December 2024 President’s Pen with Preston Kendall
“What’s happening at Cristo Rey St. Martin?” is a question I’m often asked. After days like today, I’m tempted to answer, “What ISN’T happening at CRSM?!” It would be a much shorter response.
I’m just home from our quarterly board meeting. We finished around 8:00pm with the wind howling out of the northwest. Just as I was pulling out of the parking lot, a snow squall came up. It was a veritable whiteout. Within seconds, the lines on the streets and highway were covered. Visibility dropped to less than 200’. With no streetlights on the stretch of road from Waukegan to Lake Forest, cars and even semi-trucks had their emergency lights on and were pulled off on the shoulder. I chose to creep along with 4-wheel drive, but it still took me over forty-five minutes to cover just 6 miles. The funniest thing happened when I hit the 6-mile mark at Route 60, the snowflakes stopped abruptly and the street was clear. The squall, as extreme as it was, had been concentrated in a small area around our campus.
As I began to relax behind the wheel with the drive not demanding 110% of my senses and concentration, it occurred to me how much those 6 miles are like December at CRSM. The lead up to exams, the time-crunch of fitting in so many activities before Christmas break, the heightened anxiety and stress that comes with all that… it’s difficult to step back and appreciate the beauty of the snow swirling in the wind and remember that the world is so much bigger than the 200’ in front of you. December’s frenetic pace demands your full attention.
The day started with a meeting of the college counselors giving an update as acceptances are beginning to come it. We are hoping this will be our sixth year in-a-row for every member of the senior class to be accepted to at least one bachelor’s program. Initial results look promising! More students than ever are expressing interest in STEM-related majors. Healthcare and medicine, engineering, computer science, accounting and business represent more than 50% of CRSM college applications. One of our seniors just completed an interview with MIT. He wants to study aeronautical engineering. I introduced him to a visitor and bragged that he was also on the verge of earning his pilot’s license at Waukegan airport. He quickly corrected me, “No, Mr. Kendall, that’s Ricardo who’s becoming a pilot. I’m going to design the planes he’s going to fly them.” What a riot!
By the way, when the visitor left, I thanked him for his time and he said, “No. Thank you. I can’t begin to tell you how uplifting this visit has been!”
You must walk past Campus Ministry to get to and from the counseling offices and as I was getting back to my office, I nearly knocked down a display board for a fundraiser the students are holding to benefit young asylum seekers at the Viator House of Hospitality. Students use donations to vote on a faculty or staff member. The “winner” must dress as Santa in full red and white regalia, including hat, beard, belt, and boots! Our new Athletic Director and a beloved Spanish teacher are tied for the lead with our Principal not far behind. It occurred to me I could drop a $20 in Mike Odiotti’s ballot box to seal the deal, but I don’t want to rig the election.
Campus Ministry just finished their Freshmen Retreat two Saturdays ago. It is an all-day affair on campus and is completely run and led by Junior and Senior volunteers. 52 upperclassmen volunteered, giving up not only the retreat Saturday but 3 additional Saturdays prior for planning and preparation. That’s 25% or 1 out of every 4 Juniors and Seniors giving their time and talent, sharing themselves and their own personal faith journeys with our 9th graders. Inspiring!
Later in the day, I was stopped by two of our Corporate Work Study staff. One student-worker has a job with “Kids Rank!” – a non-profit at Naval Station Great Lakes serving children of active military personnel when they are deployed or must move to their next duty assignment. Because of the student’s outstanding work, he is being invited to go with his colleagues to the White House. They were seeking guidance from me to ensure he could attend with the school’s and his parent’s permission. Stay tuned. He will certainly have some stories to tell if it all works out.
One of our newest board members stopped by a little early. As we walked toward the classroom for the meeting, we had to navigate passed our cheer squad using the Student Union area for practice because our boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were sharing the gym, sneaking in one more practice themselves before the gym turned in to our theater space. This weekend, students are putting on their latest production, “Cinderella Wore Combat Boots,” a parody of several fairy tales.
It was quite the scene as we were talking in the Student Union when yet another student who was studying with friends close by, got up, walked over to us, and extended his hand to our board member. He introduced himself and welcomed him to our school. This student had no idea it was a new board member, he simply knew the person was an adult in the building whom he did not recognize. Moments like these remind me of just how extraordinary and outward-looking our CRSM community is, always trying to be persons for and about others.
It’s easy to forget what is truly important with everything going on all at once, especially in the frenzied squall before break. So many things demand our attention. It takes a concerted effort to remember that this is Advent – the time of Emmanuel or “God with us.” I’ve come to the realization that Advent isn’t so much about preparing for our Savior’s coming as it is a constant invitation to remember that the world is so much bigger than the 200’ in front of you. There is beauty at work and God is actively in our midst through the people around us. That’s certainly my experience at CRSM.
My friend Fr. Foley, founder of the whole Cristo Rey movement often says, “If our only prayer is to say thank you, it is enough.” Thank you for supporting CRSM. May your holidays be filled with the awareness of God’s presence and love in your life.
¡Viva Cristo Rey!
