LYNN — St. Mary’s High School celebrated the graduation of 113 students at its commencement ceremony on Thursday.
Head of School Dr. John Dolan said he was amazed by the courage and academic leadership shown by the Class of 2024.
“For the first time in the history of St. Mary’s, this is the group who had a higher SAT average than the state’s regional SAT average,” Dr. Dolan said.
He added that the graduating class also achieved AP Silver status, meaning it had the second-highest pass rate for AP exams in the county.
“This is the most academically muscular class we have ever had,” Dr. Dolan said.
Dr. Dolan noted that members of the Class of 2024 did not have a chance to celebrate their eighth-grade graduation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year was especially important to them.
He said the students and their families showed courage in coming to Saint Mary’s in the midst of the pandemic because the school was the only Catholic school on the North Shore to welcome the Class of 2024 fully in person.
Dr. Dolan admitted that he was initially concerned about the day’s forecast, but he said the clear and nearly 80-degree weather proved that “the Holy Mother sent us a message.”
Valedictorian Nicole Hamel’s speech detailed her love of God and how her relationship with God was strengthened through the teachings of the campus ministry.
“It is through my relationship with God that I’ve learned how necessary self-love is. I know we all have such different experiences, and that’s what’s so beautiful about this life. But when you get down on yourself, find anything, something, anything that makes you love you again,” Hamel said. “Our lives are about to change forever, and I’m sure all of us are going through the same nervous feelings about making new friends or living up to expectations. Fall so deeply in love with who you are and who you want to be that you have no choice but to be proud of every accomplishment you make, no matter how small.”
Hamel will be attending Sacred Heart University in the fall.
Salutatorian Colby Kelly, who will be attending Stonehill College in the fall, spoke about growing up in the midst of the pandemic, and the perils and advancements of ChatGPT.
His speech garnered many laughs from audience members, and he closed by giving the graduates advice.
“As long as you continue to put in the work and never quit, you will accomplish what you set your mind to,” Kelly said. “I mean, if we can survive following Mr. Ridley’s rules and dress code, we can do pretty much anything, right?”
Heidi Guarino gave the parent-tribute speech as her son, Jacob Guarino, was graduating this year.
She also shared advice with the graduating students, telling them that life is fluid.
“Just because you haven’t found your passion yet, doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. You’re not in a game show. No one’s holding a stopwatch. This is your life and you need to live it on your timeline,” Heidi Guarino said. “You have the rest of your lives to figure out who you should be, where you should live, who you should love, and what you should do.”
Approximately 50 students, including Hamel, Kelly, and Jacob Guarino, graduated as members of the National Honor Society.
