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Who I was at St. Cecilia, who I was able to become, translated directly into my ability to be an effective officer in the United States Airforce.

What does it mean to be a St. Cecilia Girl?

Over the course of the past 4 years, I have often questioned this. Does it mean that we wear long skirts and stiff button ups? Does it mean that we spend 8 hours a day, five days a week with the Dominican sisters? I know there is much more to it, and I will share with you what I think it means to be a St. Cecilia girl...

I have been attending school on this campus for the past 8 years, and I consider the past 4 some of the most transformative of my life. I am lucky that I got the chance to call St. Cecilia home. It is not just a building- it is the place where I found my sisters. One would think that attending an all-girl’s high school would only consist of cliques, gossip, and drama. However, these are not the words I think of when I think of SCA. When we applied, we were sold a “sisterhood”- which I assumed was a grand marketing scheme because, to be truthful, how close can 58 teenage girls be? I interpreted this sisterhood as a place where everyone was best friends, which I thought was unattainable. However, as soon as I walked up the steps and through the doors of St. Cecilia Academy at Freshman Orientation, I realized how wrong I was. There was something different about this place- something I could not name at the time. Now I know that St. Cecilia is special because it fosters a sisterhood rooted in three things: support, sacrifice, and shared experiences.

Now I know that St. Cecilia is special because it fosters a sisterhood rooted in three things: support, sacrifice, and shared experiences.

Of all my days attending St. Cecilia, I cannot name a single one where no one supported one of their fellow scarabs. From our very first day at Freshman Overnight, where we helped each other carry our bags, we showed up for each other. During spirit week our freshman year, we were clueless and lost, but through activities like Powerpuff, we rallied behind each other. No matter if someone was playing or cheering, they contributed to the team and built community and sisterhood within our class. Sophomore year, we continued to support each other through every moment, including the infamous chemistry labs of Sister Mary Albert- one thing is for certain- we know how to draw a straight line and cross lines out like professional chemists.

During Junior year, the real trials and tribulations of the third quarter research paper, 25 APUSH LOQs in one night, and the beginning of the college search began. We drew on each other's strength during our junior year, bonding us even tighter together. Finally, during senior year, we had the chance to support and celebrate with each other as our hard work paid off. Despite the process being the very thing to take us away from our homes and our sisters, we relied on each other to get through college applications. We also supported each other in our victories- whether that be in Memphis for the state cross country meet or at SCA for the opening night of Hello Dolly. Over the past four years, our support for each other has allowed our bonds to deepen. Our sisterhood was built and strengthened through every victory, spirit week, deadline, match, dance, exam, or project.

Second, our sisterhood is rooted in sacrifice. Over my time at SCA, I have seen so many girls make sacrifices for their classmates. I have seen students of all grades staying late at SCA to support the varying sports teams. As a volleyball player, it was always an experience unique to SCA to have family and friends so close to the court. The fact that people chose to spend their time supporting their sisters instead of studying meant so much to the players. During these games, St. Cecilia truly felt like a family. There have been countless times where people have stayed up late to explain different homework concepts to their friends or have woken up early to go to Starbucks to get a friend a quick pick-me-up. Sacrifice has become second nature to our class, where we place the needs of others above our own. These acts, rooted in selflessness and sacrifice, have only strengthened the SCA community.

Lastly, SCA brings students together and transforms them into sisters through shared experiences. SCA is rooted in tradition- and these traditions bring the girls together. In our first few months freshman year, we found our new older sisters during freshman senior week- and these girls served as mentors who formed our understanding of what it meant to be a St. Cecilia girl. We then became older sisters our senior year to our freshmen. Traditions like these truly bring different grades together, showing how the St. Cecilia sisterhood is not divided by grade level. Other experiences have brought our class together as well. This includes our rendition of Midsummer Night’s Dream with Dr. Haynes, where I had the honor of playing a wall. There is also our weekend at Camp Marymount for the Sophomore Service Retreat, where we spent the weekend giving back to the community, forming new and unexpected friendships, and singing by the campfire. For the AP Chemistry students, we bonded when we launched a rocket into a tree and then worked together to build a massive pole to get it out. Despite our failure, we gained a core memory. This year, we started the year with Senior Sunrise and ended it with our walkout and Lock-in, where we spent some of our final moments together as sisters. We have formed a sisterhood, which has made saying goodbye so much harder.

Now, our sisterhood will last beyond graduation, and the lessons we have learned will last throughout our lifetime. We have learned that a true sisterhood and community involve support, sacrifice, and shared experiences. As Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." My time at SCA has taught me that a friend loves at all times and a sister is born for adversity. Through both good and difficult experiences, we can rely on our sisters to stand by our side and help us through it. We have learned that the best bonding experiences are unexpected and sometimes difficult. That we should take each day at a time and value those around us. That we should give to those around us, because they are our sisters and brothers in Christ. St. Cecilia has taught us so much and has prepared us to enter the world with dignity and virtue.

As we leave here today, I would like to emphasize one last time how lasting St. Cecilia’s legacy is. When we sing our beloved alma mater, we scream, “Ne’er forget you!” and this statement could not be more true. I have seen it in my own sisters, who graduated over ten years ago and are still proud to be St. Cecilia girls. I have seen it in the alumnae who currently work at SCA and are always excited to talk about their time here. No matter how much time will have passed since our graduation, every St. Cecilia girl we meet will feel like family. Whenever you meet an alum, you will often be asked, “Is Mr. Horn still there?” “Yes, he is” and “Are you still practicing in that ancient gym?” And you’ll reply, “We sure are, but not for much longer.” Most alumnae still know the alma mater by heart, and the tune is ingrained into their memories. Some of us will be teachers, doctors, lawyers, actresses, architects, nurses, amusement park owners, or pilots... No matter where we are going, we always have our sisters to fall back on. We will always be each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and we will always stand up for our sisters, whether it be as bridesmaids at each other’s weddings or as we go through one of life’s many challenges. We leave Saint Cecilia knowing that we do not have to travel life’s journey alone- we will always stand beside one another, and this diploma does not diminish our sisterhood but rather seals it.

And that to me is what it means to be a St. Cecilia girl.

- Mia Keller
Class of 2026 Valedictorian Speech

St. Cecilia wasn’t just a school; it was a sisterhood—a place that taught me discipline, grace, and how to lead with purpose.