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Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan ’77 Returns to Xaverian
Communications Corps member, Hunter ’19, profiles the Deputy Secretary's day at Xaverian.
United States Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan ’77 fondly remembers his time in high school as a proud Xaverian Hawk. He took time out of his busy schedule on Friday, September 14, to return to his alma mater and share what he learned here at Xaverian and during an exceptional career in law and politics.
“My experience [at Xaverian] still means more to me than any other experience I have had in my lifetime...I have such wonderful memories of my time here,” Mr. Sullivan told students on Friday afternoon.
His return to school began with a warm welcome from Principal Dr. Jacob Conca ’94 and Headmaster Brother Daniel Skala, C.F.X., as soon as he walked in the door. After a brief tour around campus, he headed to the theater to speak to two groups of social studies students. Excitement among students and teachers alike filled the room in anticipation of the speech, and he took the stage after a thoughtful introduction from Social Studies Department Chair, Mr. Joseph MacKinnon ’84 and Dr. Conca.
Mr. Sullivan began his remarks with a brief biography of his political career, discussing his education at Brown University and Columbia Law School, his time as a law clerk in the US Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, his roles on multiple presidential campaigns, and, of course, his current job in the State Department. He reflected on the tumultuous state of politics and acknowledged that his job was difficult at times, but that he works as hard as he possibly can every day on behalf of American citizens. “Serving this country is a tremendous honor, and it is something that I do not take lightly,” he said.
Interwoven with his musings on Washington, social media, and government service, Mr. Sullivan praised Xaverian. In his office at the State Department, he has a framed picture of Brothers Paul Feeney and Joe Girard proudly displayed on his wall because they made such a great impact on him during his time on Clapboardtree Street. He said that, to him, what made and still makes Xaverian so great are the people that get the best out of each other.
“I honestly believe that my classes could have been placed out on an empty field -- just my teachers, classmates, and the blackboards -- and I still would’ve had an incredible experience here. The people are who really matter. Everyone here, faculty and students alike, wanted to make you feel welcome, and I really appreciated that about Xaverian,” he said.
Mr. Sullivan also stressed the importance of the Xaverian values in his remarks, none more so than humility, which he called “undoubtedly the most important value” he learned here. He reminded everyone to “stay true to yourself and remember that all you can do is try your best. Having the courage to say ‘I don’t know’ is something that today’s world is lacking, but I am never afraid to say it because of the strong sense of humility that I learned as a Xaverian student.”
Mr. Sullivan then challenged students to strive for greatness in their lives and to have “worthy goals” to work to achieve. “Set the bar as high as you can for yourself and do everything you can to reach it,” he said. “Pick worthy goals that you want to achieve and work as hard as you can to achieve them. Be a lawyer. That’s a worthy goal. Be an engineer. That’s a worthy goal. Be a priest. Wearing that collar is very important and is also a worthy goal. Whatever it may be, strive high and have worthy goals for yourself.”
Students were given the opportunity to ask Mr. Sullivan some questions, and he responded thoughtfully and candidly to all of them. He talked about the never-ending news cycle and how that affects the State Department, his brief but busy time as Acting Secretary of State, and his daily routine. Mr. Sullivan said that his job could be 24-7, but sometimes he has to “pull the plug and breathe,” and just watch a Red Sox game.
His closing words were about General Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and thus the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, who is a Boston College High School graduate. Mr. Sullivan says that he and General Dunford joke with each other constantly about the Xaverian-BC High rivalry, and they each check the scores every time the two schools play each other. “So to any athletes in here, make me proud next time you play BC High so I can poke fun at the General,” he said to a room full of laughter.
Mr. Sullivan then went down to the Trustee Conference Center in the Ruth Kennedy Library to hold an hour-long question-and-answer session with students from the Politix Club, Model UN, and other interested students. Nearly 30 young men filled the room, eager to learn more. Mr. Sullivan gave them the floor to ask any question they wanted, and delivered on his promise for candid answers about foreign policy. Following the marathon of questions, informative answers, and a few bouts of laughter, Mr. Sullivan kindly posed for pictures with any student who asked before leaving for the day.
John Sullivan’s return to Xaverian was a thrilling day for students and teachers alike, and the school is grateful for the time he spent here last week. We wish him all the best as he continues to serve our country and the State Department.Xaverian Brothers High School
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.
