As an 8th grade student, I remember being utterly impressed with the clean-cut, blazer-adorned men I would see judging middle school events such as speech competitions and science fairs; therefore, it was a surprise neither to me nor my parents that I had my heart set on attending Cathedral High School in order to be educated in the company of these outstanding individuals.

In due time, I graduated from Cathedral in 2009, having proudly contributed sizeable amounts of time and effort into both the celebrated swim team and the speech and debate/mock trial teams. Throughout my life, there have been scant occasions where I have felt anything as close to the unity and fellowship I experienced at Cathedral – looking back, it is that brotherhood that I will always cherish. Regardless of where you came from, what activities you participated in, or what your goals were, there was no shortage of camaraderie between students in the corridors, school events, and even outside of class.

After Cathedral, I graduated from Colgate University in 2013 with a B.A. in Biochemistry with a minor in Native American Studies. I was fortunate to spend approximately two years conducting medical research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD in both cancer and endocrinology. I am currently a second-year medical student at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Through service as a physician, I eagerly endeavor to exhibit the values and excellence instilled in me by the welcoming walls of Cathedral in the care of each and every one of my future patients.

“What are you proudest of?”
I am proud of choosing a vocation that, although is not always the easiest to train for or perform, allows me to truly help my fellow man. I feel motivated by the opportunity to heal, care for, and improve the lives of others.

“What lesson from Cathedral do you carry with you?”
I am not sure specifically where or when I encountered it, but an idea that really stuck with me from my time at Cathedral was the notion that the greatest thing a person could do was to do something for someone else. That concept is something I never wish to forget.

“Do you have a message (lesson/observation) for a current Cathedral student?”
Do not limit yourself. Just because something is difficult or appears out of grasp, does not mean you should quit or try something else; double your efforts and push yourself. For all you know, you will succeed and perhaps someone in the world is depending on you to do so. Don’t let them down