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Mooney seniors exhorted to follow passions
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
Don’t be afraid of failure because it might be your best teacher, a 1983 Cardinal Mooney High School graduate told this year’s graduating class.
“Pursue those things in life that you love,” said Robert Boniface, director of design for the Chevrolet Volt, “follow your passions.”
To illustrate his point, he shared his story – how he planned to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a degree in medicine but really loved to draw cars. Or as he said, “a story about failure and starting over.”
He had a rocky academic start at Vanderbilt University, Boniface said at Saturday’s commencement. But he persevered, graduated and found an accounting job.
“Hard work pays off, particularly when faced with adversity,” he said.
But he found he wasn’t particularly good at accounting and still really loved cars.
He quit his job and headed for art school. He struggled there, as well, but kept at it — and was eventually offered a job in the transportation-design industry.
“The journey has already begun for the class of 2010,” Boniface said. “The road is not always going to be smooth, but that should not keep you from venturing off the four-lane highways.”
Mark DelSignore, who graduated Saturday, said he’s ready for the journey.
“I’m ready to move on. I don’t want to be in high school anymore. I’m ready to go to college,” DelSignore said. “I think that’s the way life was set up. You go into something, and it’s fun, and then when it ends, you’re ready to go, you’re ready to move on.”
DelSignore will attend Youngstown State University. He is undecided about his career field.
He will miss the friendships he’s built over the last four years, though.
Macy Ucchino, a fellow graduate, agreed, saying she’ll miss “the Mooney family.”
“They’re amazing people, and we’re blessed to have them in our lives.”
Ucchino said commencement day was bittersweet, as she thought about the past four years but also was glad to have made it to this point.
Angela Stana agreed. She said she will miss the many traditions the students have.
“Mooney’s a school of tradition,” she said.
Ucchino plans to attend Ohio State University to become an editor. Stana will attend Walsh University to study physical therapy.