Shared Humanity
By Ty Sullivan ’79
W
e are all in this humans’ race together and it’s
our job to make sure we all get to the finish
line as one.
That’s it. Period. It is our personal duty to look out
for, carry, and respect each member of our diverse and
beautiful cultures and to find that one cause, out of the
many, that we might be interested in, and make that
our passion project: the one we know of where we can
make the biggest difference in the world and be an agent
of change. It’s already something ingrained in each and
every young man at Saint David’s, with our motto being,
“that they be good men.”
I learned to be “a good man” from an extraordinary
woman, my mother Dawn Sullivan, who worked tirelessly
volunteering, being a community leader and a beacon of
light for those who needed to find their way. Part of her
activities even involved working alongside our former
Headmaster, David Hume, to develop necessary academic
programs within the framework of Saint David’s.
Embracing acts of kindness and performing community
service is certainly a conscious choice, but its roots can stem
from triggers of inspiration on our journey through life, be
it bearing witness to its actions or being inspired by words.
I know for me it has always been a part of my DNA, my
genetic makeup, but I was so inspired by watching how my
mother’s outreach helped and affected others. The looks
on their faces. The relief of the weight off their shoulders.
I knew that what she had done made a difference. I have
been inspired by the leadership and teachings of some of my
Ty Sullivan has led events with No Kid Hungry, the Young and Mighty March, and Love Halley Foundation, among
other organizations.
32 • Saint David’s Magazine