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Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Xaverian’s Thoughts on Life in a Pandemic
In a year that has often been described as “unprecedented,” there is a lot upon which we can reflect. With a renewed sense of hope from the onset of mass vaccinations and the lifting of restrictions, Xaverian students, faculty, and administrators were asked to reflect on what has been (to say the least!) a memorable year. Here’s what they had to say.
What was your most memorable pandemic moment?
Mr. Chris Roche, Computer Science Teacher: I think for me, it was being outside with the 8th grade on the fields during their lunch break on the first day students didn’t have to wear masks outside. Since I am a first year teacher, this was the first time I saw them just playing!
Krish Shah ’22: My first virtual class and logging on to the Zoom meeting to see all of my classmates in front of my eyes, but simultaneously so far away. It symbolized the start of a new experience, but also a realization of how fortunate I was to belong to a school that valued the education of its students, as Xaverian almost immediately continued learning after the pandemic first hit through this new format.
Kush Mehrotra ’25: My birthday in 2020. I was very happy all day, but toward the end of the day I was feeling a little bit lonely...I was missing my friends this year. Just then, I heard honking in front of the driveway, and I saw so many of my friends in their cars holding happy birthday signs, yelling, waving, and honking! I was so surprised and so happy.
Did you pick up any new hobbies, habits, or interests during the past year-plus? What were they?
Rishu Nevatia ’23: To be honest, I didn’t really pick up any new hobbies, I just rekindled my relationship with old ones. I had almost stopped reading entirely, but due to the need to stay indoors, I began to read again. I used to read every single waking second of my life, and I missed the familiar feel of being transported to a new universe. Now that I am reading again, I can’t stop!
Mrs. Donna O’Connor, P ’01, Special Projects Manager: Watching ‘Stars in the House’ on YouTube has been a lot of fun; but more notably, on the very first day of quarantine, I began keeping a document of what I was making for dinner each night - planned it out for every week - and I have never stopped. It began as a guide for a shopping list, but then turned into something I looked forward to doing. I’m still doing it and have no intention of stopping. Give me a date, and I’ll tell you what we had for dinner!
As restrictions are lifted and things begin to open up, what are you most excited about for post-pandemic life?
Antwine Burdett, Jr. ’24: I am most excited about making new friends and exploring new adventures on campus. I am looking forward to experiencing all that Xaverian has to offer.
Brendan Colin ’22: As the world returns to normal, I’m looking forward to seeing the people I’ve missed and doing the things I couldn’t for over a year...I think that across society, as people start seeing loved ones again, the world will heal and humanity will reunite. Over the past year and a half or so, millions of people across the globe have suffered. While I haven’t been affected nearly as much as some people, I pray that those who have felt the explosion of COVID the most will start to get better and have hope for a brighter future.
What is something you found positive or convenient about life under quarantine that you will miss in the future?
Mr. Conor Fitzgerald ’09, Social Studies Teacher: The amount of time I was able to spend with my family, and how life did seem slower.
Max Nicholson ’22: I found remote learning extremely convenient, as I am sure many other people did as well. The ability to create my own schedule allowed me to complete my tasks much more effectively and be more productive throughout the day.
Ms. Jenna Vona, Theology Teacher: Even though holidays were not what we are used to, I did find living through quarantine holidays refocused my family on what matters most. We will be so thankful to just be in each other’s company without worry for the holidays. I hope that realization stays with us in the future.
What was your favorite part about coming back to school in-person this past fall?
Mrs. Laura Guzzi, P ’24, World Language Teacher: I love seeing the students and my colleagues. I love observing the interactions between the members of our community. I love just being physically present with the people I care about, both colleagues and students.
Thomas Skerry ’22: The best part about coming back was getting active again. With a modified cross country season and clubs in person, instead of being tired from a long school day I would feel excited to get to my after school activity.
Liam Maguire ’22: Seeing a lot of my friends again in person after not seeing them in around six months...It felt like a somewhat normal thing, despite all of the irregularities.
Mr. Jim Lewis, P ’95, ’02, World Language Teacher: I was so happy to have my first class with students physically present in my room in September. Although hybrid teaching was a big step forward, the real joy came when we were finally able to be fully in-person during the past several weeks. It was so exciting to have my entire class present for the first time in over a year with no Zoom necessary!
How has the Xaverian community supported you during this time?
Mr. Stephen Brennen, World Language Teacher: They’ve been the best, and have accommodated my needs every step of the way.
Ethan Duhamel ’23: My teachers have kept the workload reasonable and they made sure that students both online and in person got a chance to participate in class, and my friends who I hadn’t seen in almost a year were glad to see me, just like I was glad to see them.
Ryan Mullen ’22: Xaverian has allowed me to have the same opportunities as any normal school year despite all of the challenges. I know that many other kids did not have access to certain sports or clubs that I have as a result of Xaverian’s effort.
Dr. Jacob Conca ’94, Head of School: Seeing everyone do their best, support one another, and really work to live the Xaverian mission, especially when it comes to supporting one another. That was powerful and I drew strength from witnessing this each day.
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Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.
