The Mirror of Purpose
Our actions are a mirror of our purpose. They express our beliefs and illuminate our path. Our personal purpose is a manifestation of our faith in ourselves and what we can become.
The Fall has an interesting place in our hearts. It’s not because it’s our favorite semester but because it is the last semester of the year. Thus, it is only natural that we reflect on this semester and our overall performance throughout the year.
The Challenge of Conclusion
Concluding something isn’t easy. We tend to have more starts than conclusions in our lives. As we look back at our students’ achievements, we celebrate their gifts and courage. Little did they know what they would attain, whether by joining us or not.
One of the most remarkable things about the graduation ceremony is hearing the leaders and teachers speak. These heroes gave their time so our students could have the best of what Cumorah offers. Their words were planned to leave a lasting impression on everyone before they returned home.
Small Steps, High Standards
Kelly Shepherd, who works at Cumorah and served as a mentor and advisory couple with his wife, spoke to the students.
Addressing the students and body of Cumorah, he showed them a small stone. It was a metaphor for a principle that is true in any circumstance: “Every great building starts with a small stone,” he said. Just like our lives—every remarkable event begins with small steps.
Kelly’s powerful illustration is a lasting lesson for our students. Although they will return home with their heads full of dreams and hopes, they will carry this wisdom forever.
Cumorah Academy is similar to a tapestry, where each student contributes to its beauty and size. Each student brings their presence to our story. Seeing what they have learned from our teachers and mentors is truly inspiring.
The Beginning of Purpose Fulfilled
Despite what it might look like, the graduation wasn’t a farewell after all. It was more of a final encouragement before they returned home to fulfill their purposes. This feeling was beautifully expressed through Iain Saunders’s final words about our students.
Always the poet, Iain wrote a poem for our students. Among his lines were the following:
The goal is yours to decide if it gets done.
Yours to use what you’ve studied, to weave what you’ve spun.
Yours to work, not shirk, till the work is done.
Yours to live, yours to give, yours to shine, yours to stun!
No, this road’s just beginning, and it’s not always fun.
But you are Cumorah! Our daughter, our son.
Many students arrived with different goals. Some came seeking ideas to improve their business ventures. Others came to develop their English skills. And many others came searching for a sense of purpose.
Observing the faces of each student—their smiles and the light within them—reveals a brilliant future ahead. Part of our purpose is to make sure each student becomes the hero and protagonist of their own story.
You can see a little of the ceremony in the clip below:
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Photos by Natalia Lopez
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
