Heartfelt Graduation Speech Highlights the Power of Relationships over Accolades

Seton Hall Law’s graduation ceremony was filled with the usual excitement and pride, but it was a deeply personal speech by one of the graduates, James Finnegan, that left a lasting impression. His speech delivered a powerful reminder to everyone present: accomplishments, while significant, pale in comparison to the value of relationships and support from loved ones.

James began by embracing the joyous spirit of the day. His initial tone was light-hearted, filled with anecdotes about the shared challenges of law school, like the perplexing rule of perpetuities. However, the speech soon took a personal turn that highlighted life's true priorities. Last fall, James’s sister Shannon, a 2020 graduate of Seton Hall Law, fell gravely ill with a rare and highly lethal autoimmune disease called acute hemorrhagic leukoencephalitis. “Just like that, all of my law school obligations faded,” James said. “Everything I had been so stressed about, everything that demanded so much energy, suddenly seemed so trivial. I didn’t care about grades or jobs or even graduating. All I wanted was for my sister to survive.”

Shannon’s condition looked grim, and the uncertainty and fear were overwhelming. Yet the outpouring of support from friends and family was extraordinary. “Immediately, Shannon’s vast network mobilized. Everything from prayers and cards to babysitters and meals poured in from friends and family. Her friends contacted doctors and nurses all across the country, searching for any insight to help her fight the disease and to help us comprehend the intensive treatment.”

This support led to Shannon's miraculous recovery. “With all that support behind her, and thanks to incredible care and a few miracles, Shannon overcame the odds. Not only did she survive, but her recovery has astounded the doctors. I’m beyond blessed to have her here today,” James shared.

In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, Shannon’s illness and recovery demonstrate the importance of relationships and how we treat others. “When things went gravely wrong, Shannon’s friends and family didn’t lend their tremendous support because they were impressed with her resume. They helped because of how she treated them, because of the relationships she built with them.”

James urged his classmates to carry this lesson into their legal careers. “Today we enter a profession rooted in competition. The very structure of legal practice is adversarial. Few other professions care so deeply about things like where you went to school, your firm’s ranking, or the prestige of your clerkship. We’ve been pitted against each other for coveted spots at the top of the curve and for the most sought-after jobs. But if we measure success by comparison to others, we will be left unfulfilled no matter the heights of our achievement.”

Instead, James encouraged his peers to focus on the relationships they build and the kindness they show to others. “We graduate today with resumes bearing the fruits of our labor and with degrees officially declaring us Juris Doctors. But the most valuable assets with which we leave law school are the relationships we’ve forged with each other and the reputations we’ve built for ourselves. All the rankings and scores in the world, no matter how high or how low, won’t be there when we’re at our lowest. Friends and family will.”

James’s speech captured the essence of a Seton Hall lawyer: outstanding work paired with sincerity, compassion, and dedication to others. Success is not defined by accolades or titles, but by the strength of our relationships and the support we give and receive in times of need. Shannon, James, and the entire Class of 2024 all share an impressive law degree from Seton Hall, but their highest honor comes from those around them.