StC News

Senior Reflects on the Strength of StC's Community

Alexander Mayer '20 speaks about his lifelong connection to StC.
 
Alexander Mayer '20 has been a student at St. Christopher’s School since junior kindergarten, and he feels a deep connection to his classmates and teachers. He’s known many of them most of his life. 

On Wednesday, Mayer gave a powerful chapel talk about what it’s meant for him to be a “faculty kid” and the strength of the StC community. He explained how growing up on campus has given him a strong sense of belonging and made a point of recognizing everyone’s value. “There might be some of you who do not feel the deep connection that I am talking about. But know this, you are a part of this community. Without you, this community would be different and missing something,” he said.

Mayer enjoyed sharing his experience and expressing his gratitude. “It was really cool to just look out and see all these faces that I’m familiar with and know that, with almost every one of them, there’s a unique story,” said Mayer. “It helped my talk feel more powerful.”

Read Mayer’s talk below: 

Everybody who was here for Middle School knows Mr. Dickinson. Even if you did not have him for class, you knew that he was always friendly and easy-going. I walked into his class and tried to start figuring it out, like at the beginning of every new class. As he was taking roll on the first day, he called,  “Alexander Mayer.” I raised my hand and said, “Here.” Then, he said something along these lines: “You have grown up so much. I remember you when you were just a little boy eating dinner in the dining hall.”      

Growing up here as a faculty kid, this is something that I have grown used to: teachers knowing me before I really get to know them. Having these closer connections really makes St. Christopher’s community seem smaller and very close-knit.   

A strong community is something that our school takes pride in. You have no doubt heard at some point that it is one of our defining aspects, especially if you have paid any attention to how the school markets itself. However, this statement about the strong community is firmly based on truth. Students here are close to one another, both within and across grades. But students also build strong relationships with their teachers. Every one of us can most likely name a faculty member that we can talk to whenever we want to or just hang out with them during a free period or break. I hope that everyone here has someone here that they are close to. This closeness really helps to make our community feel more like a large extended family. 

Building on the extended family, we have almost every member. From the grandparents that are seasoned with experience to the quirky aunts and uncles to almost every type of cousin imaginable, we have them in our family. Like with an extended family, everybody knows everybody to some degree, but more importantly, everybody cares for one another. When everybody comes together, you might not know someone that well, but you do know who they are, that you care for them and that they care for you.

One of the best examples of how this family comes together is dinner. When we eat dinner at school, I see many of my teachers with their families, but I see a different side of them. I see their human side as we sit back over a plate of Flik food and talk about the day and what all is going on in our lives outside of school. While we eat, the younger kids run around and play under the watchful eyes of the Middle School daughters. Some nights at dinner, there seem to be more kids under the age of 7 than adults. This just goes to show how connected the family is. Throughout my experience here as an 18-year senior, not because I reclassed four times, but because I grew up here on campus, I have found that this deep connection between everyone has been constant. 

There might be some of you who do not feel the deep connection that I am talking about. But know this, you are a part of this community. Without you, this community would be different and missing something. In my experience, everybody here wants what is best for you. Throughout the day, I hope you will try to talk to people that you might not always interact with. You will be surprised to find how willing people will be to get to know you. As the psalm Ephraim read, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”


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