1971--It Was a Very Good Year!

Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to attend the fortieth class reunion of the Class of 1971. It was a delightful event in so many ways! First of all, this group that graduated 51 strong, had never had a class reunion. Secondly, as they gathered, it was clear from their shrieks and shouts that they each had maintained a fondness for each other and still felt a connection to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School. They shared many common memories of those formative years and stories abounded of the "senior cut day" that lasted only fifteen minutes, basketball, cheerleading and the selection of the cougar for the school mascot.(It sounded like the squirrel was in the running and I am certain that classes that followed were grateful for the choice of the mighty cougar!)Finally, the evening reminded me of the richness that every class brings to the ongoing story of our school and the value that alumni play in our future.
Members of the Class of 1971,diminished by the passing of six classmates, met in almost full attendance for an evening of good conversation, catching up, and sharing memories. Though several members of the class had remained in the Baltimore area, many came from afar for the reunion. Some arrived from Florida, Texas, and Virginia while some came from points north. The theme for their senior year was "Becoming" and many conversations of the evening centered on what they, in fact, became. The accomplishments of their adult lives were shared. Photos of children and grandchildren were passed from one to another. One class member did a great job of creating a booklet with recent biographical information that focused on "What We Became." What I saw that evening was a group of men and women who had shared their growing up years. In retrospect, they appeciated the caring teachers they had, and treasured the experiences in sports, plays, and in leadership roles that helped create the confident adults they became. Though many years passed, there was a bond that remained. As one classmate remarked,"We may not have done a great job of connecting over the years, but we were a class that got along and truly loved one another."
After I met the friendly and energetic members of the Clas of 1971 I began thinking of the dynamic that happens to all classes in a school. Each class is composed of diverse and unique individuals who achieve, accomplish, and succeed based on their own talents, determination, and gifts. Those individuals, however, form a class whose members bond. The class takes on a personality of its own! Some classes are known for their academic excellence, some for athletic prowess, and some for their sense of compassion and service. Each class contributes to the ongoing history and story of the school. Each class takes into itself what I like to call the "Carmel Spirit."
The Carmel Spirit includes the values that center on some foundational tenets. They include cherishing and building a sense of family in the school community, achieving academic excellence according to one's gifts, developing a willingness to serve others, and integrating faith into every aspect of life. This spirit is one which I hope all Carmel students "catch" and then create as they move forward in life. I could feel those qualities the other evening from the members of the Class of 1971 as I have from the classes with whom I have worked over the years.
It is my great hope that as young people graduate, reach adulthood and are able to reflect back on their Carmel experience with the wisdom of years, they appreciate what they learned. I also hope that they support the current efforts of the school to share the Carmel Spirit with a new generation of young people.
So, it was wonderful to meet the Class of 1971! Leonita and Margaret as well as others did a wonderful job of finding classmates, inviting, cajoling, and remembering. It was a special evening for all who attended including me! I know that the Carmel Spirit is thriving among the members of this class and I could tell--even forty years later--that 1971 was truly a very good year!