President Obama's address to the nation's students on September 8th was viewed by some as controversial and inappropriate by others. However, political opinions cast aside, his talk had many pertinent points. He spoke about the responsibility that each student has for themselves in regards to their education and how valuable an education is. Many have heard me say that to receive a diploma from De La Salle High School and to say you are a graduate of De La Salle comes at a cost. It is the Gospel that tells us what the cost is - to those who have been given much, much is expected. The obligation of our school is to create leaders who make a difference in our community and in our world. As the prayer of Archbishop Oscar Romero states, "we plant seeds that one day will grow."
 
The planting of seeds is evident at De La Salle today, and with our graduates.  As you may have heard in August, Captain John Hallett from the class of 1997 was tragically killed in Afghanistan. John paid the ultimate price of sacrificing his life for others in service to our country. The message of taking responsibility for his education and contributing to society was understood and lived by Captain Hallett. 
 
Just a few weeks ago, 55 young men applied to participate in Campus Ministry's opportunity to attend Ven a Ver (Come and See), an immersion of service, simplicity, community and prayer in Salinas.  As one student said on his application, "The Student Immersion Project (SIP) in my sophomore year gave me a glimpse of what it means to serve those less fortunate than me, and I want to do this for three days."  When over 10% of our upperclassmen want to attend this type of immersion program, it clearly tells me that our students are starting to answer the questions the President asked, "So today, I want to ask you, what is your contribution going to be?  What problems are you going to solve?  What discoveries will you make?  What will a president who comes here in 20 or 50 or 100 years say about what all of you did for this country?"
 
I hope one day I will be able to answer these questions too, and I will take more satisfaction in knowing what our graduates will have done as "Les Hommes de Foi," The Men of Faith, sharing our Lasallian Brotherhood with the world!
 
In the Spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle,

Mark DeMarco '78
President