Academic Convocation - James Richroath

Good Afternoon Mr. Oroszlany, Dr. Ross, colleagues, students, and parents. In June when Dr. Ross asked me if I would speak at Academic Convocation in September I was nervous but also very excited and honored that my thoughts would be those that opened our school year. I am still a bit nervous, last night I had a dream that when I got up to the podium my speech was typed all in Spanish.

Growing up I was never the best student. I did only what was necessary to keep my grades above an 85. I was part of the “2:26” club as the teachers at my high school called, as soon as that last bell rang I was out of the building. I didn’t participate in any extracurricular except sports. I played hockey and golf. As I got older my interests moved away from hockey and towards golf, which is the sport I focused on. I still only did what was necessary to keep my parents and teachers happy. I didn’t begin to challenge myself or step outside my comfort zone till I was a junior in high school. In junior year you were given more freedom in your course selections. I registered for the courses that I thought sounded interesting, not really expecting anything more out of them than what I had already experienced during my previous two years.

When I reflect on where I am today and how I came to be here I believe it started during my junior year. That year my school experienced an influx of new teachers and coaches. One of those new teachers took an interest in me and I wasn’t sure why at the time. At the time, I thought he was difficult and frustrating because he didn’t let me skate by and do the minimum that was necessary to keep my parents and teachers happy. He challenged me to be more than what I had been. The more he challenged me in his class the better and more interested in that class I became. As a ripple effect I began to do better not only in that one class but every class. Junior year is the year I began to challenge myself and set higher expectations for myself.

During my senior year I was a very different student. I took advantage of the opportunities that were made available to me. I took a leadership role on the golf team, I became an editor on the school’s yearbook, participated in my first retreat, and I chose to take the challenging and difficult classes instead of the easy A classes. One of the classes I took that year provided me with what my major would be in college.

Taking advantage of that opportunity to take a harder class in computer programming provided me with my career path. Taking advantage of the

opportunity to work on yearbook allowed me to broaden my friend group, interact with different teachers, and become more involved in the school.

When I look back at my time in high school my senior year is the one I have the best memories of. Many of those memories were after school or on weekends on the golf course, working on the yearbook, or scoring well on my AP exams. One of the fondest and strongest memories I have is of the first retreat I went on that year. It was an amazing bonding experience for me with not only a few of my classmates but with the teachers that went on it. I still go back as an adult leader every few years, because of the wonderful experience I had on it.

After I graduated high school, my father retired from the police force. When he retired my parents decided that we would move upstate to a small town outside of middletown new york. My grandparents lived not to far away as well as some other family members that had relocated out of the city. I was down at this time, I had just started to try new things and push myself only to be put in a place that I had no desire to be in.

I was not able to go away to college or choose the college that I went to. I have a younger and older sister, my older sister moved out and if I went away to school my parents felt my younger sister would struggle to adapt

on her own. I was registered at my local college and began school like everyone else in September, but I closed myself off, I retreated back to where I had been before Junior year, I went to college, did what I had to, and came home. During that first semester I made two very good friends Tom and Scott. Both of them were very intelligent and highly motivated students, that were involved in the school. These two friends encouraged me to try new things and join a few of the clubs. I joined and went reluctantly at first, but eventually I realized how great it was. We had meetings, did things to help the school, and traveled on school trips together. As I became more involved in the clubs I built strong relationships with two professors. Out of these relationships came a job offer. I began working for a friend of my professors as well as my professor on weekends.

I learned how to build houses. During the 3 years I worked with them I learned how to do many things plumbing, electrical, framing, word working, and excavating.

When I think back to my time upstate I remember most the times I spent on a bulldozer or traveling to Washington or Montreal. Had I not taken advantage of the opportunity to join a few clubs at college I wouldn’t have had those experiences.

This is my ninth year at Loyola. During that time I have had the ability to do so many wonderful things. During my first few years at Loyola I coached JV Girls Basketball. I can remember all of us piling on to the subway and taking the trains down to brooklyn or up to the bronx. To this day I still speak to a number of athletes from those first teams. Ms. Meyers and I have moderated Student Government for over five years. During that time we have shared many JUG Yard Dances, Proms, Nights of Fun, and so many wonderful Christmas Assemblies. At the end of my second year at Loyola I took advantage of an opportunity to travel to EL Salvador with Ms. Baber and a few colleagues from other schools. This was my first trip out of the country, and it was eye opening to see a new culture and new ways of life We visited sites that and places that were uncomfortable and saddening. This opportunity strengthened my faith. In addition to strengthening my faith the trip provided me with new friendships.

One friendship in particular was with a Jesuit priest that married my wife and I in March. Last summer a number of faculty traveled to Spain together accompanied by educators from other Jesuit schools on the east coast.

During our time in Spain we traveled in the footsteps of St. Ignatius. Along the journey we were able to see the place of his birth, where he was baptized, and where he challenged himself to be a different person.

My life has been shaped and changed by the opportunities that I have taken advantage of. The experiences and relationships that I have formed because of them have given me so many memories. As we start the new school year together I would tell you to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, say yes to something new and challenging.