With almost three years of college under my belt, a lot has happened in my life since completing high school. Since graduation, I've declared my major, and have immersed myself in classes that have given me insight towards my future career. All of this, along with other things I've experienced so far in college, have somewhat distanced me from high school. However, I can admit that memories from my days in the halls at Salesianum School still come up in my mind quite often. While the nostalgia that I hang on to from my days at Salesianum usually comes to mind naturally, certain happenings within the school community can cause this nostalgia to flood my mind in all-consuming waves.
On the twelfth of March, the Salesianum community was shaken by the passing of senior Tyler Brown. My younger brother is also a senior at Salesianum, so I became aware of this terrible news early that Saturday morning. I definitely felt uneasy for the remainder of that weekend, and as news spread, I'm sure other students and alumni felt the same way. Although I didn't personally know Tyler, he was a familiar face that I could recall from my days as a fellow student. Regardless of how well you know someone in a situation like this, it's tough to see things of this nature happen. The phrase "hitting close to home" comes to mind when tragedies like this occur, and the brotherhood of Salesianum most certainly felt the impact of Tyler's death.
This concept of brotherhood is something that sets Salesianum apart. As with many other all-boys schools, the camaraderie between students is strong. However, at Salesianum, the community is positively adamant. I felt myself reliving this brotherhood as I viewed videos, pictures, and heard recounts from current students about Tyler's funeral. All of these brought back the same sense of pride that I was filled with on graduation night. I don't think any other high school student in America has ever received a funeral that even rivaled Tyler's. I truly believe the state of Delaware saw Salesianum for what it was; a school full of incredible, respectful young men.
The way that Salesianum came together for Tyler will certainly go down in the almost 110 years of history of Salesianum. This history is definitely a major factor of why Sallies had reached the status of the famed institution that it is. It's not surprising that some families have sent generations of sons to Salesianum for their education. The experience is almost impossible to put into words. For me, it's tough to imagine that all of the memories that I hold onto only took up four years. I'm sure many other alumni can relate; the experiences that I shared in with my Salesian brothers will be something I hold onto for the rest of my life. No matter what other memories I fill my mind with, my memories from Salesianum will always exist alongside them rather vividly.
Although the word "gentleman" is reiterated ad nauseam during the four years of a Salesianum education, it took this repetition to truly understand the full-person changes that completing the journey entailed. High school is a pivotal time during a person's maturation. Sallies takes advantage of this, and teaches boys exactly what it means to be a man. The stringent dress and conduct code was DEFINITELY irritating for students (sorry, Mr. DiNardo; it's true). However, these policies, along with the rigorous curriculum that Salesianum offers, teach students a certain type of discipline that is rarely seen today. It's no wonder why many students have gone forward from Sallies to achieve great things in society. The Salesianum experience truly focuses on the whole person, and I'm sure each and every alumni can acknowledge this great education that they received.
The motto of Salesianum is "Tenui nec dimittam". This is a Latin phrase that translates to "I have taken hold and will not let go." For each student that walks the halls of Salesianum, this phrase has a different meaning. To me, it reminds me that Salesianum is a part of my life that I will always hold close to my heart. My first memories as a Sallies student were filled with anxiety, and the belief that I'd never be able to adjust to the workload or the responsibility that attending a challenging high school carried with it. However, my memory recalls that my attitude quickly shifted to a sense of pride in my school. These memories are just a few of the things that come to and stick out in my mind and highlight my high school experience. The lessons I learned within the walls of that school have shaped me into the man that I am today. I'm proud of my alma mater, and I'm confident in Salesianum's ability to change people for the better. Although I'm not personally friends with every student to ever walk the halls of Sallies, all of those young men, including Tyler Brown, are my Salesian brothers. Together, we form a positively unshakeable brotherhood that will certainly outlast every one of us.
I'm proud to call myself an alumni of Salesianum School, the greatest high school in America.
