Dear Parents of Saint Joseph Students,
Today’s newsletter is a message to our eighth grade soon to be graduates. But, I do hope that many of you will read it and take it to heart. We, as adults, can always learn and be reminded of the things that are important.
Dear Eighth Grade,
I want to talk to you about the long road ahead...and my hope and wishes for you.
I am positive that many of you will live out your wildest dreams.. You will solve world problems, maybe cure illnesses, become professional athletes, become famous actors or actresses or even become wealthy. But, there is one thing I hope and wish you will all continue and remain to be- and that is... teachers.
When you started your academic lives in a Catholic school you did not realize this, but you accepted a calling. A calling to give to our world more than you receive. A calling to be a lifelong teacher to others. You teach people to respect each other, to never forget to give back to your world, and to always love. I see this in each and every one you, everyday.
Within your class throughout your time in middle school, your class has served over 2750 hours of community service through only your service hours for school. I wish I could calculate all of the other times you have given of yourselves. It could be by altar serving on the weekends, helping with community clean ups, being an active family member and taking care of your grandparents or your little brothers and sisters. In all that time, you were teaching. You were teaching others that your generation of students cares. You will help the world and make it a better place for your own children and grandchildren. The Catholic principles are within each of you. It is your gift to teach the world - to live the Gospel values.
I have one more wish for all of you...this may not be too difficult for some of you. Remember to have fun in what you do. Appreciate this gift of life. As we get older we get more clouded by hard responsibilities- high school, college, jobs, family, budgeting….. So, take time to remember what is important. Your interaction with people, not your phones or computers, but true interaction will be what counts. You will always remember the day you had fun with your friends or family at the park or during a game. You will probably not remember the time you got a text. So, summed up, here is my wish: live each day to its fullest, “carpe diem,” smile at each other, work hard, love hard.
God’s Blessing on Each of Us,
Dr. Marquita Yriarte
