YOUNG ALUMNI PROFILE Joseph Thongsythavong ’19

Communications Disorders. She then pursued a degree in Dental Hygiene and currently works as a dental hygienist. There is a new generation currently continuing the Dowling family legacy. Siobhan’s two daughters, Isabelle and Sophie, are in grades 9 and 8 respectively and enrolled at St. Mary’s in 2020. “It was a seamless transition.” Siobhan said. Their cousin, Tara’s daughter Avery, is also a grade 9 student, following not only in her mother’s footsteps, but also her brother Brendan, who graduated from St. Mary’s in 2019 and is currently a junior at Salve Regina. When asked why St. Mary’s for her children, Siobhan says, “While St. Mary’s was always going to be a consideration for high school, COVID was the reason to send the girls sooner as we did not want them remote for the whole year.” More importantly she notes, “The thing I didn’t know that was missing is the constant reminder of doing good for others. The religious and Catholic aspect we weren’t getting in public school and I appreciate the message, so am thankful for that.” Like most Spartans, the Dowlings say their best friends now are those they made in high school. Both Tara and Joe echo this sentiment personally. Tara said, “My three best friends are still my three best friends from high school. We never lost contact and are fully engaged in each other’s lives.” Joe agrees, “My best friends in the world are the ones I met at St. Mary’s.” The same was true for their mother as Tara said, “Most of her best friends were women that she went to high school with, such as Norma Barbanti class of 1958,” who is also Tara’s godmother. The four Dowling siblings remain close and “get together as much as we can” Meghan says, with three living in Nahant and one in Swampscott. They celebrate holidays together and spend time over the summers as well. The siblings know that their mother, who passed in December of 2018, would be proud of the legacy that is being carried on, “She wanted her grandchildren to go to St. Mary’s.” Siobhan said, “I know she is smiling now to see her grandchildren there.” Joe says he is glad his nieces are “Keeping the legacy alive. It is a bond that you really won't find anywhere else.”

by Jamie Gigliotti

Photo Credit: Mark Collier/Norwich University

In 2018, when Joseph Thongsythavong was a St. Mary’s senior, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the CCL. Today he continues to be a valuable member as a junior at Norwich College in Vermont. He recently set the new single season record for goals scored. Sports are a huge part of his life, but so are academics. His day consists of “school work, sports, studying, and going to the gym. School is what you make of it. You can go out and make friends, go to movie nights and bonfires or sit in your room. It is up to you.” In addition to his studies, Joseph has a work-study job in the school’s equipment room where he makes sure the gear is ready for all the sports teams. He also works in the school’s Academic Achievement Center providing extra help to students. It is quite a balancing act to work and study, but he does it very successfully. He has fond memories of his St. Mary’s days: being a member of the National Honor Society, reading Beowulf, “Mr. Doherty, who has a special place in my heart and Coaches Mike D’Agostino and Joe Gill ’09.” Last summer, Joseph came to visit and was impressed with the STEM building. The “rooms have a college feel and the school’s four pillars easily translate to college life.” St. Mary’s helped prepare him for the “journey and real world.” He offered to come back and talk to this year’s seniors about what it takes to succeed in college. Joseph always wanted to be in the military and is working towards to a career as either an Occupational Therapist or Physician’s Assistant.

by Stacy Drector