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La Reina - and All Catholic Schools - Light the Way
I am constantly reminded of my time at La Reina, and about everything it taught me regarding meeting deadlines, organization, communication, and leadership. Over and above even that, I think back to what it taught me to be Catholic, to work toward social justice, and always to strive to do the morally just thing. For all those things I am constantly grateful.
...Heather Hardy '02, University of Southern California '05
American University, Washington School of Law '08
Assistant State's Attorney, Montgomery County, Maryland
Throughout my four years at La Reina, my favorite class has been my English class each year. All my English teachers were incredible people who were passionate about the literature we read. I also loved my Advanced Placement European History class because we discussed current events and philosophy in addition to the course material. All my teachers and classes at La Reina have been wonderful, and I feel so prepared for Boston College. I am definitely confident that I know how to write.
...Elizabeth Workman '09
So many people have inspired me throughout my life, but my biggest influences have come from my La Reina teachers. Looking back on my high school years, some of the best memories have been in their classes. I realize now that these amazing people truly love what they were doing, and I hope that I can find that same satisfaction and contentment in my own life.
...Jennifer Zahlit '09
I honestly grew so much when I was at LRHS and I wouldn’t trade my Regent experience for the world. I know that part of the reason I am a successful, strong, spiritual young woman today is because of the foundation from my LRHS years. Sometimes I sit and truly miss my time there…it was such a beautiful experience for me.
...Lindsey Budny Kehrer '02
Valedictory Address by Amanda Mundell '08 Our generation has been blessed with extraordinary good fortune. We enjoy the highest standard of living the world has ever known. In fact, the pace of technological progress has been so rapid over the past 30 years that we take for granted many wondrous things that were unheard of when our parents were teenagers. Just think about that for a moment. Those poor primitives had to do without Wikipedia, or Myspace, or Facebook. Or cell phones. Where would any of us be without our cell phones? And text messaging. I bet some of you are texting right now. We are indeed fortunate to live here, and at this time, aren’t we? And within this large generation of lucky young Americans there is an especially fortunate group – those who attended a school in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame. Ninty-seven members of that group are here today. The La Reina experience is special in myriad ways. The all girls school environment has uniquely prepared us for the challenges that lie ahead. As freshman, we saw immediately that all of the positions of leadership at La Reina were held by girls, that all of the top athletes at La Reina were girls, that all of the top students, including the top science and math students, were girls. Inspired by the examples set by their peers, La Reina students graduate with the firm conviction that women can do anything. The La Reina high school experience has enriched each of us in another important way. Prayer has been banned in public schools, but La Reina nurtures spirituality and faith. We’ve been especially fortunate to have so many Sisters of Notre Dame here with us, actively involved in the La Reina community, inspiring us with their selfless devotion to God and their mission. Henry Ford once commented on the failure of many to engage intellectually. “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason so few engage in it,” he said. Well, the dedicated and talented teachers of La Reina have done more than just fill our heads with facts. They have taught us how to think. They have, to paraphrase Yeats, not just filled the pail, they have lit a fire. Thank you, members of the La Reina faculty, for teaching us not only how to do what Henry Ford termed hard work, but to enjoy it. It can’t possibly be easy running a high school, but our principal and assistant principals have done an extraordinary job, working tirelessly for us, hurtling obstacles on a daily basis to make everything happen in the La Reina community. This type of commitment springs from a deep and abiding love for this institution and its students. Mrs. Coe, Mrs. Austin, Mrs. Hedrick, Mr. Hirsch. I know I speak for all of us. We can’t thank you enough. Of course, there’s someone else we’ll never be able to thank enough. Our parents, many of whom made sacrifices to give us a private school education, and who had the wisdom and foresight to choose La Reina. Mom and Dad, you were there during the late night study sessions, from kindergarten to high school, from macaroni and glue projects to college application submissions. Somehow, you managed not only to put up with us, but to support us and encourage us, as well. Don’t think for a moment we don’t know how exasperating we’ve been during these teenage years. But I have it on very good authority that in a just a few more years all of us will turn the corner and become the normal, stable, pleasant adults you always hoped we’d be. From each of us, to each of you, thank you for getting us this far. Now its our turn to go forward and tackle, well, all the problems your generation has left for us – a shrinking dollar, high energy prices, international terrorism, world hunger, and of course, global warming. [Is it just me, or is it hot out today?] But don’t worry. We’re up to the task. After all, we’re La Reina graduates.
Valedictory Address by Amanda Turk '08
“Education is not just the filling of a pail; it is the lighting of a fire.” While our years at La Reina have indeed lit within each of us the fire of knowledge that Yeats described in this quote, they have, more importantly, lit a fire of faith, of service, and of love.
How that fire will burn depends on a person’s individual candle, her personal passion. There are as many different service projects in this class as there are students, as many plans to make this world better as there are girls in white caps and gowns.
The important thing is that La Reina did not just teach us about God and about service; this school has taught us how to love God with all our hearts, all our minds, and all of our souls and to live that love by reaching out to other people. La Reina showed us the match and then gave us the courage to pick it up and light our hearts on fire.
Light is important, in both a literal and a metaphorical sense. You have to turn on a lamp while you read or you’ll strain your eyes, you have to use a flashlight when walking at night or risk tripping, and you have to use the headlights on your car to see the road ahead. Just so, to navigate the challenging times that are sure to come and to radiate the blessings that are just as sure to follow, it is necessary to have an internal light, a light that will illuminate not just us, but the people around us. La Reina has provided us with a safe place to kindle such a light, but as we leave here it becomes our responsibility to take care of that flame and to share it. We are being handed our candles now, but we must choose to use them.
So, as we stand at the edge of our childhood and look towards the future, I would like to leave you with a final story: there was once a young man who, looking around him at the world, turned angrily to God and asked, “Why do you let evil exist? Why don’t you do something about all of the bad things that happen?” The quiet reply was whispered in the young man’s heart: “Ah, my friend, but I did do something. I made you.”
There will be times, once we are out in the “real world,” when we feel like losing hope- when we come across injustice that seems too deeply entrenched and too widely spread to combat. But bear this truth in mind: we are the solution to such problems and La Reina has given us the tools and the courage to be that solution. Class of 2008, go light your world!
"As parents, we want to ensure we are guiding our daughters on the best educational path possible. We chose La Reina High School for our daughter based upon the school's core values, diverse opportunities, and recommendations from others. Our oldest daughter has just completed her first year at La Reina and it has proven to be a very rich, rewarding, and positive experience. The teachers and staff are devoted to providing an educational experience at the highest level of excellence. La Reina High School is unequivocally the best educational path to guide our daughters towards their future."
...Kelly Profeta "LRHS was a calm port in my stormy teenage years. Raised entirely on the East Coast, I relocated to California during the summer before my sophomore year. I found myself in a foreign state--immersed in a completely new culture. At 15 years old, that's never easy. LRHS immediately felt like home. It was Catholic, academically challenging, and athletically, well, not necessarily dominant, but fun and a source of great friendships. Recently I was in Los Angeles on business travel for the first time since I graduated from La Reina. I made a pilgrimage to Thousand Oaks and LRHS the night before my flight back to the East--I just had to see the campus. Seeing it again reminded me of what I now know as an adult. LRHS is the full package--a quality high school experience. The teachers, staff and coaches are committed to developing this generation of spiritually grounded, intellectually curious, healthy young women. That's La Reina's legacy."
...Kate Foery Lewis '88, University of Virginia, '92 "La Reina prepared me for being a young mother by giving me confidence that I had a solid education, including both academics and morality/ethics. Therefore I feel that I can guide my son and daughter in learning not only the basic skills (such as grammar and math), but also the golden rule: to treat others with kindness, fairness and respect. I know that La Reina's great education gave me a solid foundation on which to build my personal and professional life, so even though my twins are not even three years old yet, I am determined to give them the great education that I had--from preschool through college, and beyond."
...Brooke Jonassen Gabbey '86 "Throughout my collegiate career, I held many leadership positions, including serving on the Colorado Student Nurses' Association Board of Directors. I owe my intelligence, confidence and leadership abilities to my education at La Reina. I am so proud to be an alumna!"
...Michelle Rahmani '02, B.S. (Nursing), Regis University, '07
Registered nurse at UCLA Medical Center's Surgical/Transplant Intensive Care Unit "What makes La Reina stand out from other high schools is that it is a Catholic school with high moral values and it has a rigorous academic program. These reasons made me see that when I went to La Reina I would be doing more than just learning, I would be ensuring that I received an education that would benefit me for the rest of my life."
...Lauren Garcia '08 "One aspect of domestic violence against women that I found very interesting was the fact that most women feel the need to stay with their abuser because of financial dependency or a sense of helplessness. This fact got me thinking about the importance of women not only having jobs to support themselves, but also living with a sense of self-confidence that is strong enough to endure and deal with such a tragedy. Even as a young adult, I feel that I have started to develop that self-esteem by simply coming to La Reina every day. For me, La Reina has been a place where young women are encouraged to be strong leaders, where they are not held back by social pressures, and where they learn to speak and walk with confidence and self-assurance. I think it is these life lessons that will prove helpful if I were ever in an abusive relationship. Because La Reina has taught me self-respect and self-worth, I am aware of how I should be treated in relationships and confident that I will be able to leave when that respect is violated."
...Kristina Cheung '08, from a Reflection on Domestic Violence written for Religion 12 "I have no doubt that La Reina has helped me to want to be generous and motivated. This school has made me a well-rounded person through participation in academics, athletics and Christian service. The one thing that I love the most about La Reina is the religion program. The religion program has enabled me to not only serve my community but also other parts of the world, such as Uganda. I have learned about different social, moral and justice issues. I have also learned the essence of the Catholic Church. This impact on me has been immense."
...Amanda Dobrucki '07, California State University, Northridge '11
"La Reina High School offers a unique experience for girls to become confident in themselves without the pressure or influence of boys. Although many girls attending may not see its value, as a senior, I realized its importance in helping me grow intellectually and spiritually. In the all-girls environment, I am free to express my opinions without worrying about what a boy would think, and wear the traditional skirt at a comfortable length without worrying about looking appealing, and let my true self shine through without wondering if others will like me. By attending La Reina, I have developed the self-esteem to be the person I want to be and am now."
...Cristina Aggazzotti '07, University of Southern California '11
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