Winter 2013 Issue - De La Salle Institute

FAITH, SERVICE & COMMUNITYAurea Delfin ‘14Aurea Delfin is enrolled in the Honors Program at the Lourdes Hall Campus. Delfin has a 3.813 grade-point average and is rankedNo. 34 in the 113-member class. Along with her success in the classroom, Delfin participated in the improv, comedy and threadportions of the Theatre 100 program this past fall. She also is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Mock TrialTeam.A Christian non-Catholic, Delfin reflects as to the impact that De La Salle is having on her life:When I was looking at high schools, I knew with ‘D’ being rooted in the Christian faith, it would have the family-type environment Iwas looking for. I wanted to be surrounded not only by fellow peers, but also by people I could consider my second family one day.When I started at ‘D’, I knew little about the Catholic faith. I really didn’t know what to expect. Since then, I have learned not onlythe history of the Catholic faith, but a true beauty in the religion. It took attending ‘D’ to have that eye-opening experience and tobe able to have a more open mind about different religions.Being a student at De La Salle has helped me get a clearer sense of what I believe in. Being in a schoolwhere the majority of students are Catholic, I get approached with questions about my own religion.With that, I have had to affirm and dig deeper into my own faith to be able to answer these questionsin a confident manner.Attending a school with students from a variety of backgrounds and faiths is a very fulfilling experience.It helps you view the people around you with an open mind.I know there is a bigger world waiting for me once I graduate from ‘D’ and I believe being surroundedby such a diverse pool of backgrounds and faiths prepares me.Anthony Pierce ’14Anthony Pierce is enrolled in the Honors Program, maintains a 4.405 grade-point average and is rankedNo. 17 in the 153-member Class of 2014. In addition to his success in the classroom, Pierce also was theleading tackler for the varsity football team this past season, along with being a member of the Gamingand Gadgets Club, Chemistry Club and track and field team.Pierce, a Baptist, is the son of a preacher who is in the process of forming his own church. Here is Pierce’sreflection as to the impact that De La Salle is having on his faith.In elementary school, there were three aspects to my life. I went to school and was a good student. Myfather, who is a preacher, always taught me Scripture. I went to Bible studies and church on Sundays. Iwas a good Christian.I went to football practice every day after school and I was a good athlete. I understood high school to be a place where two-thirds ofmy life would be in one place.When it was time to choose a high school, I was accepted at two public high schools, but my parents thought that De La Salle wouldbe a better environment for me.When I came to De La Salle, my understanding changed and I realized that I could bring all parts of my life into one building and thatthey would all be nurtured equally. I can appreciate the fact that I can learn about theology in school.My parents wanted me to go to a high school that would be an extension of our home environment. My mother especially liked thatthere is a chapel where I can go to pray. By attending ‘D’, I understand that Catholicism shouldn’t be so foreign to me because mydenomination branched out from it.De La Salle has impacted my faith because of all of the different faiths here at our school. I’ve had a chance to talk to people who areatheists and agnostics. Because of their questioning of a God, it was made easier for me to research and solidify my faith.When I was in second grade, my teacher told me that I couldn’t read my Bible during free time. But now, I can discuss religion withanyone at any time. It feels good to be at a school like mine.Faith, Service, and Community 9