Live, Love, and Serve in the Image of Christ
Matthew Giordano
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Matthew ranked #1 out of 289 students in LaSalle College High School's Class of 2023. He will be attending Notre Dame University next year, majoring in Electrical Engineering. We asked him a few questions about himself, his faith, and his experience at St. Jude School.
Q. What role do you think St. Jude School played in your life? What role did SJS play in preparing you for high school and beyond?
St. Jude School shaped the habits and beliefs that helped me succeed in high school. The teachers and administration did not push us as students; they fostered an environment where we strived to push ourselves. It took me until well into my high school years to appreciate this differentiating factor of a St. Jude education. This factor allowed me to take advantage of the added freedom that came along with high school. Without those well-ingrained habits, the autonomy could have very well hurt me. At St. Jude, I never felt the cliché, “I don’t want to try too hard, or people will think I’m a nerd.” It was quite the opposite. I felt “I don’t want to miss homework, or I’ll be the outlier.” While it could be something in Chalfont’s water that allows so many alumni to achieve success in high school and beyond, I have a feeling St. Jude has something to do with it.
Q. What is your favorite memory of St. Jude School? Why?
My favorite memory of St. Jude School is Maroon and Gold Day, our eighth-grade year. From the water balloon toss to the tug of war, I felt a really special bond with my classmates that day. I remember that it “hit me” that our class would part ways in a few short weeks, so I tried to soak it all in. To this day, I hold those memories close to my heart.
Q. What role does your Catholic faith play in your life?
Every day, I am reminded of God’s role in my life through my family. Their unconditional love and support never fails to remind me how blessed I am. Additionally, I try my best to align my actions with the values of the Catholic faith. These give me guidelines on how to treat others with respect and hold myself to a high standard of integrity.
Q. What are some of the challenges you face as a young adult?
As a young adult, I struggle with staying focused. It’s easy for me to jump from opportunity to opportunity with the excuse of “I’m becoming more well-rounded.” However, a wise man once said, “A jack of all trades is a master at none.” The most successful people are masters of their specific niche; mastery takes years, even decades. I have a tough time thinking out that far because a decade is more than half my life. In turn, I often choose becoming okay at the thing that seems coolest to me instead of focusing on becoming great at something that’s lost its novelty.
Q. What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I like Harry Styles’s music.
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share?
I feel the best education isn’t something you can describe, only experience. I have trouble putting into words the impact of St. Jude School because I don’t think I’ve grasped its full value yet. Often, I think about the habits and beliefs that have served me best, and I realize how many began at West Butler Avenue. I am beyond grateful for the impact St. Jude had throughout these formative years of my life.
Congratulations and good luck, Matthew!
