Remarks from Notre Dame Academy High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian, Alea Belkin:
Good evening, honored guests, faculty, families, and most importantly— my fellow graduates. Standing here today, I am filled with joy, joy in the enormity of what we have accomplished and the endless possibilities of what lies ahead. I would like to thank my parents, teachers, friends, Sara's computer charger, and the Notre Dame community for getting me to where I am today and providing me with the best four years of my life. Because in between the tests, deadlines, and early mornings, I found memories that will last a lifetime.
To start off, I wanted to share with you one of the most inspirational pieces of wisdom I have ever heard. I heard it from JB Pritzker. It's that the kindest person in the room who is often the smartest. They are the person who was able to overcome the animal instinct that is rooted in judgment when we see someone who doesn’t look like us, act like us, sound like us, or love like us. They were the person to form new brain pathways, treating others with compassion and kindness, an evolved state of being.
We can apply this principle every day—in the books we read, the people we meet, and the new places we step into. To be kind, not cruel, is to be wise. To be curious, not judgmental, is to be truly smart. Curiosity is the leading force in our lives. It is the driving spark that fuels us beyond survival mode into discovery, growth, and meaning. It pushes us to ask questions and explore the unknown.
Lately, the word 'unknown' keeps showing up. For four years, we knew what came next: another year at Notre Dame. But now? The map disappears. We’re stepping into unfamiliar campuses, new cities, new versions of ourselves. But that’s not something to fear—it’s something to embrace. But I encourage you to face each unknown with curiosity and kindness as it will display your elevated state of being. It will give you the confidence to take on the world with your sense of leadership and compassion. Besides, if we can survive parking on Victory, WiFi shortages, and Dr. Jensen’s physics final, we can survive anything.
As we go off to college, my wish for every person in this room is that you find your way. I hope you find your niche, your people. Finding my people at Notre Dame has been the best gift I could ask for, so I hope we find more people to belly laugh with, shoulders to share the weight with, hearts to feel safe with, and silences to be understood in. This exploration is one that should be exciting, especially knowing you have your Notre Dame family rooting and cheering for you back at home. I hope you find your passion, what you can deliver to this world because your potential is endless. And don’t forget to be kind. Most importantly, don’t let the unknown scare you, let it guide you. Leading you to all the possibilities and opportunities that await you because the sky is the limit. Here’s to the lessons learned, the laughter shared, and the paths yet to be traveled.
Thank you, and Congratulations to the class of 2025!
Photo Credit: Annie DeBiase '22