Dear Saint Patrick,
It is hard to believe that my time at Saint Patrick is coming to a conclusion. I remember attending the summer football camps way back in 7th grade. Ever since I first step foot on that back field, I knew St. Pat’s would be my home for the next four years. Current students treated me like I was already part of the Brotherhood. The Saint Patrick community has been opening and welcoming from the start. I was nervous moving from a CPS school to a Catholic High School. I was also nervous that it would be difficult to make friends because I was the only kid from my grade school to attend St. Pat’s. However as soon as I entered St. Pat’s I was surrounded by a diverse group of students that made me feel at home.
The Brotherhood at Saint Patrick cannot be put into words. This is because Brotherhood to each Shamrock means something different. This isn’t a bad thing, this shows how each student is unique and doesn’t fall into the mold of a typical private high school student. Personally, I have seen Brotherhood at St. Pat’s on the football field. Playing football at St. Pat’s has allowed me to bond with a special group of guys that I otherwise would have never met. I will never forget the memories that we shared in the hot Aux Gym during camp week. It was just a solid group of teammates enjoying each other’s company. No distractions, no schoolwork, just Shamrocks living in the moment.
My experience at Shamrock High has prepared me not only for college and my career, but the values in life that are most important to me. Taking the INCubator course junior year was one of the most eye opening courses I have taken at St. Pat’s. The entrepreneurship of creating your own company set my mind on my prospective major and career choice. The elements that we studied allowed me to find passion in what I wanted to study in college. Pursuing an accounting or finance major in college was all because of the coursework I took at St. Pat’s. Mr. Wojnar’s excellent guidance throughout the course is what made me choose to pursue business further. Mr. Wojnar bleeds green and gold, and implements the values that Saint Patrick stands for into his lessons. By relating problems that we were trying to solve to his own personal life, it allowed me to better understand and learn all aspects of business and entrepreneurship. His course has allowed me to find something I am passionate about and pursue something I truly believe in.
Another one of the most powerful experiences I have had were the Kairos retreats I led this year. By participating in these retreats that St. Pat’s offered I have been able to deepen my relationship with many of my classmates as well as faculty members. Listening to the stories that my fellow classmates told empowered me to be the best I can be. By growing closer to myself, to others, and to God, I was able to mature from a teenage boy into a man.
Maturity to me is the most important value that I have learned here over the past four years. The idea goes far beyond the rigorous AP/PACC classes I have taken. I have matured through helping my other classmates, serving my community, and leading underclassmen down the right path. Saint Patrick High School is not a 7:45 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. deal. I have matured by balancing my schedule with school, work and extracurricular activities. I have matured by seeking help from teachers or other students when I needed it. Most importantly, I have matured by experiencing a diverse culture of future leaders, teachers, and successful people at Saint Patrick. The culture that Saint Patrick created cannot be found anywhere else. It is unique and has shaped me into who I am today, and this experience is something I will never forget.
Next year I will be pursuing a degree in Accounting at Case Western Reserve University. Leaving this place that I have called home for the past four years will be difficult, but I know that Saint Patrick High School has prepared me to tackle any subject. I would like to sincerely thank all of the teachers, counselors, coaches, and staff that have supported me throughout my time here. To my classmates, you were always there for me in good times and bad. Thank you for your friendship, help with schoolwork, and advice. Although my time as a Saint Patrick student will end when I walk out of the doors at Holy Name Cathedral, my heart will remain here at this grand old school.
Go Shamrocks!
Sincerely,
Nicholas Herman ‘19
