'We Will Forever Be Falcons'

Good morning, Class of 2021, parents, family, friends, faculty and staff, Interim President Paul Condrin, and most importantly, welcome Yankee fans, to America’s most beloved ballpark. I am more than thankful to be here today to reflect on behalf of the Class of 2021. While it has been quite the turn of events to be here today (literally, this date was moved three times), it is important to appreciate this moment. Bentley University has worked tirelessly to bring us here today, and we can officially make history as the first ever commencement at Fenway Park. In order to acknowledge the moment we’re in, however, it’s imperative to go back to the beginning.

Coming to campus in the fall of 2017, we were welcomed warmly by students willing to take us deep into the Bentley community. Over the next three years, we experienced spring and fall concerts, super bingo, homecoming, met our best friends, made a path for our own Bentley story, and never thought twice about being within 6 feet of anyone else. We became student organization leaders, RAs, orientation leaders, tutors, tour guides, athletes, interns, and the list goes on and on. As our journeys continued, we all anxiously awaited our final year—the year we make our final mark, and the year we leave a lasting impression on Bentley’s campus. In March of 2020, we moved out of our dorms thinking the world would be back to normal in a few months.

And now, almost 14 months later, seniors from all around the world will graduate after the most challenging year in their college career. Not only did we all come to Bentley with 917 different stories and experiences four years ago, we also faced 917 different battles throughout the past 14 months. We lost loved ones, sheltered in place, lost jobs and experiences no one—and no college senior—had ever experienced before. We were expected to continue to succeed in the classroom through an entirely different format, find internships and jobs, and try to find some sort of social interaction to get through each day or week. We navigated through this, all while Bentley navigated through transitions in leadership, a new academic calendar, and a reckoning in racial justice.

In a time where we have lost so much, it can be hard to appreciate what we have. We came back for our final year, and while it seemed literally more distant than ever, we actually came together closer than ever before and cemented our class’s legacy at Bentley. As I have reflected with seniors at the end of this year, the overwhelming sentiment is this: We are so proud to have navigated through every obstacle and unexpected challenge while sustaining the joy of our senior year in new ways. We never gave up, and I will always be proud to be a part of this class. We created new diversity and inclusion initiatives across campus, advancing our collective understanding of racial justice and how we can and need to do more in our community. Sure, our senior year looked different, no boat cruise, no casino night, and no Bahamas, but I know the connections we strengthened in smaller settings—that core group of friends you met your freshman year, your teammates, sorority sisters or the few people in your Bentley lives that you could not imagine these last four years without. 

So, while COVID changed everything, and no one ever wants to hear the words “breakout room” again, COVID also brought out the best in us, and reminded us of the important role of care, connection and leaving your legacy at a place we’ve all called home since the fall of 2017.

Before I wrap up, I would like to take a moment to thank this year’s Senior Class Cabinet--Antonia, Austin, Katelyn, Joey, Tatiana and Dan, I would not be standing here today without you all. Thank you for always putting the needs of our class first and at the forefront of all of your decisions—even when the senior class group chat got a little spicy. 

I would also like to thank my parents. Mom and Dad, thank you for always believing in me. And, to all of the parents here, and those not here, thank you for being a part of your student’s Bentley experience. Let’s hear it for our parents, family and support systems. 

We are most certainly not saying farewell, and we will continue to represent Bentley as alumni in everything we accomplish in our professional careers. Class of 2021, you likely will never know the gravity of the impact you have made on Bentley, and your perseverance, dedication, and positivity made the last four years memorable and the last 14 months possible. As we fly away from Bentley’s campus, we will forever be Falcons, holding Bentley—and each other—close to our hearts. Congratulations, Class of 2021!