|
Hello, my name is Timothy Naughton, and I am currently a Junior at West Virginia University studying Health Services Administration. I graduated from Saint Mary School in 2019. During my pre-k through 8th-grade years at SMS, I learned much about the “real world” that I did not understand at the time. Saint Mary taught us the core values and morals that we all need to build the life that we want to have. It taught me that nothing is possible without a great faith-based foundation, as well as the right morals and virtues to guide you through life.
The biggest challenge I faced while attending Saint Mary came when mandatory community service began in 6th grade. I was not opposed but simply did not see the point of doing work for people for free at the time. Saint Mary taught me that service can bring you more joy than anything else in this life. Neither money nor fame can buy the amount of gratitude one feels after completing a few hours of service and helping those in need. Service has now become an even bigger part of my life, as I have joined a Fraternity that hosts multiple philanthropic events and service projects throughout the year. WVU also requires 25 hours of service every year for any Public Health major, so I continue to do other smaller service acts to fulfill that requirement. I have never seen service as a requirement. Saint Mary gave me the service pillar in my life that I needed. I have continued to use what Saint Mary taught me in becoming my Fraternity’s Philanthropy Chair, where we raised over $20,000 during our Derby Days week last year for Huntsman Cancer Institute.
With the many traditions of Saint Mary School, the little ones are many of the most important and memorable to me. The two traditions I cherish the most to this day would be playing outside of Mrs Goworeck’s classroom after school and being able to walk to the Junction after school as I got older. I will always remember playing on the lawn while the Chapel across the street let out white smoke, letting us know Pope Francis had been chosen as our new Pope. Everyone rejoicing on the lawn showed the bond we all shared through our Catholic faith. Seeing my friends day in and day out at Saint Mary is what I miss most.
What does “Passionately Catholic. Academically Excellent. Filled with Joy" mean to me? To me, it means living every day of your life based on the foundation of your Catholic faith and faith in Christ, staying academically consistent, and living life doing the things you love. You only live once; you might as well do the things you find joy in.
While at Saint Mary, I first became an altar server during my 5th grade year, with both of my siblings following me in doing so. I also played three sports for the school from 5th grade on, football, basketball, and baseball, where we won 2 championships in 4 appearances. I often reflect on my time playing sports at SMS and am forever grateful for the coaches, teammates, and things I learned during my time playing there.
Now I have less than half of my college career left, but while here I have spent it joining the Fraternity, Sigma Chi, as well as being elected for the Executive Board twice, as Magister and Risk Manager. The amount I have learned from this experience cannot be put into words. From the people I have met to the people I will continue to meet through WVU and beyond, they have all taught me something about myself. After these next 3 semesters I do not know what will happen, but I do know that God has the right plan set for me, so there is no need to be nervous for the future.
| 
