I graduated from Delbarton about 20 years ago so the impression I have may very well be outdated. It was a stellar school, academically and in the arts and athletics. I should put out there that I probably didnât fit the profile of what many here consider the typical Delbarton student. I had a few close friends during my school years but didnât keep in touch with most after graduation - Facebook helped a lot with the rest. My family wasnât wealthy, I participated in a sport which I enjoyed but didnât excel at, and my focus was in instrumental music. On top of that Iâm the son of first generation immigrants. Perhaps I could give some insight from the perspective of an alumnus.
While I attended the school, I felt it was privilege to be there every day. The music program offered was way better than what would have been available in my town. In fact, there were so many interest activities and volunteer opportunities available that I truly believe any student could find something they love AND discover new things they didnât know they would enjoy. Delbarton really nurtured that in boys - to explore, be a part of the community and take the lead. If it didnât exist, the school would support you to go and make it happen.
Delbarton was also a place that taught students to have class and integrity in whatever they do. I think the impact of this lesson wasnât always evident during teenage years. Cheers during sports event werenât always classy on both sides. However, as the years went by and I saw how my classmates carried out their lives through college, young adulthood, and parenthood - I could see that the seed planted during our high school years did take root. I will also say that most of my classmates seemed to have carried on the desire to serve the community well into their late 30s.
A few final notes on the things I appreciated most about Delbarton - having been exposed to some of the most talented people I have ever met on a daily basis inspires me til today, and it was a âbrotherhoodâ in the sense that there was no one labeled as a ânerdâ or âawkwardâ, and the star athletes werenât any more popular than the star composer or guy who started a juggling club, or the student who lead a service trip to an impoverished African nation. We were all brothers in the sense that diverse talents were appreciated, lauded, and encouraged by all.
That said, Iâll be the first to say the school isnât for everyone. There are kids who never adjust and leave, and there are kids who may not really adjust but just stick with it through graduation for various reasons. The academic workload can be tough and stressful. The style of writing taught during English and History classes would have been challenging to college English literature freshmen. Students who demonstrated competency were able to take pre-calculus or even AP calculus as high school freshmen. I like to think that many are like I was - not feeling like I âfit inâ with the majority of the student body, but still finding friends that I can relate to and keeping so busy with all the opportunities offered that I didnât have time to reflect whether I fit in or notâŠplus enjoying the beautiful campus and the camaraderie with teachers and monks, cheering on classmates in their hockey games, attending plays and concerts my friends were in, going on retreats, and enjoying the garden as a senior.
A long time ago, my parents sent me there because they believed Delbarton was a place that could instill conservative values but also nurture a liberal mind. Looking back over 20 years later, I can see that it was. Thatâs not to say all those positives I mentioned canât be experienced at another school - they certainly can. If I have a son one day, I would be happy for him to experience a Delbarton education.