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Wishing the Class of 2017 a Fond Farewell

6/7/2017

On Friday, May 26th, our Marymount community celebrated the many accomplishments of the 99 women that make up the impressive Class of 2017 who are heading off to over 65 colleges across 3 countries this fall.

RSHM Sisters, Board Members, Faculty, Staff, Families and Friends gathered together to cheer on the future lawyers, scientists, diplomats, doctors, teachers and advocates for social change joining the ranks of over 3,700 Marymount alumnae. These women are the leaders that will shape tomorrow's future for the greater good.

As Commencement began, Sage S. ’17 delivered a thoughtful invocation prayer, focusing on the power of words, gratitude, grace and the eternal sisterhood among the 99 women who sat on stage. Sage prayed:

“God, as I stand here today, I wish to express my gratitude and the gratitude of my Sailor Sisters. You have given each of us a unique identity, the intelligence to learn, understand, and speak with confidence. I think we can all agree that for all of us on this stage, these past four years together have been the best gift that You, God, could have ever given us, and so we thank you and ask you to stay with us on our journey.”

Building on Sage’s poignant words, and taking the opportunity to celebrate one last moment together as a class, Sloan L. ‘17 gave her cherished Sailor Sisters a heartfelt address thanking them for all they have taught her, saying:

“Imparting advice to the Class of 2017 is a daunting challenge because for the past four years the best aspects of me have been informed and enriched by the women sitting around me. During our time at Marymount, this institution has instilled morals within us that we hope to maintain for the rest of our lives. This institution has taught us about literature, history, math, and science. But, my classmates taught me the most important lesson I have learned: be true yourself.”

Finally, graduates had the opportunity to hear from our 2017 Commencement speaker: accomplished lawyer and mentor, Carla Christofferson, who serves as the Executive Vice President at AECOM, and is the former owner of the Los Angeles Sparks, Los Angeles’ only all-female NBA team. Ms. Christofferson forged her own unique path, full of both success and failure, as she made her way from a small town in North Dakota to Yale Law School and beyond. Her inspiring story provided a wonderful lesson for our girls: Even when you are terrified inside, face that fear boldly. Before you know it, you’ll be accomplishing things you had no idea you were capable of. As our students embark on a new, challenging journey, navigating life outside of our school’s gates, they can reflect back on these words of encouragement to find the fearlessness and strength within.

Ms. Christofferson posed a poignant question in her address to our graduating seniors: “Some people ask the question, ‘What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t fail?’ I prefer to ask the question, ‘What would you do even if you knew you were going to fail?’” Her remarks, hit close to home to this class full of ambitious, compassionate and unstoppable young women. The Class of 2017 knows all too well that life’s challenges are just lessons waiting to be taught, and that everything they accomplish in their lives after Marymount will be earned through a combination of grit, humor and a willingness to learn.

We extend our sincerest thanks to Ms. Christofferson for her thoughtful remarks and opennes in sharing her journey and to all the members of the Class of 2017 for the incredible impact they have had on our community. The same gifts they contributed here at Marmyount will continue to serve them well as they embark on the next step. Girls, just remember: You will forever be a Sailor Sister, and you can always think Pink.

To view more photos from our Commencement ceremony and celebrations, please visit our Facebook page by clicking here.

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