The Class of 2023 has left high school with a full complement of the things any person would need for success. You have academic knowledge.  You have social graces.  You have ethical understandings.  Of course, you have a spiritual commitment. 

You might have had success in the classroom, on the field or on the stage.  You might have run for an election of some position or been a member of a club. You might have played Varsity or C-Team, it doesn’t matter because your success in these areas was self-defined.  You might have a clear path of what lies next before you for the fall, be it college, work force, or the military or maybe you are taking a gap year to figure stuff out. 

Whatever comes next, you are ready to explore it.

As you look forward with hope and your own expectations, I want to tell you about a brilliant man, whom you have never met.  His name is Richard Wehner, and he teaches religion, coaches wrestling and football in a Catholic school in St. Louis, Missouri.  He was my teacher in high school, and I have remained close to him ever since.

A few years ago, we had a conversation. At that time, I thought I had accomplished much in my life. I was a professional athlete, had traveled the world, was happily married, had three wonderful children, finished my doctorate, held a respectable job, and knew where all the best pizza places were in most cities to which I traveled.

It was easy to consider myself a success.

But Mr. Wehner told me otherwise.  He was the kind of guy who saw things for what they really were.  He knew what the goals of a Catholic high school graduate were, because he worked in Catholic high schools for 45 years. I just listed what many, in today’s world, would say are successful points from my own resume. Success in business, success with family, success in the community, etc.  But he threw me a curve ball. 

He said something that put everything into perspective: “All that you have personally accomplished at your age doesn’t mean a thing.  If you think you can get into heaven on what you alone have done on this earth, you are mistaken.  Your actions alone cannot get you in. You must be pulled into heaven by those that you helped get there, first.”

Think about that. Are you a person who puts others first?  Does your success only benefit your resumé and your future, or that of a greater good for others? This should be the guiding principle as you continue in your development.  Being a Catholic school graduate means you have achieved much in your time within our schools.  But more important is what you will do with those skills you have attained to make others better, others successful, and ultimately others complete. 
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If you can do that, whether you are 18 or 81 your life will be significant, impactful and of high value. Take what you have learned here and go make a difference in the lives of others.