Daryth Wynn Jacob: April 29, 1987 - February 12, 2006

Salutatorian Speech given by Dary Jacob, June 5, 2005

We made it!

The first impulse of every graduate is to celebrate the “making it”. But, for our class at Montrose, it is really about the WE. “Making it” wouldn’t be so fun, so special or perhaps even possible without the WE. We are reminded that, and I quote, “A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of honey left.” The speaker, of course, is Winnie the Pooh.

During the past seven years, I have learned a lot, grown a lot, and had a ton of fun in the Montrose community and with the class of 2005. We have come a long way from sixth grade and we have spent years of joy together between then and now.

We arrived as nervous girls for our first year of Montrose. My many classmates included Molls and Kristin who came as part of the St. John’s crew.

Molls brought her quiet but strong leadership and concern for everyone. I don’t know what I will do without your cheery smile in the morning and confidence that everything will turn out ok. You make us all laugh like no one else can, picking up on the smallest details.

Kristin contributed to the class with her dedication and ability to rally us. You really brought us together by planning trips to Boston and the movies among others. You have helped us finish what we were responsible for and have a lot of fun. I will forever envy your Boston driving skills.

Alessandra brought us her thoughtfulness and dedication. Al, you were always there when we needed someone to help and the first to think of what we had to do. You seemed to make the funniest and most random comments just when we needed it.

Shannon provided us with years of humor and leadership. You did so much for this school and us – I don’t know how you managed it. Your random outbursts of laughter still make me smile and I admire your leadership and spontaneity.

Maggie’s philosophical thoughts and head in the clouds made her the complete opposite of our ever-practical Shannon. Maggie, your insightful thoughts have astounded us through the years even though we tease you so much. You helped us remember the importance of intellectual thought and humor.

Marijka brought her many funny stories especially of camp expeditions. You were always so much fun to talk to with your sense of humor and helped organize many fun class outings. You helped us lighten up, get in some trouble, and have a ton of fun in these hallways.

Seventh grade came and Kelly Smith joined the class. Kelly, you have always come up with great ideas right when we needed them. You offered very helpful advice and contributed a lot to our class, helping us stay on task and enjoy our time here.

As troublemakers in Middle School, we soon learned not to stand on the toilets when playing hide and seek or sit in the senior’s row during common homeroom. We definitely had out tiffs about parties and cliques but we stuck together. When High School came along, our class changed and we really got to know each other. We began sending out emails and when we planned events, we took out the class list to call everyone.

Stalmok joined us in ninth grade, scaring me for one at first, with her sarcasm but later winning me over. Stalmok, you helped us to relax and not get so caught up in the silly little things. Your humor was definitely appreciated and we will all miss you AND your Worcester train.

Freshman year was also Al’s fall from grace as she left us for another school but thankfully she returned for sophomore year. Eleventh grade came and went with the highlight of when we tested the lab shower – all I can say is that some people abandoned their positions to catch water and most of us got soaked. As High School passed, we learned a lot about each other and thought we had everyone who would graduate with us. However, Lisa surprised us by joining us in her senior year. Lisa – you jumped right into the class adjusting very quickly. You brought dedication and a great work ethic to the group. You took the initiative to get things done, really helping the class.

Our senior year finished off with one of the best Spirit Weeks in years, a fun field day, a once in a lifetime study abroad trip, and an awesome awards day. This year and all seven years have been amazing.

Everyone brought something unique to our class, but we were at our best when we were together. Our class has excelled in many character talk qualities over the years. Whether we meticulously planned an April Fools Day in seventh grade or frantically wrote our senior will, we have always been a stick-together class. I will never forget the time that Shannon rushed to Maggie’s defense to prevent her from getting a detention, which in fact was never even issued. That is loyalty. Nor will I forget how we used to post sentries and plan to raise our hands when a staff member came by whenever our teacher was late for class. Some of our creativity will forever linger in Montrose memory including our tenth grade video, “The making of the Montourage” and our gym mascot – the banana slug. Meep!

Our class is the most supportive class you could find! When I was sick this year, they sent flowers and the biggest card I have ever received, in addition to my own personal skit explaining Plato’s allegory of the cave. It was comforting to know that they were thinking of me.

Honestly, I don’t know what I will do without you girls. I’m incredibly grateful to Shan who looked up all of our colleges and calculated exactly how far we were from each other. We have spent so much time together in and out of school. What am I going to do next year when I walk into class or I want to go to a movie and you aren’t there? Who will know when I’m feeling down and who will understand as much about me as you do? I will miss each one of you, but most of all I will miss us together as the class of 2005.

Over the years, we have grown spiritually, intellectually, and in our character. Montrose has provided us with the tools for that development.

Faith has been an integral part of my time here. Both staff members and fellow Montrosians have helped me to develop my spiritual life. I still remember walking through the first floor hallway in sixth grade. I would be happily chatting with my friends. But, as soon as I passed the chapel, I would discover that I was talking to myself. It took a few times to realize that they had not simply dropped out of the conversation, but had instead dropped into the Chapel to say hello to Our Lord. I soon took up the habit and spent more time in the chapel through my Montrose friends. Retreats, chapel periods, Theology and philosophy classes, Mass and advising have all helped me to grow closer to God.

Academics are definitely big in this “funny little school”. We have learned a lot over the years, progressing from memory maps to research papers. We have debated issues in history and Theology, performed skits, and walked in the footsteps of Dante, all the while growing intellectually.

We have also grown in our character. Beginning with our very first character talk and finishing with our final Character Leadership discussions this year, these dialogues made us think, pray, and became topics for conversation. Who could forget Mrs. McKinney’s talk on Mrs. Wang and fortitude or those endless discussions on modesty? Meetings with advisors and talks with our teachers have helped us improve ourselves as individuals, and our class as a group.

So the question remains…where do we go from here? We have been given so many gifts.

We have been given each other because what fun is learning if you can’t do it with people you like. We are able to bounce ideas off of each other unlike any other group and we have taught each other a lot both in and out of class.

We have also spent a ton of time with Montrose teachers and staff. You have been our guides through the past seven years and you have been able to inspire us to love learning. You have brought your subjects alive and one day we will forgive you for all of the papers, tests and homework, knowing that it has helped us in the long run. Thank you for teaching us so much throughout the years and helping us to have some fun along the way.

We have been given the Montrose community as a whole. We have spent our Montrose years with the care and support of this community, a community that has helped us to grow from nervous sixth graders into the women of faith, character, and vision that you see before you.

On behalf of everyone, I would like to thank our families. As editors, science fair assisters, poster drawers, researchers, and our own personal cheerleaders, you were always there for us. I know that I would not have made it to this point without my family and I know that you all feel the same about yours. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me and given me through the years. You have prepared us to successfully branch out on our own…something that we promise to live up to.

Now it is time for us to bring what we have learned into the world. We know how to live a good life and obtain happiness. We need to go into the world and teach others what Montrose and our families have taught us.

“You can’t stay in your corner of the forest, waiting for others to come to you; you have to go to them sometimes”. Winnie the Pooh’s friend, Piglet, reminds us all that it is now time for the Class of 2005 to leave Montrose, our cozy forest. But we are ready.

Yes, we have made it, but we haven’t done so alone. We have had so much aid from the Montrose community and staff and we couldn’t have made it without our families. So, to everyone who has helped me and the class of 2005 throughout the past seven years, thank you for your support and encouragement. You have truly helped us grow up over the years. Nor would we be the same people without each other. To the class of 2005 (the Montourage) – you have made the past seven years magical. You girls are absolutely wonderful and I know you will bring your amazing gifts and character into the world. Thank you for everything.