Page 45 - Salesianum - Winter 2019

Tell us a bit more about why you chose Salesianum for high school, and, during your time here, what are a few of your fondest memories?
“A big part of my childhood was in Scouting, and I
loved the comradery I experienced through personal development, leadership and camping with my friends in the program, many of whom continue to be my closest friends 10 years later. I knew at Salesianum that I would receive an excellent education, but also was interested
in the idea of brotherhood that every person associated with the school expressed with passion. I knew that at Salesianum, I would develop not only academically, but was hoping to create friends for life.
However, the reasons I chose to go at the age of 14 are very different from the reasons I loved it and truly believe in Salesianum’s mission today. I found academic rigor and a community of brothers as I suspected. However,
I didn’t expect that community to so well nurture my passions so that I could become a young man truly ready to understand and pursue my vocation. I gained self- confidence, which allowed me to explore my passions without fear and through genuine interest. Along the way, I found an incredible community of teachers and role models who were truly committed to the academic excellence and personal growth of each student, many of whom I still consider mentors to this day.
I loved that there was always a spiritual component associated with what was done. Following the second SALSTHON my senior year, where the community raised over $150,000, we met the next morning with a Mass. Similarly, after the Silent Night basketball game where we raised $5,000 for Hands Together, a Salesian organization working to deliver portable water to rural Haiti, we finished the night with a small Mass. Even in classes, there was a focus on not only what we were doing, but why, and how it was advancing missions of justice. That’s a very special part of Salesianum that few communities do as well. Our spirit weeks were always special. I remember
my freshman year (I played football, or at least tried, ha!) during spirit week was the beginning of when I felt part of the Sallies community. Our freshman football team
left a pep rally early to go play St. Mark’s, and though
a freshman-level game meant very little, we received a huge standing ovation from the whole student body. For
a 14-year-old who’s trying to find his way at a big, new school, that feels pretty special. I also think about the more intimate moments, of a close friend on Encounter who confides in you about a personal life struggle they have been bearing the burden of alone; or congratulating someone for a successful theater production or for getting into their dream college. I suppose more important than the moments were the relationships between classmates and teachers, the importance of which is shown by the fact that they continue to this day.
There are too many special people to list, truly. Principal Fr. Beretta, OSFS has been one of my best mentors in
life, not only in how he cares about students and respects them as colleagues, but I so greatly admire his orientation towards justice and consider our relationship to be one
of my most important. The Center for Faith and Justice Director, Mr. Zach Ryan, was equally as influential. His energy is infectious and he has the passion to take ideas and turn them into realities to better communities in real ways. Former Director of Guidance Mr. Will Yarnell has a true vocation for the work he does, and without him I would not have been so lucky to be accepted to BC, nor receive financial support, or even be able to properly articulate my desires to go into the field of medicine.
Mr. Dan Kegelman ’85 and Mrs. Patti White both made difficult subjects (Calculus and Chemistry) interesting and accessible, even to the point of my choosing to
study this field in college. Señora McLaughlin and Señor Kramer gave me the building blocks of Spanish that I use every day to communicate in Colombia and advance the important work of the Fulbright. But I also think of those who served as mentors outside of class, including Mr. Patrick Dever ’91, Mr. Phil Vavala ’66, Mr. Brian Cox, Mr. Bill McGowan ’97 and Mr. William Sutherland.”
SALESIANUM. WHERE MODERN MEN BEGIN. 43