Well, it has been quite a ride.
In April of 1989, I was having a particularly bad day at school. The reason for it is not important, and I am sure I would have bounced back, but I was feeling that maybe my career in education was almost over.
Then Fr. Wojicki, the administrator of SFBRHS called. “Hey, Kevin,” he asked, “Would you like to come out to Washington and teach at Borgia?” I had known about Borgia for a long time. I played in the Turkey Tourney back in the day for Prep South. (That is a bit of an exaggeration. I was on the team, “playing,” not so much.) I had also made a Search retreat back in the late 1970’s at Borgia Parish, led by Vern and Lil Tobben, WashMo icons. Finally, my older sister Kathy, then called Sr. Colin Marie, had taught at Borgia, and I had been out to visit her. But that was about it. That, in a nutshell, was the full extent of my Borgia experience.
Nevertheless, I replied to Fr. Ted’s request quickly, without even thinking about it. “Yes.”
And that one word set me on a course for the next thirty years of my life. Thirty awesome years.
There are so many great memories from the past thirty years, a couple of them I can actually share with you. (Insert smiley face) From the infamous “Masada” incident, to Coach Lahay’s spray-on hair at the Christmas party, to the Mike Tyree Giving Tree, to the case of “the beeping VCR tape,” to the unofficial (and productive) faculty meetings at the Landing, to flushing one’s eyeglasses down the toilet (well done, Judy K), to Chuck Bright’s notecards with every story that ever happened in the faculty lounge, to Ray Meyer’s farm report, to George McKee’s hot tub saga, to infinity and beyond. Occasionally, education happened. (Insert another smile face) Being a faculty member at Borgia was, and still is, a special, joyous thing, a community of laughter and love.
There were, of course, the State Championships in a variety of sports. Volleyball, basketball, cross country, golf, track, cheerleading, dance, and the amazing football season of 1993. But all the sports teams did us proud, soccer, softball, baseball, and now wrestling. I became used to being hated/envied around the area. “Deal with it!” Everyone was out to beat Borgia, and that, ironically, was the best. And, then to top it off, for the last athletic event of my time here at Borgia, the boys’ baseball team won State. And they won it in convincing fashion. (Way to go, Rob, Spencer, and the Boys!)
Everyone knows how near and dear Borgia theatre was and is to me. When I directed, I had no idea what I was doing, but I had an absolute blast doing it. See How They Run, Anything Goes, The Fantasticks, Mame, Barnum, Into the Woods to name a few. (I know there were more, but space is limited.) Then getting to work with Tim Buchheit as he took our theatre to the next level, even allowing me to play a man eating plant from outer space in Little Shop of Horrors. My happiest times were watching Borgia students blossom on stage, becoming themselves by pretending to be someone else. That’s how it was in every endeavor at Borgia, a thirst for excellence, achievement, self-discovery, and success.
But Borgia is ultimately about the students we serve and educating them so that they can make their mark on the world. Many of them went into the medical fields as doctors, nurses, technicians, specialists, and EMT’s bringing healing and comfort to the sick and wounded. One of them treats me for skin cancer every six months. Some of them went to serve in faraway lands with the Peace Corps and other such groups. Several of my former students have become law enforcement officers, treading the thin blue line, keeping our streets and our families safe. Some of them made their marks in the entertainment and communications industry as directors, reporters, videographers, sound technicians. Some of them went into business and finance, helping others find employment and financial stability. Many of them went into education populating many of the faculties around this area and in St. Louis. About 20 of them teach here at Borgia. Two of them worked with me as Borgia’s Principal. A couple went on to religious life. Three of them, I am proud to say, are now brother priests. All of them making their mark on the world, bringing the mission of Borgia, the good news, to the world.
I have lost count how many weddings of former students I’ve done, how many of their children's baptisms, how many of them now send their children to this school. I love rounding a corner and running into a former student and sharing a laugh about the old times. I will always remember the laughter.
Our principal, Pam (Ruether) Tholen has a wonderful catchphrase:
It is a great day to be a Knight!
It has been thirty years of great days, and I have been incredibly blessed to be a part of this incredible place. I am forever grateful I was having a bad day in April of 1989 and said, “Yes” to Fr. Ted. I like to think it worked out pretty well. It was quite a ride.
Farewell, Borgia. God Bless.