JASON BENETTI
Shares Life Lessons By Allen Marazas, Contributing Writer
W
When the Marian Catholic High School student body filed into the West Gym on Oct. 3 to hear a presentation by White Sox TV home play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti, it would probably be safe to say that most of them didn’t know exactly what to expect. Regardless of their expectations, or lack thereof, what they heard was a lesson in the opportunity and wonder of surprise. Benetti drove home that point and others, as he spoke about respecting the differences in people and not making judgments about people until you know them. Underscoring that theme was the fact that Benetti was born with a lung disorder and ultimately was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects muscle coordination, movement and balance, hardly the beginning one would expect for a successful career in sports announcing.
10 MARIAN MATTERS WINTER 2017
Marian Catholic alumna Emily Joria '10, Digital Content Coordinator for the Chicago White Sox, accompanied Jason Benetti on his visit to Marian Catholic.
Benetti’s presentation was well received as evidenced by the standing ovation he received at the conclusion of his remarks. Immediately after, a number of students came forward to speak to Benetti and shake his hand. One of those who approached him was Sophomore Andrew Yock. Yock said that he was impressed with Benetti’s encouragement of curiosity, of asking questions to learn more about other people and not letting others define you. Yock remarked that Benetti’s belief that you should create your own reality and not allow others to limit your self-image, goals, or success seemed like something he could use in his own life. But when he approached Benetti after the presentation, Yock said they talked about baseball and the White Sox even though Yock is a Cubs fan, a fact he did not share with Benetti.
Senior Connor O’Hare also spoke with Benetti following the presentation. They too talked mostly about baseball. O’Hare said he was impressed by Benetti’s willingness to accept constructive criticism and how he actually sought out critiques from professionals at the beginning of his career even though the critiques were not always flattering. Benetti’s persistence and work ethic also made an impression on O’Hare. Jason Benetti brought a message of inclusion and acceptance to Marian Catholic reinforcing the Marian philosophy of creating a “....Christian atmosphere in which students can develop relationships based on trust, respect, and appreciation of individual gifts.” (Marian Catholic Philosophy adopted January 1977)