Senior Speaker: Things about Miege that You Can’t Find Elsewhere
“To put it simply, there are things about Miege that you can’t find elsewhere. You can’t find another school-wide assembly where everyone sings with ValLimar Jansen. You can’t find another place where ‘Stand Up For the Champions’ plays at least once a season, and we all clap along. You can’t find Summit Night Adoration with a witness from a student and singing. And while you might find other events at other schools, you won’t find these — and more importantly, you won’t find these people anywhere else.”
By: Avery Kurt, Class of 2025, Senior Class Speaker
Today I stand here on behalf of the senior class with a heart full of gratitude and a bit of disbelief that my time at Miege is coming to an end. Writing this speech wasn’t hard because I didn’t know what to say, it was hard because there’s too much to say. Four years at Miege can’t be wrapped up in just a few minutes, but I’ll try to share the lessons that have stayed with me and the reasons this place makes saying goodbye so hard.
Trying to fit four years into minutes
Miege’s motto — Excellence: Our Goal, Success: Our Tradition — taught me to refuse to settle for “good enough” when we are all capable of so much more. “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.”
Miege didn’t just prepare me for success in the traditional sense. Success, for me, isn’t defined by how I juggled varsity sports, AP classes, and leadership roles. It’s about how I’ve learned to balance my responsibilities while continuously pushing myself to be present, approachable, and someone my peers can rely on, even when I’m stretched thin. And in this way, I’m growing alongside everyone else. Miege doesn’t focus solely on your identity as a student, athlete, or artist, but on shaping you into a better person, grounded in faith. Miege challenged me, and those challenges weren’t always easy. But through them, I’ve learned that aiming for excellence is worth every bit of the struggle, because nothing that truly matters ever comes easily.
Choosing authenticity over approval
Miege has shown me the strength in choosing authenticity over approval. Who we are matters far more than who the person to our right thinks we should be. Our dreams don’t have to align with anyone else’s expectations. They just need to align with our sense of purpose. Miege encourages us to embrace our individuality and do the exact opposite of conforming to what the world expects. It teaches us to look beyond surface-level judgments, whether based on someone’s appearance or background. Miege pushes us to build relationships with people we might not have otherwise connected with. And no, you’re never “too cool” to talk to someone who seems different, or to step out of your comfort zone. By the time we reach senior year, we often realize how much we wish we’d taken the time to get to know certain people.
So, to the underclassmen, I urge you: start building these relationships now. Don’t wait until it’s too late. While I’m proud to say I know everyone in this senior class, I wish I’d connected with them sooner. Miege gives you the opportunities — you just have to be brave enough to take them. Because when you do, you start to see what makes this place so special. And to put it simply, there are things about Miege that you can’t find elsewhere.
You can’t find this anywhere else
You can’t find another Ursuline Cup Day. You can’t find another school-wide assembly where everyone sings with ValLimar Jansen. You can’t find another place where “Stand Up For the Champions” plays at least once a season, and we all clap along. You can’t find Summit Night Adoration with a witness from a student and singing. And while you might find other events at other schools, you won’t find these — and more importantly, you won’t find these people anywhere else.
You won’t find teachers who show up not just to class, but to your games and performances. You won’t find halls filled with all four grades, where it truly feels like one community, not just four classes sharing a building. And most importantly, you won’t experience Christ quite like you do at Miege. Just this past Sunday, the homily reminded me: see the face of Jesus in others. And for me, this place — these people — is where I see Him most clearly. What Miege offers is rare and something I’ll carry with me forever.
From lasts to firsts
In the past year, I kept catching myself saying, “This is the last.” The last time playing on Miege’s court or field. The last high school dance. The last all-school Adoration or Confession. The last of everything. But the quote, “In every ending, there is a new beginning,” captures it perfectly. Because while all these moments have been our “lasts,” they’ve also been making room for the “firsts.” The first time finding your people and your passions outside these walls or the first time realizing how much this place prepared you.
So, live in the present. Life won’t always go the way you planned, but faith helps you see God’s plan more clearly in hindsight. Especially for us seniors, in this last week, it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos or feel worn out. But we still have time. Time to make these final days at Miege count, and time to add a few more memories to look back on.
Goodbye — for now— to a place like no other
After six years surrounded by the Miege community — following in the footsteps of my two older sisters — this place has become such a big part of who I am and who I’m becoming. I’m so grateful for everyone in this gym, and I know I’ll miss so much about this school. Miege has instilled in me lessons I’ll carry forever and friendships that will last a lifetime. And thankfully, I still have my little brother around Miege, which makes saying goodbye just a little bit easier.