Alumni Chapel Talks
Alumni Chapel Talks
During the spring, classmates Brij Gautam’ 16 and Ryan Gomez’ 16 inspired our seventh and eighth graders with their Chapel Talks. Excerpts follow:
Brij Gautam’ 16:“ Good to Be Home”
It’ s good to be home.
What I love about the( Great) Expansion is that it didn’ t replace what made Saint David’ s special— it just made more room for it. And while this may feel new to me, it reflects something that has always defined this place— a commitment to not just all that we can be, but also all that we will be.
From its earliest days in a single townhouse to the campus you see now, this school has never stood still. I think that’ s why the theme for this year’ s 75th Anniversary Benefit was Excelsior: Ever Upward.
And being there that evening, you could feel it. Alumni from all different years, teachers, families— everyone just mixing together, catching up, laughing. It didn’ t feel like separate groups— it felt like one community that had just picked up where it left off.
To me, that’ s what makes Saint David’ s, Saint David’ s. It doesn’ t end when you graduate. You’ re part of it for life.
And when you graduate from that great school, and start that great job, you’ ll blink and the calendar will read 2036. 10 years … just like that.
And with the recent addition of 15 East 88th Street, the school you return to will look a bit different too. Yet, when you walk up those steps … it’ ll feel like it’ s 2026, or 2016, 2006, 1996. The essence of the school, that mission … a commitment to being good men … That will be here forever, and it’ ll always be part of each of us.
As we all reflect on our time at Saint David’ s, I think Mr. Moore said it best.“ We look back with pride, and ahead with joy.”
Brij is a graduate of Loyola School( 2020) and Fordham University( 2024).
80 • Saint David’ s Magazine