I was choosing which high school to attend and my eyes were originally set on other schools; that is, until I came to shadow at Saint Patrick High School. I remember walking through the doors, being handed a hoodie, and being blown away by the sense of Brotherhood I saw in every classroom and hallway. I chose Saint Patrick High School, even though my other classmates chose other high schools, leaving me the only Saint Frances of Rome Roman to attend. I came here without friends and was afraid I wouldn’t be able to find any but I was openly invited in by my fellow Shamrocks.
In everything I have done here at Saint Patrick High School, I have seen a sense of Brotherhood, be it in the classroom, on the baseball field, or in the brutal, rigorous gauntlet of fire that is an academic team tournament. I have stressed with students before math tests, cheered with students at sports games, and enjoyed my time here with students. I’ve made bonds with Shamrocks I never would have thought would talk to me or that I’d have anything in common with but we here at Saint Patrick have more in common than we think.
I understand we may take it for granted now, this bond we all share, but it is probably the main reason why I chose and continue to attend this Lasallian establishment. I have no doubt that I could have succeeded at any high school but I don’t believe I would share such a connection with my friends, teachers, and my faith if it were not for Saint Patrick High School. It is this Brotherhood and the love for green and gold that permeates through the hallways and classrooms in much the same way our love for beef day does. It’s everywhere around us and we do not need to look very hard to see it.
As I look back on my time here so far, I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment and I can’t wait for my last year to be just as filled with happy moments as the others. While I certainly do look forward and see daunting challenges like standardized tests, college applications and adulthood, I have no doubt that fellow Shamrocks will be there be to help me through the tough times. So, I ask this of you: take a second to stop and appreciate the brothers you have here at Saint Patrick, as your bond with them may stay with you for the rest of your life. Go Shamrocks.
