Arlington Catholic High School Graduation

For 50 years, since 1960, Arlington Catholic High School has been preparing students to go out into the world. Yesterday was a culmination of another four year success at the school.

As the seniors – all 199 of them – walked down the halls of the auditorium at Bentley University, making their way to their seats, parents, family members and friends snapped pictures of the 2010 graduating class. The students filed into rows, with their blue gowns and blue hats nicely pressed. Each row of students was led by a faculty member who wore their gowns representing their degree and college.

As the students and parents took to their seats, Reverend Brian Flatley, Pastor of Saint Agnes Parish explained to the crowd the importance of the school and the vision that his predecessor – Monsignor Oscar O'Gorman saw come to life.

"Fifty years ago today Arlington High School was a dream becoming a reality," Flatley said. "Monsignor Oscar O'Gorman, having taken the opportunity to purchase a school building, saw his vision becoming a reality; a vision of a catholic high school where young women and young men can deepen their faith in an academically challenging environment."

The school, which represents 42 different cities and towns, along with Arlington was originally established by O'Gorman and eventually built by the parishioners of St. Agnes Parish. When the school first opened it was staffed by the congregation of the Sister of St. Joseph.

As the students stood at the podium to address their classmates, peers, family and friends, each one tried to stress the importance of challenging the graduates to constantly strive for better things and not become satisfied with their current state.

"I'm here pleading with you to run as far away as possible from comfort," said Valedictorian Linda Buehler. "Not from the attainment of goals or well-deserved satisfaction, but from the chronic complacency of your situation. Not from seeking moments such as [graduation], but from living your life in them. Disturbed, discontented, unsatisfied with the current state of things, this is how our generation needs to go forward."

"The ocean of experience is vast, at times stormy and daunting," said Salutatorian Caroline McDevitt. "But now we stand here together, ready to move forward."

Senior Class President, Guy Sorgi reminded his classmates that even though they are moving on to different places, different schools and different states, they are still in control of their lives.

"We are still going to be in charge of making our own choices in the future," Sorgi said. "Next year these choices will become harder to weigh. The outcomes will have a greater impact on our lives. Remember in the end, you have the choice to be good versus evil, to be honest versus deceptive, to be compassionate versus cruel, to be proactive versus apathetic."

The final speaker of the night was one of Arlington's most successful graduates. Michael McGlynn, who graduated from the school in 1971 and is in the school's hall of fame, is currently the Mayor of Medford. He is the longest serving mayor in the state.

McGlynn also just accepted a record fifth Kenneth Pickard Award, given by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, for innovation in Municipal Government.

As McGlynn addressed the crowd, he amused them with stories of his high school experience. Of how his cousin – one of about 50 of his family members to graduate from the school – helped him escape one of his freshmen classes by opening the window and then quickly closing it, allowing McGlynn to meet his father in order to attend Game 2 of the 1967 World Series at Fenway.

He told them about how, during the following year at the school, he decided to run for Student Council. He explained to the audience that one of his big selling points to win election was a party he was planning on throwing when his parents were out of town. When the school heard of his plan, McGlynn was removed from the ballot and was nearly expelled.

But he credits the school for getting him on the right track as he helped the ice hockey team win the 1969 Catholic hockey championship as he scored the game-winning goal.

"The AC experience prepared me to face many challenges head-on," McGlynn said. "I learned, I matured and I became more involved, while realizing I wanted to help people and improve the lives of others."

The message was clear last night, the graduating students of Arlington Catholic High School were told again and again to always push forward and to challenge themselves whenever possible.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did," McDevitt said.