6
Farewells
May 22, 2021
CC bids farewell to beloved counselor Brendan Nordstrom ‘21
It was a rainy Monday morning in April. Allergy season was well underway and I could not stop hacking up a lung. As a nervous Eighth grader, I slowly walked into my future alma mater with my mother. We walked into an office where we were greeted with: “Hello, I’m Ms. Mather. I’ll be your counselor at CC.” Four years later and I can confidently say that Ms. Mather has been the greatest help to me throughout high school and into college. She has had an immense impact on my and many others’ lives throughout the years. Now, after a fulfilling and exciting 13 years at Catholic Central, Ms. Mather is ready to retire. Ms. Mather’s career path has been anything but a straight line, which is why her story of an accounting major transforming the lives of countless high school students is nothing short of incredible. Ms. Mather’s career as a counselor started as any normal counselor’s: working as an accountant for Ford Motor Company. She worked as a CPA up until the birth of her second daughter when she sacrificed her work to become a stay-at-home mom for 11 years. Towards the tail end of her tenure as a stay-at-home mom, Ms. Mather decided to take the Dale Carnegie course, a course designed to instill confidence in its students. This course ended up becoming a major turning point in her life. Following her completion of the course, she decided to become an instructor. “I saw what it was doing for me at my age and what it was doing for the teenag-
ers. I wanted to do something where I could working and the camaraderie in this departhelp young people become more confi- ment,” she said, “I love the work that I do.” dent and self-assured,” Ms. Mather said. When asked why she decided to reEventually, Ms. Mather earned her Mas- tire, Ms. Mather had a one-word anter’s degree in counseling, and she spent two swer: family. “I don’t have any family years at different middle school districts. [in Michigan] and it was a year of isolaWhile she originally planned to work as a tion,” she said. “I need to be with family.” middle school counselor, a full-time job beMs. Mather is excited to start her life in came available at Detroit Catholic Central. California since she has spent her whole life The job opportunity piqued her interest as her in Michigan. Her plans for the future include brother was a CC graduate. She was offered getting settled into her new state, taking time the job, and despite her nerves of entering into to relax, meeting new friends, and volunteerhigh school counseling, never looked back. ing in work involving reading and literacy. So, in January of 2008, Ms. She also hopes to Mather started her career as a high enjoy some of her school counselor at Catholic Central. favorite outdoor “It was ultimately a activities, such great decision,” she said. as kayaking and When asked what the most bike riding. Ultirewarding part of her job was, mately, she said Ms. Mather’s response was simshe wants to “find ply being able to see her students. [her] way around.” “I’m a mother of two daughters The impact and I never had any sons, so now that Ms. Mather I have all of my boys!” she said. has had on her stuOne of her favorite parts of her dents goes without job is being able to see the same saying. “She is Ms. Mather students throughout their career at one of the hardCC. “When I’m writing letters of recom- est working and most dedicated counselors mendation for colleges,” Ms. Mather said, at CC,” senior Andrew Memmer said. “She “it’s incredible to think back to the first time would always check in on students . . . and she I met them as a freshman and seeing them was very patient with everyone she helped.” grow in many ways, not just physically.” Nick Nunu ’16 also weighed in on his The thing that Ms. Mather is going to experiences with Ms. Mather during his miss most about Catholic Central is her time at CC. “The dedication Ms. Mather department. She says that her fellow coun- delivered to her students was leagues above selors are not only coworkers, but also what someone would expect from a guidfriends outside of CC. “I’m going to miss ance counselor. It stemmed from her true
Michael Ramirez: 2021 Whelan Award Recipient
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dedication, care, and love she had for her students. This was clear in every interaction I had with her, from scheduled meetings to just passing in the hallways.” Nick has now earned his Masters of Science with honors in Biomedical engineering from the University of Michigan and is looking forward to medical school sometime in the near future. “I know I would have not had the opportunity to achieve this if it were not for Ms. Mather,” he said. “My brothers (Mike ’18 and George ’21) and I have all been so blessed to have her as a part of our lives.” If I had one word to describe Ms. Mather, it would be “caring.” When interviewing her, she said, “I have a memory of every student for a different reason.” That sort of dedication to her students is unmatched. From helping me pick classes freshman year to the virtual Junior interview to the college application process, my CC experience has only been enhanced due to having Ms. Mather as a counselor. The work she does for her students and her mentality to drop everything if one needs her help cannot be understated. Ms. Mather’s commitment to her students will be missed, and the Catholic Central community wishes her well in her retirement.
From the Editors’ Desk Well, we finally made it. After a year of surprises and constantly battling the unknown, we can end the chapter of the 2020-2021 school year. This was quite possibly the most unconventional year in CC’s history: implementing new guidelines, tweaking traditions, keeping everybody safe, and, overall, persevering. This year we experienced required masks, online classes, temperature checks every morning, the Boys’ Bowl student section moved to the parking lot, a movie night homecoming, a televised and nearly record-breaking DRIVE, a casino night Prom, and the second ever graduation ceremony at Fr. Elmer Stadium. With constantly changing circumstances and the fight to return to a sense of normalcy, it’s fair to say that this is the most tenacious student body to ever walk the halls of Detroit Catholic Central. When things seemed impossible, the student body found a way to make it work. When student sections couldn’t happen, the CC student body found a way. When school dances couldn’t happen, the student body found a way. When fear that the spirit of DRIVE would be lost, the student body found a way. From a contentious election to the vaccine rollout to multiple state championships, this year was everything but uneventful. As the editors of the newspaper, we are proud to be proprietors of the news at Catholic Central. There were many long nights in room 101, working until 10 p.m., as well as many trips to Firehouse Subs. However, being able to hold the finished paper is an untradeable experience. Of course, it all would not have been possible without our readers. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve as the editors of Spectrum in a historic and unforgettable year. Your Editors, Nick Dewhirst, Brendan Nordstrom, and George Nunu
Who Are They?
Teacher you will miss the most and why
What are you looking forward to in college?
Thing you will take as a momento from CC
This summer I will...
Tommy Shea
Mr. Griffin. He was always there for extra help in class or something else that was bothering me.
New experiences and meeting new people
Friendships and the brotherhood
Work and hang out with friends.
Mr. Geraghty. He makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Not having to cry over Mr. Aiello’s projects
The Grammar Hammer. Mr. Griffin, if you’re reading this, it’s too late.
Mrs. Sharkey. I don’t know how she can teach math and still be happy.
Not going to school with only 800 boys
Sam Gomez
Jack Leuker
The Pimp Daddy chain
...finally party with Mr. Carrier.
Forget 90% of what I learned at CC
