Haakon Black '19 Speaks at the 2025 Stuart Hall Alumni Induction

On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the Stuart Hall High School Class of 2025 gathered in the Mary Mardel, RSCJ Chapel for Alumni Induction, a meaningful tradition that kicks off the graduates' end-of-year festivities known as Senior Week. This ceremony marks the transition from students to alumni, formally welcoming each member of the graduating class into the global alumni community and affirming the lifelong bond they share with each other and fellow Network Schools around the world. 

The ceremony includes a welcome address, remarks from an alumni speaker, and the presentation of a Sacred Heart pin, Network Passport and Convent & Stuart Hall luggage tag. These symbolic items serve as a reminder that our graduates remain part of something greater, an alumni network rooted in shared values, friendship and a commitment to community, leadership and service. The 2025 ceremony began with thoughtful words from Suzanne Cooke, RSCJ, Provincial for the Society of the Sacred Heart. Sister Cooke offered words of encouragement grounded in the mission and vision of Sacred Heart education. 

Following Sister Cooke’s remarks, Haakon Black '19, the digital assistant and speechwriter for San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, addressed the senior class. Sharing stories of his time at Northwestern and his path to public service, Haakon spoke candidly about navigating the uncertainty of early adulthood and finding strength in the foundation built during his years at Stuart Hall. His message encouraged graduates to embrace the unknown, say yes to new opportunities, and trust that their Sacred Heart education and values will guide them forward. 

Explore Haakon’s speech in its entirety below. 

Let’s Go Hall!

It’s been six years since I walked out of this building, but this view never gets old. Thank you for having me, and congratulations to the Class of 2025 for all your hard work.

Growing up in San Francisco for the first 18 years of my life, I didn’t realize how good I had it... until my first Chicago winter.

Just picture the California kid — never lived a winter day in his life — walking to class at Northwestern with two jackets on, wondering where the sun went. To this day, I still think about those freezing mornings. I don’t know how I did it. Going to English class in a snowstorm is not easy. But eventually, the seasons passed, and by the end of each year, I’d find myself thinking it wasn’t that bad. I share that not just because it’s funny, but because it reminds me of what it feels like to enter something unknown. And that’s where many of you are right now. College is on the horizon. And with it... some nerves. 

You might be wondering, How am I going to get through this?

Here’s the truth: Stuart Hall prepared me for it all, just like it’s prepared you. The rigorous classes, the teachers who want to see you succeed, the friendships — they gave me the tools I needed to handle whatever came next. It’s not going to happen all at once. You are going to need to ask for help, change habits and learn to be okay with messing up a few times. I had to figure out how to study for midterms AND went through 3 pairs of snow boots before I found ones that fit me.

There were moments when college felt overwhelming, or the winters felt never-ending. But I found my way through it, and you will find yours too. Still, there was one thing Stuart Hall hadn’t prepared me for — figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I went into college undecided, and I eventually chose political science because I knew I wanted to make an impact, and I saw public service as a way to create real change in people’s lives. So when I moved back home to San Francisco, I decided to volunteer for Daniel Lurie’s mayoral campaign.

I helped out wherever I could — staffing fundraisers, posting on social media, taking on any task that came my way. And after a couple of months, they offered me a formal job: a scheduling and body man role. A body man is where you drive and staff the candidate or politician to all of their events, whatever that may look like, day or night. I had never heard of this job, and honestly, I was hesitant. But I said yes. It wasn’t the dream job I wanted out of college, but I said yes. I didn’t care about the role, I just wanted to get my foot in the door, and I took that first step.

And it turned out, the most valuable skill I brought to the campaign at that moment wasn’t my degree — it was knowing how to drive in San Francisco. 

I ended up spending nine months driving the future mayor of San Francisco around the city. I was in the field every day. Working weekends. Posting videos to Instagram Stories that the would-be Mayor would text me at 10 p.m. And every bit of that experience — every random task, every long day — helped lead me to City Hall.

Today, I get to do what I love: As part of the Mayor’s Office of Communications, I run the Mayor’s social media and I write his speeches. And when I look back at those 11 months on the campaign, I realize it prepared me for this role. I spent a lot of time with the now Mayor, getting to know his voice and learning what San Franciscans cared about.... I probably could still deliver his campaign stump speech from memory. And, looking back, all that hard work doesn’t seem so bad. In fact, it even sounds kind of fun. 

So here’s my message to you: When you're just starting out — say yes. 

Say yes to the job you’re unsure about. Say yes to the opportunity that intimidates you. Say yes because there is something to learn from every opportunity, even if sometimes that's learning what you don't want to do.

Good luck over these next four years. Soak it in. Push yourself. And enjoy the last few weeks of high school — you’ve earned it. And if you remember nothing else from today, just remember this: If you’re going to a cold-weather city... bring a BIG coat.