with me about my time here and your gratitude. If you are so inclined, a donation to the scholarship would be most meaningful.

 

I do hope that our paths cross again. I hope that if and when we meet, you will say Hello and reignite whatever our connection was here at Mercy. I hope every Mercy girl in your life continues to make you proud and that each of you reaps blessings and rewards.

And I close by referencing the first known use of the term goodbye, and its etymology, which dates back to the mid 16th century. The word goodbye was an alteration of the message "God be with ye." Enough said!

Leadership. Service. Character. Excellence. The entire Mercy school community convened for the annual HONORS CONVOCATION to recognize all the stellar students of 2017. Visit these links to see the full list of student awards: grades 9 - 11 and grade 12. 

Click here to view/download honor roll students for second semester spring 2017.