A Life Worth Living

Class speaker Jake Fitzpatrick '26 challenges his classmates to measure success not by achievement alone, but by lives rooted in purpose, gratitude and service.

Editor's Note: The following is the commencement address Jake Fitzpatrick '26 delivered to the Class of 2026 on May 24, 2026 at Stifel Theatre.

No one in the SLUH Math Department would argue with the fact that math is not my strong suit…but I do know how to count. And if my counting is correct there are 255 steps between Coach Evans’ blaring boombox to Mr. Schulte and Coach Porter's outstretched fists. 255. The same exact number of graduates in the Class of 2026.

We have done this walk hundreds, maybe even thousands of times. And yes, we may have walked those 255 steps by ourselves at times, but walking together made that trip so much better. You may have not even known the guy next to you. But his mere presence made the oftentimes rainy and gray walk bearable. But what does it mean to walk together? To have a companion. I believe that the 254 men behind me have given that answer better than any class that SLUH has ever seen.

When I walked those sacred 255 steps to my decorated car for the last time as a student just a few days ago, I think I experienced the emotion of bittersweetness for the first time: I felt gratitude for all that SLUH has given me, excitement for the future that lies ahead, but also sadness that something wonderful is coming to an end. Our 255 stories are so very similar and yet so very different, but we have walked with one another til the end.

We don’t have to look far to see a Jesuit example of the bittersweet moments of walking together. St. Francis Xavier, one of the first companions of St. Ignatius, found himself in a similar situation before his first mass in 1537. After Francis was missioned to the far reaches of Goa, India, with Ignatius and the rest of the companions staying in Europe, Francis found himself isolated and perhaps reminiscing on the “glory days” with his school friends.

Jesuit tradition claims that when Xavier would receive letters from his Jesuit friends, he would carefully cut the signatures from the paper and stitch those names "as a treasure" into his cassock, close to his heart. They were men just like us who shared late night Latin study sessions, retreats, and maybe even had their bathroom paper towels removed by administration. But they were men who showed up for him, no matter the distance that divided them.

I know what you guys are probably thinking… enough with the history lesson, and talk about us! Now, there are a lot of reputations about the Class of 2026. Troublemakers. Just a bunch of athletes. Mr. O’Keefe and Mr. Hussung’s favorite class ever. However, what is the true identity of the Class of 2026? To put it simply, I think about 255 young men who showed up for each other. It wasn’t through snaps or shared Instagram reels, but in mind and body. In Acta Non Verba.

Guys who showed up in the academically rigorous times for late night calls working on a long overdue history paper or a last minute Webassign. Jr. Bills who showed up in bizarre costumes, screaming their heads off and “starting riots” in joy-filled moments for state championships and embarrassing ballet performances. Guys who showed up for new experiences, such as wheelchair soccer games and bowling competitions. However, the most important form of showing up has come in difficult times.

March 7th, 2025. As our minds were occupied with physics tests and what we would do for spring break, our friend and classmate, Patrick Laffey and his family were enduring unimaginable sorrow: the passing of his younger sister Nora to cancer. The very next morning, First Friday mass began in the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple, just like always. As I sat up on the altar, preparing to serve mass, I watched a stream of young men flood into the chapel. Most of them from the Class of 2026. I vividly remember looking around the chapel, and with each new face that entered the sacred space, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Love wasn’t just something that Father Stewart preached in homilies, but something that we were living when our brother needed us the most. Some guys were Pat’s friends and others not, but each and every one was there to show their love for him. By 7:45, the pews were packed and stragglers stood in the back. As each member of the Class of 2026 walked by Pat after communion, they offered a hug. Not many words. Just a gift of presence saying “I’ve got you”. Acta Non Verba. And that was enough.

Even if you weren’t there, we’ve shown up in countless other ways. In a world that can be dominated by negativity and anger, we’ve offered listening ears in the Commons. We’ve packed into the co-lab senior room, half studying and half watching soccer highlights, but always laughing. As cliche as it seems, we’ve been there for each other in the absolutely mundane moments of walking through the hallways each day, offering a smile, What's up?, or a primal scream. (You know who you are). Regardless, we have walked through it all together. Acta Non Verba.

For the last month, everyone has been telling us how great we are. And they’re right. But by no means has it been done on our own. We need look no further than those sitting right in front of us. The teachers and staff of SLUH. Teachers who walked with us through the first days of Advisory- adapting on the fly and bringing food for parties, as we were the first class in SLUH history to try this. Teachers who spent hours helping us refine talks, share meals, and mentor us spiritually- all for the leadership of a retreat. Teachers who helped us contemplate our favorite questions of whether A&P was comic or ironic, what the Problem of Evil truly means, or which empire was the most influential in world history. They are teachers who, no matter how unbearable we were during the day, showed up after school for our games, always being some of the loudest voices in the stadium. That’s love. That’s walking each step together. Think of the dozens of teachers, coaches, administrators, security and staff who have taken time from their home lives to make you more wise, more loving, more open, more faithful. Acta Non Verba.

If we look a few rows past the teachers, we will find those who showed up for us first. Our family. Do we really know or appreciate how many hours were sacrificed? Picking us up from BTSM and practices, cooking meals for us even when we buried our heads in our phones. They gave us a shoulder to lean on after a bombed ACT or a bad game. Sitting next to them are our siblings who came to our performances, sometimes even cheering for us. Our names have been stitched onto our families' hearts since the moment we were born, but they have tended the fabric of our souls during these, our last days at home. Acta Non Verba.

What is it that makes this final 15 step walk across this historic stage so bittersweet? Is it the pomp, the tuxedos, the soaring music, hearing our names called and our family cheering even when they shouldn’t? Or is it the fact that we wish we could walk the journey together one last time? Maybe we can take a page from the spiritual forefathers of our school. Like them, some of us will make a journey of roughly two miles to our next home. Another will cross 4,699 miles to make his. Although we may not be wearing rough linen cassocks like St. Francis Xavier, we do have fancy white tuxedos, so I invite you, yes all of you, my brothers in the class of 2026, to place your hand under your lapel, close to your heart, maybe even shut your eyes and quietly reflect: 

What names has St. Louis U. High permanently stitched on your heart? Hold them closely now.

Which friends have been there with us during our joyous celebrations and moments of loss.

Which teachers…

Which teammates or stagemates…

Which coaches…

Which role models…

Just as Francis Xavier stitched the names in his cassock for permanence, we can't let these names leave our hearts. We can’t let the stitching fray. Because the truly bittersweet reality of it is that, God willing, life will bring us many more friendships; more names to be stitched close to our hearts, but these are the first. These are the guys who have shown up. However, the difference between us and St. Francis Xavier is that we won’t carry these jackets with us. This moment will leave us and we’ll have to decide how we will carry the spirit of SLUH on different daily journeys. On different walks.

These walks will bring us success. I gaze out and see future professional athletes, violinists, engineers, teachers, doctors, businessmen … the list goes on. But all of this success, these titles, and wealth of knowledge mean absolutely nothing if we don’t continue to do the easiest thing of simply showing up. Just as Mike so beautifully talked about last night, we must live in the present. Be there to give our moms a shoulder to cry on in all of our lasts this summer, and maybe even in a few minutes. Yes, we should show up for the electric sports games and late night study sessions, but also in all of the breakups, rejections and times of loss. There isn’t one specific answer for being there. Just a question- How can we continue to show up? To walk together and be there in the big moments and the small?

Unlike my good friend McCoy, I was terrified about the thought of high school four years ago. My parents are from different parts of the country and didn’t know what this whole St. Louis high school thing was all about. I didn’t know whether I’d be welcomed or ignored when I took that 255 step walk to the top of the circle drive for the very first time. But with each new season of sports, clubs joined, and moments of learning, I have stitched new names onto my heart. My study partners have turned into companions. My classmates have turned into brothers. No matter who was walking next to me, I knew that a part of my family was there. We are all brothers who can always return to those stitched names and walk the 255 steps home, no matter how far away we are. Because we do not leave this place behind, we carry it with us each and every time we show up. Thank you.

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At SLUH, Jake Fitzpatrick embraced a wide range of leadership opportunities, serving as captain of the cross country and track teams, Sports Editor of the Prep News, president of the Sodality of Our Lady, and in numerous campus ministry and ambassador roles. Along the way, he was recognized with several of the school's highest honors for his leadership, service and character. This fall, Jake will attend Holy Cross College as a seminarian with the Congregation of Holy Cross, grateful for the teachers, mentors and brotherhood at SLUH that have shaped his faith, vocation and desire to serve others.

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Read More

Two other graduating Jr. Bills also addressed their classmates over the graduation weekend. 

Michael Williams '26 received the Jesuit Schools Network Award for best resembling this ideal of “a well-rounded person who is intellectually competent, open to growth, religious, loving and committed to doing justice in generous service to the people of God.” Michael addressed his classmates and guests at the Baccalaureate Dinner. 

Read Michael's Remarks

 

McCoy Amman '26 received the Ed Hawk Award, nominated by his classmates for "his love and dedication to St. Louis University High School, and through his example of working and giving, was most able to influence his class toward success by cooperation and unity." McCoy addressed his classmates and guests during the Commencement Exercises.

Read McCoy's remarks