Andrea Campos named Valedictorian at Holy Trinity Diocesan HS

Congratulations to Andrea Campos on being named Class of 2018 Valedictorian at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School. She will attend Yale University next Fall where she will major in molecular biophysics and pre-medicine. Andrea currently lives in Massapequa and attended Copiague Middle School.

Please read Andrea's graduation speech below:

Andrea Campos

Valedictory Address - Class of 2018

Good evening, Bishop Barres, Dr. Walsh, Ms. Moran, Holy Trinity Chaplains, members of the faculty and administration, family, friends, and of course, the graduating Class of 2018.

Today, we become Holy Trinity graduates. The home of the Titans is now also the home of tomorrow’s doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, musicians, and architects. No matter what our reasons were for choosing Holy Trinity four years ago, what is important now is that we are all here tonight to celebrate our triumphs, our achievements, our victories both individually and as a school, and the journey on which we have all embarked toward our future destinations.

Graduation is one of those awkward times in our lives when we are torn between the joy of our memories and the excitement of our future. We’ve been impatiently waiting for this day for four years – and now, we just want to hit pause.

We want to slow it down, and enjoy the last fleeting moments. Our lives will be forever altered after we toss our caps into the air.

Today is a turning point in each of our lives. We have spent the past years wandering the halls of Trinity and now we are ready to go on. We have learned, laughed, loved, gotten into trouble, and most of all matured together. But today doesn't just concern reminiscing about the past; it's also about looking into our future. Life is a series of passageways, and we are leaving one and moving on to the next. When we reach that daunting place next year that has been our destination for three years now, we will start over. We will meet new people, make new friends, and become more independent. The unknown of our future may seem frightening now, looming over us like a dark thundercloud, but we might find that it is just a light, spring rain that brings the tidings of a rainbow.

We have shared many of our gifts over the past four years, but we have also received a great deal from others:

To the gift of family:

Mom and Dad: Thank you for all of the sacrifices you have made to allow me to receive a better education and come to Holy Trinity. I don’t know how I will ever repay you. All of my achievements are as much mine as they are yours.

Mama y Papa: Gracias por todos los sacrificios que han hecho para que reciba una mejor educación e ir a Holy Trinity. Todos mis logros son tanto míos como tuyos.

Jennifer and Marynee: I feel so lucky to have had the most supportive, hilarious, and inspiring pair of best friends by my side for the past 7 years. You believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself and you never doubt my capabilities. You are my family.

To the faculty:

The Class of 2018 would not be where we are today without our teachers and faculty. At this time it is fitting to recognize all of the hard work you have put in to make us grow as a unit.

To my friends – my favorite part of Holy Trinity:

I am so glad to have met each and every one of you. Each of you has an incredible talent or gift that never ceases to amaze me and I can’t wait to see where it will take you. I would just like to recognize one friend in particular, who happens to be sitting on the stage with me as the Salutatorian, Amy Jacob. Amy, I don’t know what I would’ve done without your constant encouragement, motivation, and banter throughout all of these years. I’m proud to call you my best friend.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said one more thing that I want to share with you today: his definition of success. He said “to laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” According to this standard, every single person in this room is a success, and you always will be.

Now as a final shoutout to homeroom 218, and as my homeroom teacher Mr. Chorusey would say, “You are now 16/16ths of the way through high school.” Congratulations Class of 2018!