Recently, my wife, two daughters and I had one of those great family moments. We were able to sit down with my dad while he told story after story of his "early years." We laughed, we cried, we were shocked, we were filled with joy, we were in disbelief but more than anything we were mesmerized by his stories. It was warming  to listen to the stories that helped shape the legacy of my dad's life. In those stories you could identify experiences that were used to mold the personality and character traits that are visible in his life. It was obvious how his experiences shaped the  "ways" in which he raised me. One of the girls asked him what year he was born. When he answered "1947" that little light of thought flicked on in my head to something seemingly unrelated. Garces was "born" in 1947 as well.

 

Like my dad, the stories that Garces can tell would truly hold us captivated. From the early Brothers to our current principal Ms. Myka Peck the legacy of Garces is mesmerizing. The beauty of this legacy is that it is filled with the thousands of students, parents, faculty, staff, volunteers, clergy, and administration that have shaped the years. The twists and turns, joys and heartbreaks, similarities and differences of these individuals have molded the personality and character traits of the life that is Garces. Our collective involvement has created what is, in my humble estimation, the most unique and amazing educational institution in our area.

 

Having the opportunity to hear some of the stories of those that have left this incredible legacy of Garces for us to experience today elicits the same response as hearing my dad's stories. I laugh, I cry, I am shocked, I am filled with joy, and I am often in disbelief. More than that, however, I am challenged. Challenged by the fact that what we (all of us currently a part of the Garces family) are doing today is shaping the Garces of the future and leaving a legacy for others to experience. It is often easy in this day and age to have expectations of what will be done "for me" but the beauty of Garces is that our experiences and efforts are shaping a legacy that will have an impact on the way that other lives will be molded and shaped. With the school year well under way I hope you will be as challenged by these words as I have been and let's strive to create a legacy together that will have an impact in lives now and in the future that are beyond our wildest imagination.