Words from This Year’s Valedictorian: Lucas Flood ’26
As I thought about what I wanted to say today, I found myself returning to a phrase I’ve heard hundreds of times throughout my life. Before I share it, I should say that I am incredibly fortunate to have a family whose support, empathy, and belief in me have never wavered. I’m deeply grateful for the sense of stability, perspective, and encouragement that they provide, even if I don’t always express it. This is not to say, however, that our house is free from chaos, anxiety, and stress. I take pride in being the main provider of that.
Whenever my dad, sister, or I are worried about something, we often turn to my mom, who, despite having a full-time job, also serves as our therapist, life coach, and everything in between. Her best piece of advice is delivered in five simple words: “Everything happens for a reason,” and I wholeheartedly believe this, not because it promises that life will be perfect—far from it, something many of us have come to understand over the past two years— but because it reminds us to trust that even when things don’t go according to plan, there is still value in what follows.
I’ll give you an example. In September, my grandfather passed away. While he’d never take credit for it, he was the glue, connecting his four children, 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His passing was very tough on all of us. He was a lifelong Blue Jays fan, and in a strange way, it was the Jays’ success that brought us together in that time. After every win, texts would pour into the family group chat: “That one was for Grandpa.” Everything happens for a reason.
As I reflect on what, for some of us, is 10 years at Crescent, I realize that this philosophy is deeply connected to our journey. Crescent has never demanded perfect grades; calculus made that abundantly clear this year. We’ve never been asked for flawless athletic ability, although three FNL victories suggest we’ve had our moments. We have never been expected to have everything figured out, whether in the classroom, robotics lab, on Innes Field, in the gym, on the stage, or even on Zoom.. The expectation has always been that when we face challenges and setbacks, we get back up. And in doing so, we learn not just how to fix the robot or solve the physics problem, but how to be better people, teammates and leaders.
Character has always been the defining trait of Crescent School. And to me, this is how it is built. Not in the wins, not in the perfect moments, but in what we choose to do when things don’t go our way. Because when you believe that everything happens for a reason, you’re believing that every setback is pointing you in the right direction, towards a lesson you need to hear, a value you need to develop, a better version of yourself.
I’ve tried to hold onto this phrase, but I won’t pretend that it is always easy to believe. There was one moment in particular where I struggled more than any other. Jack. I couldn’t understand how such a horrible, cruel thing could happen to someone so kind, positive and full of life. I still don’t, and I’m not sure I ever will. But even to this day, it surprises me how much I’ve learned from Jack. Something as simple as waking up each morning with a smile on my face, to things more significant like never taking the life I live for granted. And that just because he may be gone doesn’t mean he isn’t with us.
Don’t get me wrong, I would give just about anything for Jack to be here with us today. For him to have been with us for our last first day of school, our last House Day, the grad retreat, and prom. For him to walk across this stage today. For one more round of golf with him. But life is not perfect. Instead of drowning in this imperfection, I choose to believe that while life might not always be fair, in every moment there is something to be learned.
That belief is a lot easier to hold when you are surrounded by the right people. If the last 10 years have taught me anything, it is that I could not have asked for a better group of people.
As I said goodbye to my two mentors, Mr. Stephens and Ms. Kunytsya, after our last Mentor Group on Monday, Mr. Stephens left me with something special. He said that one of the phrases he finds strikingly true is this: “There has never been a greater need for men of character.” The world can be a cruel, complicated, unforgiving place where some take advantage of others to get ahead. I think we can all agree that holds some truth. Crescent has spent years empowering us to do good and to be good to others, even when it isn’t easy.
Today, we emerge from this place as young men of character. While it might be the end of our time here, it’s the beginning of what I know will be a remarkable journey for each one of us, filled with hope, discovery, growth, but also uncertainty, setbacks, and moments that don’t make sense at all. When these moments come, choose to believe that everything happens for a reason, because both you and the world will be better off because of it.
Thank you! And congratulations to the Class of 2026.
