Social Media

                

             

                In a certain way, social media is a gift in my life. I can keep up with family and friends who are often far away. As someone not from the DMV area, it has been enjoyable to see what my friends are up to. I see photos and think of memories of events from several years ago, which I may not see otherwise. I also can use social media to promote different organizations and events with which I am involved. It was a great asset when I was chairman of Relay For Life at Catholic University in 2013. Using social media, we were able to raise over $10,000 in one day and a total of $30,000 over several months. Without the tools such as Facebook and Twitter, this feat would not have been possible.

              On the flipside, I find myself happiest when I do not have access to these sites and I do not feel the need to share everything. The best example I can give is when I am in the woods, hiking or camping. When I camp or visit the camp I used to work at, being detached from the world allows me to do whatever I want without the worries of other people. If I want to go sailing or swimming then I do. It is just me and the water, and I cannot be happier. 

The 1913 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg

    

My Father and I on a recent trip to Gettysburg

           One hundred years ago, the State of Pennsylvania invited all surviving veterans of the Civil War to gather in the small town of Gettysburg to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of battle. Nearly 54,000 veterans from both sides, representing 46 of the 48 states came to the sight over four days in July[1]. The spirit was not one of hostility of old enmities but rather of friendship and patriotism. As one can imagine, this event gathered nationwide attention and coverage. The highlights included a reenactment of Pickett's Charge and address by Woodrow Wilson[2].   

            The event left a lasting impact on both the veterans who attended but also the Nation, who looked to these men with reverence. It produced a vast number documents to record the actions of the reunion. These are state reports, diaries, and newspaper accounts. All of these show a certain attitude of the nation at the time. The important event became the background for my thesis. My project analyzed these sources as well as other historians who have looked at this event to show how it was used to reconcile the two sides. Ultimately the thesis when on to prove that the reunion helped foster reconciliation between Northern and Southern veterans. It is rare that two sides of a war can get together to commemorate their dead and the survivors. While there may not be an exact answer why Americans are drawn to this sacred place, but what can be done is analyze.

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[1] Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, (Harrisburg, PA: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1913), 48.  

[2] Woodrow Wilson, "Woodrow Wilson: Address at Gettysburg"  The American Presidency Project, 15 September, 2013,  http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=65370#axzz2fmPtexdp.

San Miguel School DC

San Miguel Students showing their joy

“The work of teaching is one of the most important in the Church.”

~St. John Baptist De La Salle

The Miguel school system was established in 1993 with the sole purpose of educating under-served children, focusing on students in middle school.  The system was named after St. Miguel Cordero, a Christian Brother who dedicated his life to the education of poor Ecuadorians. 

Here in Washington D.C., a Miguel school was established in 2002 as an extension of St. John’s College High School with 8 students – San Miguel School of Washington.  It rapidly grew, and this past year the school graduated its largest class of 23 students and currently has a total of sixty-three Latino boys in grades six to eight.

All San Miguel students come into sixth-grade from DC public schools and, on average, have reading and math skills of a fourth-grader.  By the end of their time at San Miguel as eighth graders, they are 100% proficient in these subjects. This success results from their own hard work and that of experienced teachers and tutors.   Additionally, San Miguel, like most Miguel-style schools, operates on an extended day and year-round school program (200 school days vs. a traditional 160 days).

This hard work pays off - 98% of San Miguel graduates have either completed their high school diploma or are in the process of doing so. The graduation rate for Latino males in DC public schools is 46%.  Clearly, San Miguel and its unique style of education is paying off.