Attending Gonzaga has been the highlight of my life up to this point. Gonzaga has taught me many life lessons over my four years.
First, on the academic side, I have learned numerous lessons over a vast curriculum from how to write five-paragraph essays in English class to integrals and derivatives in math class to translating the Aeneid in Latin class. Additionally, I learned an important life skill in managing my time. At Gonzaga, I had to learn how to manage time to complete my homework and study for tests while competing in sports and extracurricular activities.
Another important life skill I learned was to build relationships with teachers. At Gonzaga, I had to form connections and cultivate relationships, which, for example, came in handy when I needed teacher recommendations for college. At Gonzaga, I learned one of the most essential skills: I learned to communicate with peers and teachers. I learned to communicate with teachers about missing class or missing assignments in a formal way, but I also learned how to convey my thoughts in an understandable way through discussions in English class and Socratic Seminars in Ethics and Latin classes.
I didn’t know many kids attending Gonzaga when I was in eighth grade, so I learned how to build deep and meaningful relationships with friends. One way I got to build relationships with friends was at Gonzaga events. Here, I learned what a true community and brotherhood look like. I experienced the Gonzaga community at Gonzaga football and soccer games, the Go Gonzaga Beat St John’s Pep Rally, my junior year prom, homecoming dances and even just walking in the halls to class talking to my friends.
Another great experience I had at Gonzaga was serving the marginalized in our society. Service is an essential part of any Gonzaga’s man journey. I had experienced so many shocking and eye-opening service events at Gonzaga. I traveled to Kansas City on a summer immersion trip to see how the poor lived and how to better conserve energy. I served dinner at the McKenna Center on a couple of Thursday nights and heard stories of what being homeless was like and how they came to be there. I gained a perspective on issues that I would never have imagined if I didn’t attend Gonzaga. Gonzaga truly lives up to its motto that it forms men for and with others.
Another aspect of my life that I gained a new perspective on at Gonzaga was my faith. At Gonzaga, I grew in my faith and began to understand what type of person I was. Gonzaga had many spiritual retreats like Kairos and sophomore retreat where I deepened my faith as well as understanding of myself. I reflected on my actions and who I was as a person each day during the Examen, which is something I really coveted at Gonzaga. At Gonzaga, I learned to become a better, happier person.
Finally, the most important lesson I learned at Gonzaga was gratitude. I had so many cool experiences like attending Kairos, playing Gonzaga golf, going on my immersion trip, taking a trip to Disney and spending time in the classroom or the cafeteria with my friends. I loved every second of it. I am so thankful for the gift that I received from my parents to go to this school and so grateful for what this school has given to me.