VN_SPR SUM_06 covers FINAL.indd - Villanova University

illanovaCommencement Oration by Michelle I. Cifone ’06 A&SThank you Father Dobbin, deans of the University,members of the Board of Trustees, honorary degreerecipients and honorary guests. It is wonderful to beable to share this day with you and an honor to beable to share my thoughts with you.When I first found out I was giving this speech, everyoneI know asked the same two questions. One, “Are you nervous?”And, two, “Dude, can I get a “shout-out”? Well, to theCollege of Liberal Arts and Sciences, this is for you. And tothe Class of 2006, this is for you. But, most importantly, to allof you sitting out there who have inspired me to stand heretoday—Thank you.If you’ve ever found yourself an apprehensive freshman,wandering into a Villanova liturgy, you may have heard thesong “All Are Welcome” by Marty Haugen. You might havebeen charmed by the melody of this new song and maybeeven comforted by its lyrics. But as a senior, wanderingalong our tree-lined paths, you probably know this song so“...that light has shined on us,igniting a flame in our hearts; a flame ofpassion for learning, and a flameof compassion for others.”—Michelle I. Cifone ’06 A&Swell that you’vedanced to its beat.The songbegins, “Let usbuild a house wherelove can dwell.”Villanova is that house,and for many of us, it hasbecome a home.Four years ago, westepped out of comfortablehomes and said good-bye tofamily, friends and maybe even ahometown that we knew and loved.thehouse thatL O V EbuiltAnd we thank our parents, friends and family today forproviding us a home that has helped prepare us for ourexperiences at Villanova.Four years ago, when we took our first steps onto this campus,it was hard to miss the exciting, yet loving atmosphere that isVillanova. We heard it in the buzz of the 24-hour study loungeduring finals. We felt it in the quad during Special Olympics,when the spirit of service was in the air. And we saw it in every“Swoosh, Go!” at a Villanova men’s basketball game. Win orlose, what we love about that team is the family that they’vebuilt and the way they reflect what is best about us.Survey our University, as The Princeton Review might, andyou’ll find degree requirements, extracurricular activities andmyths like the two-year waiting list to get married in the [St.Thomas of Villanova] Church. But survey our hearts and you’llfind so much more. There’s a fire in the heart of every VU gradstanding here today. I see it in your eyes. A fire to take on thatbig job in Philadelphia or NYC, or to take on grad school or totake on a year of service. But where did that passion come from?To find out, stand at the stoplight facing the Church duringsunset. Watch the amber-orange glow of the scene reflect offthe windows of Tolentine and the Monastery. It really looks asif the buildings are on fire. That fire has illuminated our classroomsand our meeting rooms. And that light has shined on us,igniting a flame in our hearts; a flame of passion for learning,and a flame of compassion for others.Four years ago, we may have superficially sensedthese aspects of Villanova, at Candidate’s Day or during40 Villanova Magazine