Winter Convocation 2004

Nicole Mortorano '04

Good afternoon. My name is Nicole Mortorano, and I am a member of the class of 2004. For the past three summers, I have been privileged to teach middle school social studies in a free-tuition academic program called Summerbridge. At the end of my first summer, one of my students - Marcos - excitedly called me, wanting to hear stories about Holy Cross. Focusing on the relevant topics for 11 year olds, I recounted Wheeler 4 pranks, listed all of the frozen yogurt flavors at Kimball, and stressed the countless opportunities to join academic and social clubs. In concluding the phone conversation, I excitedly told Marcos: "You're going to love college." Quickly, he corrected me and responded: "that is, if I go to college."

Three years later, I continue to struggle with Marcos' chilling words and his heightened understanding about the realities of our less than just society. Despite his middle school stature, Marcos' passion for and understanding of space and scientific innovations far surpasses my elementary comprehension of NASA and space missions. At 11 years old, Marcos hoped for careers in space exploration and at 11 years old, I hoped for careers in teaching and law. At 11 years old, Marcos spoke of dreams by exclaiming, "If I go to college," while I spoke of dreams by explaining, "When I go to college." And yet the only difference separating Marcos and I is not one of intellect or resolve or passion, but rather, of external opportunities and obstacles.

I wish all of you could meet Marcos. Moreover, I wish all of us could have met more students like Marcos in the course of our tenure at Holy Cross. I often wonder how much more enriched all of us would be if more students like Marcos had the opportunity to celebrate with us, to challenge us academically in the classroom, and to inspire our community. I often wonder about Marcos' potential and my own, and wonder about what each of us has missed or the potential that we could have tapped into if we each had the privilege to sit next to one another today.

I don't want to wonder anymore. I don't want any of us to wonder about what could have been if each of us, if our community, if our larger society truly realized that our individual freedoms, opportunities and potential are intricately connected with all men and women's freedoms, opportunities and potential. Throughout the past four years, Holy Cross has taught me that our resolve for justice and opportunity must be matched with action. As we speak today about our obligation to others, I challenge each of us to reflect how we, as individuals, and as a community can work toward expanding opportunities for our peers, as well as future peers.

On my part, Marcos has inspired me to join Teach for America in the Rio Grande Valley for the next two years. At a larger community level, I would like to challenge Holy Cross to continue its mission by extending its partnership with the Nativity School. As Nativity's students pledge themselves to a uniquely challenging academic program, Holy Cross also has an obligation to these students - an obligation to ensure that these students can continue to pursue their academic dreams. Similar to Clark University's partnership with the University Park Campus School in Worcester, Holy Cross could extend its mission to guarantee a free tuition to all alumni of Nativity who meet the College's admissions standards. Ultimately, Holy Cross' future choices hold the promising potential to inspire others to join in this mission of connecting visions for justice and opportunity with action. Each of us has the responsibility to recognize that our position at Holy Cross is a privilege - a privilege that hopefully students like Marcos will one day enjoy.