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I loved watching the Winter Olympics! The glory of winning the gold medal and the drama involved in the pursuit of being the best on the planet at a given sport can create unforgettable moments. I have immense pride and admiration for the athletes who compete for our country. I also marvel at how human potential is stretched to its limits and, if the focus, training and conditions are right, provides an amazing display of excellence for the world to witness. These athletes train with intensity and discipline in order to peak every four years at just the right time. While the athletes rightly get most of our attention, every once in a while we learn more about the coaches and mentors who help these athletes to achieve their potential. Behind every great athlete is a great coach. While these people are generally behind the scenes, they are the people who these high-level athletes lean on for so much including confidence, feedback, and encouragement, especially in the difficult times.
Recently, we celebrated our teachers and staff members during Catholic Schools Week who crossed anniversary milestones of three, five, and ten years of service to our school. I feel honored annually to announce their names in front of a packed all school assembly. With each name I announce, the crowd grows louder and louder as they cheer for each teacher or staff member. From people who drive our students to work, to teachers, to staff members and leadership, to people who serve lunch or work in the office and more, there are so many people who show up behind the scenes to teach and mentor our students so that they can be their best. They work with our students every day for four years and help them develop intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually. Like Olympic coaches, they walk with our students through the moments of triumph and disappointment in their four years of preparation for college. Although they are not preparing our students to compete in international sporting events, one does not need to go far in the halls at our school to see the excellence they model for our students. We are, indeed, blessed with committed mission-driven people who prioritize the needs of students.
After our celebration, I heard from Mr. Hess, one of our staff members, who began at CRJ ten years ago with the founding class. I asked him what keeps him coming back day after day and year after year. He shared that he came to Cristo Rey Jesuit while he was at a crossroads in his life. “When I came here, I was in my fifth year as a teacher, and I was wondering if this was really the right profession for me. I decided to give it one more year, and I started at Cristo Rey Jesuit in 2015. I was inspired every single day that I taught those students, and I got excited about teaching again. We were all learning together, and it made me a better teacher. Throughout my ten years here - to watch the students grow and see the successes they go on to achieve - it fills me with such pride.”
Like coaches of the Olympic athletes, our faculty and staff members walk with our students on their academic journey and take pride in seeing them reach their full potential. They ensure that at the end of four years, when the student reaches their high school pinnacle, their gold medal - the diploma - they are operating at the highest level. While our students may not win an Olympic event, at CRJ they build their skills, stretch themselves beyond what they thought they could do, and ultimately reach new heights. This is the mark of great coaching, mentorship, and teaching, and it’s worth celebrating whether you’re on the ski hill at the Olympics or at school on National Avenue!
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