VIN CAM
Putting a Mirror to the 2020-2021 Year
Note from the Editor
This is the following-through of a promise. I promised last year’s editor, Miguel Walsh ‘20, that I would adopt this project of his, the resuscitated Vincam magazine. It took Miguel months upon months to produce this project, from seeking out approval from the administration to finding writers within the National English Honor Society (NEHS), to hounding his fellow seniors to finish their articles. I cannot imagine the relief, the feeling of triumph, on Miguel’s part. He made this happen, and it was my duty to continue it.
It’s been a privilege to work on this project of his. I was the only junior contributor in that first revived edition, where I penned an article ensuring this magazine’s continuation. Most of you haven’t heard of the Vincam, and some of you wish you had been asked to write an article. In that way, I failed. I was unable to make this a school-wide phenomenon—I could not be selective, and was not flooded with submissions by people asking to write. However, this magazine is a transition, I hope whoever adopts this project next year will feel as deeply about this magazine’s necessity as I, and Miguel do. I encountered some difficulties, especially with COVID19's prevention of the NEHS this year, which pre-established a pool of writers. I did not have that, which was both freeing and frustrating. I sought out every single writer, which allowed me to draw from writers in almost all classes around Belen.
This specific edition is meant to reflect the entirety of the school. There are contributions from seniors and sixth graders, speaking about service, sports, and classes. I hope to have covered part of every aspect of this school, raising up the voice of representatives of the entire student body. At the end of the day, this is a student life magazine, and you all deserve to speak on your experiences. I sincerely hope this Vincam Magazine continues to be a vehicle, or better said, a podium, upon which the entire student body can stand and contribute their voice.
Austin San Juan ‘21
Editor-in-chief
The Belen Soccer team’s brilliant run to their State Championship was unfailingly supported by grade-unifying senior sections. Here is part of the senior section that travelled to Deland for the State Finals.
ANTHONY PARODI, THE BEST OF FRIENDS
By: Ricardo “Ricky” Yamin ‘23
Unlike most students, I started my first year of Belen when I was in the 7th grade. I had recently moved from Puerto Rico, so I was completely lost since I knew no one. I vividly remember sitting in my fith-period math class on the first day of school. In front of me sat this quiet kid with glasses. He actually knew what he was doing, writing each problem and solving them in a matter of seconds, while I was behind him struggling to translate the math I had learned in Spanish to English. I finally asked him for help, and, without hesitation, this shy, kind kid began to do everything possible, (even staying after school) to help me understand. His name was Anthony Parodi.
Since then, we only grew closer in our friendship. We often stayed after school together talking about Marvel and joking about stuff that somehow we thought was funny, even though it made no sense. We ate lunch together, at the same table, in the same seats, everyday. This wonderful friend I made was also an active reader. We discussed so many books together and even joined the Belen book club to read and discover more. Anthony was a quiet kid, but more caring and compassionate than anyone I knew at the time. He was always worried and warning me about all the dumb stuff I did, jumping around and running everywhere. However, as time passed, I
started to notice that there was something different about him. In PE, he could not play with us for too long. After climbing the flight of stairs in the central patio, he was often out of breath. Shortly after, he explained to me that he had a rare heart disease. “My heart is just smaller than usual." Little did I know, it was a massive downplay. Months passed and we went into 8th grade and all its magnificent adventures and experiences such as GradBash. This was possibly the most exciting day of my life: a full 8 hours in Universal's Islands of Adventure walking around with Anthony, riding every ride we could and overloading on candy. Then came 9th grade, the year when Anthony really started to get sick and left for the hospital one last time.
During the years I knew him, Anthony was indeed a shy and quiet kid but that did not stop him from not only being a great and compassionate friend but a caring and mindful person. All he wanted to do was become a doctor to heal and help other people. He was always telling me about procedures and potential solutions on how to save and increase the quality of life of people. Anthony was also very kind, humble and always gave great advice; he never picked a fight with anyone and always told me the best solution was to simply let it go. However, his greatest trait and contribution to me and to everyone in the school
was his courage: his ability to fight and to resist against a terrible sickness. For more than a year, he fought and he battled, inspiring and motivating us to do better at school, sports and in living as Jesuit men. He did what no one else could; he brought so many people together, the Belen community, to pray every night and come closer as a family. This is why we should celebrate his life, a life that brought unity and a sense of compassion to thousands. Thanks to Anthony, I can say that the kid that sits in front of me in math, is my friend and my brother.
Anthony Parodi with Jared Martinez '23, Adrian Paucar '23, Gabriel Bustamante '23, Roberto Leon '23, and this article's author, Ricardo Yamin '23.
FROM THE STUDENT COUNCIL
Manny:
By: Student Council President Dylan Perez '21 & Vice-President Manny Rodriguez Lápido '21
I've been asked whether I would go back and run for student council again if I had the chance.... My answer is, unequivocally, Yes!
Truth be told, I didn’t join Student Council until freshman year and not because I specifically wanted to. I was kinda forced by my parents who felt I could’ve been more involved in the school, despite my disagreement. However, becoming a student council member has probably been one of the most rewarding decisions.
Although I was a lazy and somewhat oblivious freshman at that time, I quickly discovered a space where I was naturally comfortable. A forum to genuinely express my thoughts on the school and on my time here. I admired the determination of the seniors to get things done for their class. Many of those early interactions with the upperclassmen on the executive board inspired me to maybe someday take a greater role in the group.
I’m sure Dylan could say the same.
The overall decision to run for Vice-President last spring was a complicated one especially with COVID-19 being at the height of global attention. I consider myself a little lucky to have been at home in quarantine because the elections were massively different. No posters to be hung, no bracelets to give out, no 5 a.m. wake-ups. I give a lot of credit to the members of the Class of 2022 who ran this year. They hustled during campaign week and I’m confident the student body is in good hands next year. Looking back on my tenure as “VP”, there’s a lot that goes on behind just reading the pledge of allegiance and giving tours at open house that goes unnoticed. When an event needed to get done or the students need to be
somewhere, it was totally up to us to rally the students to support. The countless late nights on Discord working out field-day logistics, or scrambling to set up senior sections with Mr. De Angulo was an absolute mess, but something I’ll look back on fondly.
Serving as a representative of the Student Council these past few years has been a wild experience and I’m super grateful to have done it. It was filled with too many ups and downs to count, but it has been an honor to experience it all.
I’m proud we were able to keep 2021 weird!
Dylan:
I would have to agree with Manny and say that if I had the opportunity to run again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
Ihave been involved in Student Council since sophomore year, and have thoroughly enjoyed it since I started. Seeing what goes on behind the scenes (less before, but much more now) is incredibly interesting, and puts a lot of things into perspective. As somebody who would oftentimes voice my opinions in regards to the lack of results Student Council garnered, it was interesting to see how much we really got done.
Being able to make a difference in the school, no matter how small, is an absolute privilege. To be able to listen to the concerns of the students, and actually do something about it is something I am so grateful for.
Even before running, I had known I was interested in becoming a part of the Student Council as early as 6th grade.
One of the best parts about the job was coming together with the rest of the members in the Cabinet and working together to get as much done as possible. Working together through late nights on the weekdays, and later
nights on the weekends felt like an eternity then, but looking back now, I’m so glad they happened. Not everybody in the Cabinet was an extremely close friend, but the bonds built between all of us by the end of this year are irreplaceable.
I agree with Manny somewhat in terms of campaigning throughout the peak of the pandemic. While we definitely did not have to be on campus at 5 a.m. to tape up posters and memes, the virtual campaign was intense in its own unique way. Constantly creating videos, digital platforms, and even finding cameos of celebrities was all part of the new style of running last year. I will never forget campaign week during our junior year, because it was one of the best, and also worst, weeks of my entire high school career. The constant pump of content resulted in a serious lack of sleep, plus having to take AP tests that week
did not make things any easier. That week was an extremely early sign that working in Student Council would not be as easy as it may seem. Those sleepless nights definitely found their way back throughout the majority of this year. Manny and I would always joke around because we found ourselves up the latest for all things Student Council, not for any of our actual classes. Those sleepless nights and hard times were most definitely worthwhile, though. Having students from other grades come up to us and thank us for their Field Day or Lock-In (for the 6th graders) made every minute of hard work worth it. .
Student Council President Dylan Perez '21 and Vice-President Manny Rodriguez Lápido '21 distributing senior gear to Nicolas Hidalgo '21
not that their work stops after Feburary.
LOOKING INWARD:BHM
By:
My name is Ian Johnson and I currently serve as the Vice President of the Belen Diversity Advisory Panel (DAP). The purpose of the panel originally started as a place of conversation and a safe place for our Black or African American students but through progression, we were able to form a group and incorporate all types of Belen students.
My name is Santiago Richard and as Ian stated, Belen has seen some positive changes in the past years. These changes have come directly from the creation of the Diversity Advisory Panel. The Diversity Advisory Panel
has quickly grown from a small club to a panel that advises the administration and educates the student body. This panel has offered countless students a safe space for them to talk about their personal racial experiences. In addition to functioning as a safe haven, the Diversity Advisory Panel aims to educate the school community about issues of racism and prejudice. The creation of this panel has helped me regain pride for my school and its community. This is due to the fact that it has been made clear that they are actively supporting us in our journey of spreading racial awareness.
My name is Isaiah Fuller and I am the current president of DAP. DAP is a safe space for anyone who feels out of place or they have difficulty finding themselves. I remember when I first came to Belen I had no solid connections with anyone. No one knew me and coming from a middle school where it was the complete opposite, it took a toll on me. It is in DAP where I met other kids and I was able to express myself. I wasn't afraid to be myself. DAP is a huge part of me and something that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
When the Diversity Advisory Panel was first founded, we would walk around the school during February and maybe see a few posters around the school with quotes from prominent African American figures, but never more than that. Two years ago, we began our work
to introduce more things to Black History Month beginning with our members and former African American students speaking about their own experiences at Belen and dealing with either ignorance, racism, or misinformation.
Last year, we introduced two new activities to Black History Month which were roundtable discussions on topics and a more wide array of speakers such as Jawan Strader. The round tables introduced uncomfortable topics such as the use and history of the n-word. Although this is a start, we still have many more exciting events and activities we have in the works for the future.
Mr. Collins presented the idea of "The Lost Cause" which is a somewhat overlooked historical ideology that prefigures the Jim Crow laws and other massively cruel actions within the entire United States, all of which specifically targetted Blacks .
Students in Mrs. Suarez's class made presentations highlighting special movements and organizations promoting Black peoples' major contributions to society.
DAP Members Ian Johnson ‘22, Santiago Richard ‘22, and Isaiah Fuller ‘21
DAP distributed posters such as the one above as part of their Black History Month Campaign...
TEACHING CONTEMPORARY UPRISINGS
By: Victor Abril ‘25
Eighth grader Victor Abril interviewed Mr. Peña to find out how he dealt with teaching about a real life civics event that will surely populate Civics and history textbooks.
The Capitol riots in Washington D.C. happened a couple of months ago, but still have great relevance today, especially for Civics, US History, and US Government classes. Recently, Mr. Peña'06, teacher in the Belen Social Studies department, was asked a couple of questions regarding the riots and how he chose to discuss the trending event with students.
On the afternoon of January 6, 2021, while the riots were happening, Mr. Peña was on an off period. But what would he have said to students if he was in the middle of class? What was he going to tell them the next block, or next day? Mr. Peña felt that if the riots were happening during a class period, he would not have dropped the lesson plan, but, instead, waited for the next day to focus on discussion of the riots. This was of course to ensure that he kept his duty of teaching in an unbiased, objective way. He did not want to teach Civics based on his emotions, which may affect his lessons.
To fight bias, Mr. Peña uses a British news source to stay informed about controversial events. This dedicated teacher who graduated from Belen in 2006, is grateful to his own teachers, Mr. Zoller, Mr. Martínez, and Mr. Collins, who were excellent examples and always made it a point to not reveal their political opinions during class. He believes it’s important for students to think critically and formulate their own opinions on politics and current events. Mr. Peña guides his students in their thinking, and of course, teaches material about the past, but once discussions turn to the modern-day, Mr. Peña lets his students' opinions develop naturally. He trusts that his students know where to look for unbiased information. This is what they'll have to do once they can vote, after all. Plus, as Mr. Peña said, misinformation is the biggest threat to democracy.
Along with the entire Social Studies Department, Mr. Collins treats current events with extreme care and attention, so that students develop into independent thinkers. This is especially the case when conttroversial events happen like the Capitol Riots.
Dr. D, in addition to teaching material for the AP US History exam, also teaches relevant events in an unbiased way.
Vice Principal Nicosia makes a special effort to teach Civics objectively, but also with passion.
BELEN LACROSSE’S DREAM SEASON
By: Robert “Robby” Espin ‘21
The 2021 varsity lacrosse season was a culmination of all the hard work and dedication put into the program by every player and member of the coaching staff since the sport was first introduced at Belen in 2009. After seeing what happened to last year’s senior class due to COVID, this year’s group of seniors took one of Coach Bellando’s phrases, “Play every game like it’s your last” to a new level.
The eighteen seniors on this team accomplished something that can never be taken away from them. The Wolverines defeated every team put in front of them in the regular season en route to the program’s fourth district title. Among the season’s top moments were a great win against top Texan team Vandergrift, and beating
Gulliver Prep twice in one year, including a regional semifinal game won on a last-minute game-winner by senior attackman Oscar “Goose” Fernandez. Some of these seniors have been playing this game together since we first started Belen as sixth graders. All of the “graham crackers”, Hopkins reps, and post-practice meals made us such a tight and cohesive unit over the years playing for Coach Alan and Joey Bellando.
Leadership was a huge factor in the team’s success. Our team had experienced leaders who led by example and always held everyone accountable when necessary. Senior attackman Victor Rosado always made an impact when he was on the field. The first Belen lacrosse player to ever be named an All American, Rosado led
Miami-Dade County in both goals and points, scoring 68 goals and tallying 135 points. The team’s ferocious defense wreaked havoc on their side of the field. Senior defenders Manny Rodriguez-Lapido and Andres “Nene” Vila started at the varsity level for all four years of high school. Vila was the top defender in Miami, leading the team in caused turnovers and ground balls.
The senior sections were undoubtedly some of the best parts of this run. I’ll never forget running to the seniors before the Saint Andrews game to hype up the crowd. The energy from the crowd made the games all the more intense and exciting.
What made this team special wasn’t how many goals were scored or how many games we won. What made this team special was the fact that this lacrosse program is a family. When we come together in the huddle and say “family”, it means something. We are a family that will last forever.
The experiences shared in the Hernandez Field, our very own piece of Belen, will always be with us as we move on from this stage in our lives. Whether it was one of Coach Bellando’s talks that at times seemed more like stand-up routines or one of the coaches or teammates pulling you aside to ask you how your day has been, the sense of brotherhood that has been built with this team is remarkable.
An image at the Belen vs. Gulliver Lacrosse game for the Regional Finals. The photo was taken before the scoreboard eventually read 8-7, in favor of Belen.
Lacrosse Season was crazy for everyone.
THE EIGHTH-GRADE TRADE-OFF
By: Gaston Lacayo ‘25
Eighth grader Gaston Lacayo interviews some of his classmates to give a perspective on how the cancellation of cornerstone middle school events has impacted his peers, and how they are continuing to persist and appreciate the events that are made available to the grade.
Seldom do kids of our age have the opportunity to come to a school like this one, and partake in the unique experiences that this school offers to enrich the teenage years of our lives. The eighth-grade is a year that is usually wholeheartedly fulfilling, giving students the chance to grow closer to one another through a plethora of new experiences such as the Semi-Formal dance, the Founding of a Nation trip, and even a trip to Universal. Unfortunately, COVID has thrown a wrench in these plans, much to the dismay of many of my peers. I took the opportunity to interview some eighth graders to gather their thoughts on the situation, and how it’s affected their experience here.
One said that it was his first year here, and was disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to see a big part of what made this school so special, such as the school bonding events like Tombola, and grade-bonding trips like the one to Universal. Others said that they had been looking forward to these events for a long time, so to see them cancelled was a shame. They had seen these as the pinnacle of their middle school experience, but they ended up never happening. As a grade, we also knew that the pandemic affected school as a whole as well; one attested that it deprived the school days of the excitement they once had, turning them into a lifeless routine. It was like the pandemic was an obstacle to the enjoyment of such an important year. Despite this, there was fortunately almost unanimous gratitude from the grade over the fact that we have the opportunity to come to school in-person at all. After finishing seventh grade online, they knew it could have been a lot worse.
I was also curious to hear my peers' thoughts about whether the school should hold some other event, when all this blows over, as some sort of do-over. Some students asserted that they’d be satisfied with just about anything, while most others were more unsure. The majority of kids want at least one event, so that they can have some closure to their middle school experience. However, it’s understood that these are difficult times for this school, and that missing out on the activities this year would normally offer is understandably a given, so there’s not much that can be done at present. We keep our hope for the future.
The Ruiz Family enjoying the the Virtual Class of 2025 Family Day, which included Karaoke, Bingo, and a Scavenger Hunt.
Mrs. Garcia, 8th grade Event Facilitator and Theology teacher, helping a student at the eighth grade Commitment Retreat
A group of eighth graders enjoying a signature Belen churrasco lunch, just for their grade.
The author of this article, Gaston Lacayo '25, addresses his fellow eighth graders at the end-of-the-year churrasco lunch.
Arts Spotlight: Mateo Garcia
is
has been
is made up of 9
This piece
titled "Lo Enorme" and
donated to Belen by the artist. The work
x11 pieces of printer paper.
This is called By Any Means, and is an example of Garcia's branding acumen.
This work is titled "In Rainbows" and is an example of Mateo's digital practice.
Zoom screens easily obscured notes, secondary devices, and other aids for online test takers...
(Pictured is a blurred-out, virtual test taker, with a reference sheet and a screen, behind his Zoom camera).
Gaming the System
By: Anyonymous, ‘21
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, students were sent home and learning became virtual. However, the time finally came for students across the nation to be able to come back to in-person learning. Due to the uncertainty and skepticism of the pandemic and its effects on in-person school students, parents were to choose whether they wanted their kids to study in-person or virtually.
Promptly, my parents and I decided for me to attend school in-person; however, this did not age well. It wasn’t much time after we made this decision that I began to stay home some days. After being at home for nearly 1 year, it became increasingly difficult and tiring to attend school inperson, being that I am a senior with just a tad of senioritis. Not only did I have to begin waking up an hour earlier daily, but I also had to begin studying for tests and quizzes a lot more. The lifestyle at home increasingly seemed to call my attention as it was substantially easier and undemanding. Already knowing what college I was off to and nearing graduation, my parents were not fazed by allowing me to attend school virtually for a few days at a time. The reason we did not choose on being fully virtual was because there were no ways around it, unlike fully in-person. There was no possible way for an institution to force their students to attend school inperson amid a pandemic—vaccines were just beginning to be available to the public.
In order to stay home, all a student had to do was state that they were sick and did not feel well to attend school. This led to a necessary negative COVID test in order to go back to school. In other words, once you stated you had some sort of symptom of any kind, you were obligated to continue at home for at least 3 days, since COVID tests were taking 1 day to book and 1-3 days to receive results. With this method, I was able to get out of in-person school and stay online for numerous days at a time. Other students even used this flaw in the system to get out of taking tests in certain classes. This method, however, stopped working as my school’s faculty caught on to this trend, being that a large portion of students continued to stay home. Nearing the middle of the semester, around March, there was a new survey to be completed which did not allow students to stay home anymore if they chose to be fully in-person, now that vaccines had been made available and most faculty were vaccinated at this point.
My family and I decided for me to go back to school in-person, as it was the last few months I would have at my high school. This transition served as my wake-up call, as I finally got my routine back to normal and began to work substantially harder. I was finally able to have proper interactions with my classmates and teachers, which I did not realize how much I missed and needed. The last few months of my high school career were the best few of my life, and I attribute this to being able to study in-person and not being able to “finesse”, or trick, the system anymore.
Acting With No Audience?!
By: Danny Oliva '21 & Julian Ramos '21
The Belen Thespian Troupe has been an instrumental part of our Jesuit formation here at Belen. We agree that the biggest takeaway from this art form is being able to work together in a group setting to work towards one common goal. In this case, the goal is to put on the best production possible, and impact as many people as we can. This of course requires dedication and passion. As thespians, time management was a big part of the program, with 10-15 hours a week being dedicated towards rehearsals, not even including the time spent learning one’s lines. Lastly, there is the ability to express yourself in ways that cannot be described. Whether it’s through words, song, talking with your friends at a social event, or any other talents we may
have, we always found ourselves fulfilled after acting. The ability to have this kind of expression and comradeship has been really special for us both. We feel this can all be attributed to the hard work of both Mr. Francisco Padura, and Mr. Leo Williams, tirelessly putting together the various productions and pieces we have presented to the Belen community over the past seven years. Every show, every piece, and every work we ever have had the opportunity to do all taught us something unique. Yet, they all had one common trend to keep us motivated to do more. With this bond and experience under our belts, we were definitely more able to adjust to Thespians mid-Pandemic. When COVID-19 hit, we still wanted to
continue to practice our passion for acting. So we put on “Waiting for Ringo” a One-Act play about Beatles impersonators with just four characters. We used special see-through masks and practiced all of the necessary guidelines we rehearsed. However, there was one more COVID guideline that we had to adjust to: a socially distanced audience. The most people who were allowed to watch us live were the teachers, in the faculty preview. Other than that, however, people could only see us through screens. And our only real audience was a video camera. This was certainly difficult and unusual, but we overcame it, and couldn’t be prouder. We guess “Waiting for Ringo” was the perfect example of the classic saying “The show must go on.”
Julian Ramos '21 and Danny Oliva '21, the authors of this article, discussing their flailing Beatles impersonation band. Their experience showed throughout the performance.
Aidan Pevida '21 acted for the first time for this play, blowing everyone away with his emotional range. Here he is, stony faced, with Danny Oliva '21.
Matthew Torres '21, was the server at the restaurant that served as the setting. The apron was an instant classic.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
By: Matias Nieto ‘22
Matias Nieto had the honor of being featured on the Coral Gables Magazine, where he was distinguished for his advocacy work and service through Miami Waterkeepers. He talks about his call to service below.
Miami’s greatest allure is its natural beauty, from our white sandy beaches to our ecologically rich Everglades. I grew up swimming in the waters of Key Biscayne and have volunteered many hours cleaning up litter from our beaches. Despite Miami’s beauty, our local waters face increasing threats from sewage spills, saltwater intrusion due to sea-level rise, and pollution from fertilizer overuse and plastic litter. I felt a moral duty to protect our environment, so I joined Miami Waterkeeper’s Junior Ambassador program. The junior ambassadors help educate and advocate for swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for all.
In Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si’, he calls on everyone to be stewards of His creation and warns against our “throwaway culture.” Belen students can be stewards and advocates in many ways. Belen’s REACH Sustainability Club and Care for Creation Council provide service opportunities focusing on environmental initiatives.
Belen also could help by eliminating our single-use plastic waste in our dining hall and at our events. Only about 25% of plastic gets recycled in the U.S., and the remainder ends up in landfills and in our oceans. Students can learn more about environmental issues by joining a national advocacy group. Besides Miami Waterkeeper, there are so many great advocacy organizations to check out such as the Ignatian Solidarity Network, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the CLEO Institute in Miami. We all can effectuate change through collective action in big and small ways.
Care for Creation Members after a Kayak trash pickup. Pictured (L-R) are Matias Nieto '22, Roberto Leon '23, Matthew Calero '23, Ricardo Yamin '23, Marco de la Hoz '23, Gabriel Bustamante '23, Robby Espin '21, and Marcos Pastor '21
WRITING FOR A CAUSE
By: Collin Pallissery ‘21
In addition to being a member of the State Championship winning soccer team, Silver Knight-nominated Collin Pallissery ‘21 is an avid writer, something he began around the time that he took Mr. Alexander’s AP English Language and Composition class. He then meshed his passion for writing with that of medicine to produce this book.
My Miami Herald Silver Knight nominated service project was the creation of a storybook titled “Christopher and Cerebral Palsy.” I’ve grown to see this project as a very specific message I think I have been able to send out. The book spreads awareness of a condition, helps children through a relatable story, and helped grow my own knowledge. I was inspired by my work in the Orthopedic section of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where I have volunteered since ninth grade. Here, I was inspired by one child in particular.
I saw him one day while delivering a box full of toys, when he was with his mother. He was struggling to move with his walker on the way out of the Physical Therapy wing of the hospital, and something about that moment made a lasting impact on me that has stayed to this day. See, the whole time while he was having trouble simply
moving forward, he was smiling and laughing with his mother. I found this to be both a confusing and wholesome moment, as I saw a boy who was afflicted with a condition that affects his daily life, yet he was enjoying every part of his day. I saw this as inspiration for a story showing that children with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy are actually stronger than they look. I wanted to show that with the right encouragement and help, they can achieve anything. This is what I hoped to communicate with my story of Christopher, where the main character does just that.
I definitely think that my time at Belen has also helped me to understand how being part of a community where we focus on “Men for Others” allows us to strengthen each other through actions of charity.
Above is Collin's book's cover, which was produced in collaboration with James Pallissery and Subheesh Kerala. The book was published by Author House and can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles.
JUST HUMANITY & JESUITS AGAINST GENOCIDE
By: Alfredo Diaz ‘22, Sebastian Lopez Irrizary ‘22, Michael Moreno ‘23, & Nicholas Ortega ‘24
Just Humanity is a new organization within Belen Jesuit that began following one of the Community Service Office's Service Immersion Programs. This specific program was called the Kino Border Initiative, which shared the Christian Perspective on border issues. Typically, this program would have included a physical immersion, with our group travelling to the US-Mexico Border, working in Nogales, AZ and Nogales, Mexico.
Through Zoom sessions, we experienced much of the work that the Kino Border Initiative does for migrants and refugees, learning how compassion guided them. We met with asylum seekers who had been waiting for years, even though they had been trying to escape from the same country they were being forced to wait within. We heard a man speak whose family had illegally entered the country when he was a toddler, but who was deported when he was nineteen. Our group of seven Belen students found ourselves confused by these aspects of the migration process.
As part of the Kino Border Initiative, we also heard from farmers who had property on the border, and who had found evidence of drug cartels on their land. They were understanding and proposed fair solutions that would restrict danger, so that we got a balanced perspective.
The Kino Border Initiative is led by Catholics, so the Church's position on migration was
frequently highlighted as well.
Following this vastly impactful experience, the seven of us knew we had to take action within the school and beyond. Motivated by the facilitators at Kino, as well as by Br. Mike '09 and Mrs. Gonzalez, we formed Just Humanity.
We started with just our core group of seven people, and divided the action we wanted to take into the following categories: education, advocacy, and myth busting. We want to educate the student population on issues of migration, such as the process by which deportees are judged en masse without a real trial... on US soil. We also wanted to do away with misconceptions, such as that all migrants on the Mexican border are involved in the drug trade.
Beyond the school community, we wanted to act as advocates within the local Miami community, and set about planning advocacy meetings with congresspeople. Thus far, we have met with Mario Diaz-Balart, whose district includes Belen. This was an enlightening meeting where we shared our Catholic perspective on issues of migration and conversed about legislation that we felt could and should be supported.
As a recently started organization, we hope to grow our presence on campus in the coming years. Advocacy work never stops, after all. Plus, it is our mission as Catholics to always give a voice to the silenced.
Jesuits Against Genocide, or JAG, is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization which’s primary purpose is to educate the public on past Genocides and Humanitarian Violations in order to prevent similar actions in the future.
The Holocaust Memorial Program served as our primary call to take action. We were each personally invited to meet with the directors of the program to further understand genocide historically and how to take action. We had constant sessions and learning experiences from December to April such as meeting with Holocaust survivors and understanding the effect of the Holocaust in the modern-day. Due to the fact that we have only recently started our organization and needed assistance to begin our actions we have been working closely with Just Humanity, another nonprofit, humanitarian organization focused on present day humanitarian issues primarily the inhuman treatments of Migrants to the United States.
Our plan serves to show the history of genocide and the effects that are still present today through education. By hosting sessions with Holocaust survivors, activists, and historians we will be able to delve deep into the understanding of events like the Holocaust and how it came to be. Our mission is to engage and collaborate in education, advocacy, and service; all of this is with the aim of combatting injustice and human rights issues related to migrants and refugees, capital punishment and incarceration, and genocide.
The Kino Border Initiative helped jumpstart Just Humanity within Belen, an organization which will continue to make an impact on Belen in years to come—as will Jesuits Against Genocide.
Those who complete the Two-year Capstone Diploma Program are awarded this distinction, and often receive College credit for their work.
UNDERGRADUATE-LEVEL RESEARCH ON CAMPUS
By: Julian Alvarez ‘23
Belen Jesuit is one of 2,100 schools in the nation that offers the opportunity for students to work towards earning an AP Capstone Diploma. The Capstone Diploma represents two years of conducting both primary and secondary research, eventually culminating in an original research project on par with those produced at the undergraduate level. It is a unique, rare offering by Belen.
The AP Capstone program perfectly represents what it means to become a master academic writer. With papers and presentations, as well as both qualitative and quantitative research, students are taken through the entire process of writing professionally. When I first entered the course I did not truly understand what it meant to interpret research and express my ideas in a complex manner. Thanks to the course and the teacher, I have managed to cement these skills and perform them with ease. While proving to be a learning experience, the feeling of piecing together several lenses to look at the bigger picture is rewarding, to say the least. Along with this, having the ability to learn about the research your peers
gather and then building off their ideas is rare. For example, one of my classmates researched a gene specifically found in criminals, named the MAOA gene. The paper went over the psychological and sociological effects of this gene and drew the conclusion that if this gene were to be detected early, crime rates could be exponentially reduced. I was able to analyze his verdict and incorporate it into my own research, which proved how these aggressive behaviors were all rooted in our ancient ancestors and the theory of natural selection. By virtue of the course, I have been able to confidently write at a professional level efficiently. I strongly recommend this course for any student looking to expand their knowledge and skillset for the future.
Dr. Wentzel teaches both Capstone classes, where he guides students along the research process as a college professor would.
Sophomore and AP Seminar student Julian Alvarez speaks about his experience with the program below.
INTRODUCING: BELEN’S SIXTH-GRADE AUTHOR
By: Eduardo “Edy” Colitto ‘27
Hello, my name is Eduardo Colitto, and the fact that I’m writing for the school magazine shows you I have some experience with writing, so I’m going to explain how I got here. I used to go to a school named St. Hugh and it is a funny story on how I began to start writing articles and even entire stories.
My friends and I used to talk about Kool-Aid man a lot. You're probably wondering what in the world, that is so random... but my friends used to talk about it a lot too. So as a joke I wrote a book about Kool-Aid Man fighting Caprisun! I will tell you right now it was the weirdest story made on the planet, and I was the one who wrote it. Surprisingly my friend, Andres Mejia '27, loved it so much he lent it to his friend, Leman, and then he lent it to his friend, James Schmidt '27 and in 3 days all of my friends asked if I can make another book. So I said yes, but the problem is, now I didn’t have enough time nor energy to do it. So I called my friend Leman and asked him if he can help me with my book. He gladly accepted and that’s how KoolCorp was created. Eventually, we had written 5 whole books! But that's when some people stopped reading our books.
So we made a new book, and you don’t understand how relieved everybody was when I announced a new book that wasn’t Kool-Aid Man. When I went into the classroom and told them, I could feel their breath on me. The new book was Mexican Spider-Man versus the Italian Green Goblin! Sadly it wasn’t as much of a success, so KoolCorp writing company lost steam and I left to make a new business on my own. I made a Daily Magazine Business. Except remember how I didn’t have the time to make books? Well, I definitely didn’t have the time to make a news article every single day. So that didn’t last long, and I decided to stop. That’s when summer was finally here! I started creating my own books for fun and I enjoyed it so I continued to write and now I am here in Belen writing articles for the school magazine. That is how I started my writing experience.
The title page of one of Edy's earliest productions, 'Kool-Aid Man versus Caprisun, Return of the Juice' from elementary school. This passion of his is deep-rooted and began when he was very young.
VIRTUAL CLASSES
By: Victor Tuñon
While the majority of the student body has opted to come to school in person, others have chosen not to, for any number of reasons related to the pandemic and their health. Here, Junior Victor Tuñon shares his adjustment to virtual schooling while most of us are on campus.
As a virtual student, it has been both helpful and challenging. Around the beginning of the time when we are asked to sign up for hybrid or not, I had wanted to stay at home mainly because I was already used to being home. Then I began noticing that school became harder- either because of not hearing the teacher or the matter of fact that it is easy to learn in person.
Then during the second semester I began worrying about the rising COVID-19 cases, so I decided to remain virtual. Then, when the final sign-up came to whether to stay virtual or physical for the rest of the year, I got worried. I wanted to go to school, but that would make me fearful, and I wanted to stay at home, even though it was harder. Ultimately, I have found that attending school from home can be less anxiety-inducing, and has both positives and negatives.
‘22
Andres Joaquin Mejía '27 attending school online, as every single member of the student body experienced at one point in the 2020-2021 year.
Student Luis Vasquez '25 attending a virtual History Club meeting, showing his dedication by attending a one hour Zoom meeting after seven hours of lessons. This was not uncommon among students; many stayed involved.
Danny Mariscal '25 attending virtual school, using, as was often the case, multiple devices in case of an assessment or other multitasking assignment.
In loving Memory... Mrs. Chiu
By: Austin San Juan
I don't understand how I'm supposed to find the words or sentiments to fill this page. It's absurd that I have this memoriam to write, and absurd that I am the one writing it. But I suppose my teary eyes mean I knew Mrs. Chiu just well enough to write in her memory. Mrs. Chiu was someone who—and not a single soul could disagree with me—it was a true pleasure to know. It's like she couldn't help but make a positive impact on people who interacted with her. It's just so hard to come to terms with the absence of Mrs. Chiu, because she really did have such a deep impact on people who knew her. Like, how could she not still be smiling? She felt the full gambit of emotions, I'm sure, but her demeanor was always so cheery. I had her as a teacher for two years. I saw her get rightfully upset at students who pushed too far, but she will always be happy in my memory. And I wager it is the same for everyone at Belen.
In spite of how joyous Mrs. Chiu was, she also cared deeply about everything. Usually, people like that get uptight, or too tightly wound, but not her. She cared and was hopeful, which seems paradoxical in a lot of ways. She was caring and invested in her students' success, and yet always maintained hope for us. When my class was walking out of our HSK 2 Chinese proficiency test, she was excited for each and every one of us. It feels so rare for a teacher to just be glad to have students be there, and to give their effort. Yet she was that way. She was proud just that we were taking that test, pass or fail (naturally everyone passed).
I travelled with Mrs. Chiu to six countries, through three different Overseas Study Program (OSP) trips. I saw the impact she's had within Belen extended beyond school grounds and into all people she encounters. I wish I was more like Mrs. Chiu, you know? Who wouldn't wish to be able to have a universally positive impact on people? On people from six distinct cultures and traditions, no less. Mrs. Chiu was impressive in that way, that she always managed to respect people and make them so at ease.
Through the two Mandarin classes of hers, I grew to really love the language, even though I'm not one of those "language people" for whom languages stick really easily. But I loved it nonetheless. And after two years, when Mandarin no longer coincided with my schedule, I had to leave her class. I told her so, despite truly wanting to continue the language. I still intend to study and master the language. But the difference is that this desire is also reinforced by a promise. I remember walking out of the library after one of our last classes that year, and specifically promising Mrs. Chiu I'd pursue Mandarin at some point. Her love for teaching us her language was so infectious that this felt natural.
As I said, this is absurd. I wish I didn't have to write this, and that Mrs. Chiu was still at Belen, impacting others like she did me, and everyone in my class. We loved her, and so, so many others did too. It's been awful to have to replace "is" with "was" as I write this. Mrs. Chiu left an immeasurable impact on me, and I can't say I'll ever really be able to process her passing. I, and we, can only hope to honor her memory.
Mrs. Chiu pictured with Mr. Cleveland, one of her absolute best friends at Belen, and her frequent collaborator on the OSP Asia Trips.
MR. DEL DAGO IN LOVING MEMORY
by: Austin San Juan ‘21
The whole building is quieter,
As if the concrete is hushing us.
As if the architecture itself is showing reverence.
A soul was lost, but also a spirit.
A vibrancy, a distinct walk.
A careful consideration.
Yes, an accent.
We merry men shed tears today, We brothers mourn.
For a heart whose companion was ever giving, gave out.
Our walks are slower, limps more pronounced.
Heads bowed low, fingers braided, Hushed prayer.
Mr. Del Dago died. But also he lived. He was alive, and, well, he still is.
Ghosts haunt, but angels, They guard us.
Through the course of producing this magazine, I've gone through thousands of pictures. This one, which was likely not posted anywhere, and which maybe five other people have ever seen, struck me the most. Of course, it did so most notably because of its subject, our dearly beloved, and now departed, friend. But it also captures him so perfectly, no? Always attentive, ready at attention, but also in a way that comforts everyone else. He was energetic, but always in a way that made you, the speaker, feel at ease. Maybe it was because he never, ever lost his temper. The best people have beautiful paradoxes, little contradictions, that define their personhood.
Mr. Del Dago's calming attentiveness is one, but so is his casual professionalism. His untucked shirt hints at that, as do his plethora of supplies. At a moment's notice, he was known to stop his grading, pull out one of his countless pencils, and help someone with math, or science, or engineering. He did this always with careful detail, even though, more often than not, the students were not members of his class. I was personally able to observe all this as a member of his homeroom last year, not even as one of his students. I am absolutely certain that hundreds of students can attest to similar sentiments about our beloved Mr. Del Dago. He was loved.
You know, he came back to us. Had left us but returned.
Pine Crest was not his, but we were, and luckily so.
This was supposed to be a scare, Why God, why? Why take again?
When we aren’t finished mourning, can never be. Is mourning eternal?
But wait—God always gives. So, what has He given us, though he took an angel?
Memories, lessons more poignant.
More purposeful prayer, more tightly squeezed eyes in spiritual expression. God has taken, but also given Belen intercessors abounding. He has taken saints, but given us the privilege of knowing them.
Mr. Del Dago. We formally declare you timeless. Watch us… Watch us through your thick glasses. Watch us fail, but try, to live like you.
STATE CHAMPIONS 2021: CROSS COUNTRY AND SOCCER
The Belen Cross Country team, under the leadership of Coach Frankie Ruiz '96, won their fourth consecutive, and twelfth total, State Championship this past fall. They were ranked as high as eighth in the nation, and finished fifth in Nike's Virtual National Championship.
The Belen Soccer team won its second-ever State Championship this past Feburary, not only cementing themselves in Belen History, but also unifying the Senior class, and the school, with their senior sections. The Belen team beat a Nationally 9th ranked Tampa Jesuit team 2-1, ascending their own national ranking to 11th.
THE WRITERS
Austin San Juan '21 Editor-in-chief
Ricardo Yamin '23 Writer
Diversity Advisory Panel (President Isaiah Fuller '21 Pictured)
Victor Abril '25 Writer
Matias Nieto '22 Writer
Collin Pallissery '21 Writer
Victor Tuñon '22 Writer
Mateo García '21 Artist/Photographer
VINCAM
Dylan Perez and Manny Rodriguez Lápido'21 Writers
Julian Alvarez '23 Writer
Robby Espin '21 Writer
Gaston Lacayo '25 Writer
Julian Ramos & Daniel Oliva '21 Writers
Eduardo "Edy" Colitto '27 Writer
Anonymous Contributor '-Writer
Juan "Juanchi" Tejera Motivator/Catalyst
VINCAM
First and foremost, I owe a massive thank you to my mother for constantly spurring me on in projects like this one. Also, massive thank yous to Mr. Alexander and Mr. Maza, without whom I would have stayed foreign to the wonders of the written word. Additional thanks to Mrs. Martinez, Mr. Calderin, and especially Mr. Jordan for their help throughout this process. And to Juanchi, whose reminder texts were much needed and appreciated, thank you. Similarly, I can't express my gratitude without including two of the youngest, contributors, Victor Abril and Edy Colitto, for following up with me, and making me do my job. Miguel, I hope I did this magazine justice, as I promised.
Thank you to each and every reader.
-Austin San Juan '21, Editor-In-Chief
VINCAM. 2021.