Voices Ringing Blog /

At Duke University, students do not officially declare a major until their sophomore year, which would only give Jason Dong ‘18 a short year to decide the course the remainder of his college experience would take. Thankfully, he had his academic and extracurricular experiences at Archbishop Carroll High School to prepare him for his future. “When I was at Carroll, there were a lot of opportunities for me to explore what I wanted to do,” Jason recalled. He knew he wanted to go into either biochemistry, bioengineering, or electrical engineering, and he was able to explore all three throughout his time at Carroll.

When it came time to officially declare his major, he chose two. He would pursue electrical engineering and computer science, as well taking on a minor in history.

At a prestigious institution as Duke, taking on two majors and a minor would be no easy task. But, Dong felt very prepared, especially after navigating AP-level courses while running cross country. The discipline to run daily, in addition to taking rigorous courses, taught him valuable lessons necessary for success as a Blue Devil. Patriot Cross Country Coach John Agnew ‘80, an electrical engineer himself, also encouraged Jason to pursue engineering by providing him with valuable information about the profession.

With such little time for a social life, Jason found great friendships and belonging in the STEM community at Carroll. He had great connections with his teachers and his tight-knit group of classmates. Dong recalled that they led him to be more sociable and confident in himself. With those friends, he joined the iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition team and was able to explore the bioengineering side of the STEM field.

Little did he know that the two years he spent as a part of Carroll’s newly-formed House System would provide valuable tools to prepare him for life on campus in Durham, North Carolina. “At the time Carroll did the House System, I didn’t fully understand the concept. It makes a lot of sense leading into college,” said Dong, especially at Duke, where the university was beginning to incorporate their own version of the House System into community residence life while he was an undergraduate.

Jason was able to live on campus his freshman year; however, the COVID pandemic complicated two years of his time at Duke. He spent a good portion of sophomore year and all of his junior year back home while both virtually taking classes and working as a Teaching Assistant for the Intro to Coding and Digital Electronics courses. “I’m very thankful that I had my last two semesters on campus, in person, at Duke” Jason said, as he was able to attend hall of fame Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game against their bitter rivals at the University of North Carolina and reunite with his friends for other university events.

Since Duke this past spring, Jason has accepted a position as a software engineer for Goldman Sachs. He plans on taking either the GRE or GMAT while working in New York to work towards earning a masters degree in computer science or getting an MBA.

Jason’s mother told her son that she knew Archbishop Carroll High School would provide Jason with a valuable education in a faith-filled community. However, neither she nor Jason could have guessed that being a part of not one, but two, House System community developments would play such a significant role in his professional advancement. Jason hopes that his past experiences and current career endeavors will allow him the opportunity to someday shape a professional community of his own as the project manager of a startup in the future.
 

Pamela Olivas ‘22 (left) and Kelly Dong ’22 with Mrs. Linda Edwards

They are both our Yearbook Editors this year and have done an amazing job with our book and their role as leaders in the Yearbook class.  I'm very impressed with both of them.

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

Kelly Dong, Gonzaga House

What activities do you participate in?

I am an Editor in Yearbook Club, President of National Honor Society, and an Officer for Spanish club. Additionally, I am involved in Ohio Math League, Spanish Honor Society, and I’m a research intern at Wright Patterson Air Force Base under mentor Dr. John Harrell.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The teachers are my favorite part about being at Carroll. Shoutout to Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Ollier, Dr. O’Malley, Ms. Caserta, Mrs. Fuhr, Mr. Ochs, Mayor Williams, and so many others. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you a little of an idea of what you want to do in life. Whether that be traveling, entering into a trade school, taking a break, or entering into college, school should support and inspire you to take your next few steps.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Although I was born in the US, I lived in China for the first four years of my life with my grandparents. When I came to the US, I barely knew any English going into preschool. Because of the language barrier, I was scared of talking. Therefore, through this, I have learned to ask the questions you have and to talk to the people you’ve always wanted to talk to; after all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll ever see anyone from your high school ever again.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life has always been to become an oncologist (a cancer doctor) and to get a dog. Part of my dream is coming true because my family is getting a toy poodle in a few weeks!

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to read, cook, and bake. Currently, I’ve baked a dozen different chocolate chip cookie recipes in search of the perfect cookie.

Pamela Olivas, Charity House

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of the marching band, Chamber Strings, Drama club, and I am a yearbook editor.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love getting involved with various activities at Carroll and spending time with friends.

What should school “do” for you?

I believe school should teach us to be responsible and good people before we go out into the world.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned that sometimes it is okay when things don’t go the way you planned, it is better to learn from it and adapt.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I would love working to make my community better and helping as many people as I can. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing my viola and hanging out with friends.

Meredith Sanders '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Tara Ashworth

Meredith is a patient, kind, and helpful tutor who goes the extra mile to check back in to see if other students need extra help.  She is one of the presidents of the International Club and constantly goes above the requirements by making sure her leadership position expectations are not only met but exceeded.

-Mrs. Tara Ashworth

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in Lacrosse, Tennis, International Club, Math Club, Class Council, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Spanish Club, and Ohio Math League.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I enjoy being able to say that I have gone to school here longer than most of the seniors because I took math here in 7th and 8th grade.

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare you not only for the next chapter of your life, but for the whole rest of the novel.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned the importance of not letting others define who you are, and above all, I learned that you need to do what makes you happy.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Although I have a lot of goals for myself, my biggest dream in life is to find all of my dog’s brothers and sisters and hold a huge family reunion for them in a large yard with lots of squeaky toys and peanut butter.

How do you like spending your free time?

When I have free time, I like playing video games with my family (specifically any Mario game) and volunteering at 4 Paws for Ability.

Micah Kilby '22, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Mindy Monell

Micah has shown great leadership and direction this year as Family Room 312 captain. Because of her willingness to listen to everyone;s ideas, she has created an environment of inclusion.  All members feel valued and encouraged to participate in Family Room and House activities.

-Mrs. Mindy Monell

What activities do you participate in?

I participate in National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Lacrosse.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is being surrounded by my classmates every day and learning to be a leader in and outside of school.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you a foundation to make good decisions in life while also preparing you for college and all of life’s obstacles.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle is, 'This too shall pass.'

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to become a physician and help others every day. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time out on the field with my teammates and going to coffee shops around town. 

Lucia Igitego '22, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Jenny (Frankenberg) Hentrich '87 

What activities do you participate in?

I am an outfielder for the Softball team, have also been part of the cooking club since freshman year, as well as a member of Femme club.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love the community and how close everyone is. I also love how all the faculty care about the students and will go out of their way to make sure we have a great day.

What should school “do” for you?

School should make you into the best person you can be. It should be the final step to finally becoming a mature adult and an outstanding person.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Last fall, I took night classes to obtain my State Tested Nursing Assistant license. After a few months, I graduated from the classes and went on to take my state test. Through this experience, I learned that anything is possible with hard work and effort.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I hope to start my own company sometime in the future. With this company I hope to be financially comfortable enough to adopt at least 3 kids and also start a program to better help the children in the foster care system.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy writing music, and sometimes, I start writing books but never finish. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and volunteering with them.

Paxton Clark '23, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

Paxton is a hardworking student who works hard in all he does.  Paxton always has a great attitude and engages in class discussions.

-Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

What activities do you participate in?

Soccer, Food Bank volunteer

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love going to Family Room and Football games.

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a quality education and opportunity for all students while allowing and enabling us to strengthen and grow our faith.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A difficult obstacle that I had to overcome recently was breaking my wrist.  I had to learn how to adapt to life while only using one hand. Although my wrist will heal, It made me rethink how people with permanent physical disabilities do not have it easy and how our world needs to be more accessible for the disabled.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to travel the world and find happiness.

How do you like spending your free time?

I enjoy spending my free time playing soccer and hanging out with friends and family.

Sam Wittmann '22, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Greg Derus

I nominated Sam for Student of the Week due to his work on next year's handbook cover. I asked him to brainstorm some ideas on what he would like to do with the project, and what he created was nothing short of fantastic.  He took a simple idea and used his amazing artistic talent to produce a wonderful depiction of the community and life at Carroll.

-Mr. Greg Derus

What activities do you participate in?

Rowing for Dayton Boat Club, National Art Honor Society, and Spanish National Honor Society

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Growing close with the community and watching others and myself grow to be stronger and more passionate every day.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give me the opportunity to experiment with the things I love to do so that I can use my gifts to better the lives of everyone around me.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Hard work always pays off. Never be afraid to work hard because there is always something that can be learned.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Live life to the fullest while following God every step of the way

How do you like spending your free time?

Fishing, rowing, drawing, football, hanging with friends, and any activity outdoors

Fritz Ruetschle '24, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

If you know Fritz, you know he is a hardworking student.  Every day, he enters my room with a positive attitude, and he frequently provides additional content to the lesson.

-Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

What activities do you participate in?

Swimming and volleyball

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The things I enjoy most about being a student at Carroll are the people and activities that I can do and plan on trying.

What should school “do” for you?

School should keep me active in the community and give me many options to choose for extracurricular activities. It also pushes me to drive forward during tough times like this and keep working.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

If you come into a project with a good attitude, you will come out with an amazing project and maybe a new friend.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

Travel to Europe and live there for a year

How do you like spending your free time?

I work at Saint Luke Church on weekends and hang out with friends when I can.  I also try to go to the pool a lot and swim

Sarah Ruetschle '21, Gonzaga House, with Mrs. Katie Baker

Sarah is amazing all around, but she has been especially great this year. I have her in two classes, and she is always willing to help out wherever she is needed. She jumps in to help the lower level Latin students and volunteers for tutoring even though she has completed all her required hours already. She checks in with me every day at the end of the day to see if she can help me with anything. As an academic team captain, she pretty much runs our practices and keeps everyone on task and organized. I would be lost without Sarah! 

-Mrs. Katie Baker

What activities do you participate in?

National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Academic Team, Latin Club, Harry Potter Club, Swimming

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the relationships I have formed with other students and teachers and what I have learned from them. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a good education and welcoming community environment that prepares you for a successful and productive future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I've learned how to adapt and be flexible in all situations and to persevere even when things get difficult.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to be financially and socially successful and be content with my life.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time reading.

Matt Kemper '24, Gonzaga House, with Mr. Byrd

Matt's attitude in class is among the best I've ever encountered. He is a social studies mind, loves learning, and enjoys being challenged. His enthusiasm for the subject matter brings out the best in his peers, as well. Matt earned an A in my class in the first semester, as well as many others.   He is an awesome Patriot, and we are blessed to have him!

- Mr. Cody Byrd

What activities do you participate in?

I am on the cross country and track teams.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

Everyone is so nice and encouraging.

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you the skills and atmosphere to find your vocation.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

If you haven't heard from a friend in a while, see how they are because they might just need someone to brighten up their day.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My dream is to become a YouTuber and content creator.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing video games, making videos, and editing photos.

All throughout the week, the Gonzaga House Captains were teaming up with the Mercy House Captains to finish preparations for the upcoming house event, a spin-off of the Match Game since the competition was on Valentine’s Day.  The competition was a success for Gonzaga, not only because we won, but there was overwhelming positive feedback from all houses about the event as well.

Joe Lansangan ‘21 said, “the experience was indubitably extravagant.”  He thought it was cool to see his classmate, Catherine Berent '21, as a participant in the hot seat and Family Room Captain, Amelia Harlow '20, on stage as an MC.

Breaking our two-year streak of not having won a House Event was relieving.  It renewed faith in our house and inspired many to attend Marquee events such as that weekend’s basketball game.  Sam Scheu ‘21 described how she felt after winning the House Competition.  “I thought we were doing pretty well considering our House got many of the right answers.  When Mr. Sableski announced that there was a tie for second, I expected to be one of the Houses that were tied, but to my surprise, we won!  My friends and I were so happy.”

The House Competition wasn’t the only exciting thing that happened last week.  While the snow day on Thursday canceled many of Gonzaga’s Family Room parties, it did not stop some Family Rooms from sharing candy and handing out Valentines.  Meredith Sanders ‘23 expressed her appreciation for her Family Room Captain, Luke Wittmann '20, who hand-wrote kind messages for everyone in Family Room 209.  Overall, it was a great week for our house.

As the day of the cheer competition drew nearer, Gonzaga Family Room 312 was busily preparing for the first house event of the school year. Members of our family room joined the rest of the house to practice the cheer on Tuesday, and we sounded really good. On Thursday, Donna Lawhorn ‘21, Casey Walsh ‘22 and other members of Family Room 312 finished painting the signs for our cheer which spelled out “G-O-N-Z-A-G-A”. The buzz around the competition continued to grow on Friday, and when we met in our family room that afternoon, we put on face paint, glitter, and hair ribbons, provided by our dean and family room teacher Ms. O’Malley, to show our Gonzaga spirit.

We got out to the field for the competition with the rest of our house. We were the first house to perform and were super hyped. I encouraged all of our Family Room to cheer as loud and enthusiastically as they could because everyone participating was going to make our cheer one hundred times better. Family Room 312 took my words to heart and rocked it along with the rest of Gonzaga.

After performing, I talked to members of our family room Chris Ruetschle ‘23 and Izzy Ramby ‘21. Chris told me that getting loud and involved for the cheer made the competition much more enjoyable, especially since everyone was cheering together and no one felt singled out or embarrassed. Izzy said that our cheer sounded very strong and organized and definitely in the running for first place.  

Gonzaga claimed fifth place for the cheer competition. Although we hoped for a higher finish in the standings, I can attest that our family room had fun with this competition. Everyone got involved, and we got to know each other better through working together and practicing with each other. Family Room 312 also agreed that the cheer competition was a great way to set the tone for the football game that night.

Mr. Carl Soucek and Camdyn Marsh '20

Camdyn Marsh '20, Gonzaga House

What activities do you participate in?

Marching Band, Gonzaga House Captain, Frisbee Club

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I enjoy how friendly everyone is. It feels easy to start a conversation with anyone.

What should school “do” for you?

It should provide you with a good base of knowledge to continue into higher education. Additionally, it should help you find friends and groups of friends.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A good lesson I learned after joining band was that things are never as bad as they seem. Even if things are difficult at the time, you still get to reap the rewards later.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to be a professional video game player, but if that doesn’t work out, I want to be a physical therapist.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing video games, practicing mellophone, watching movies, hanging out with my friends, and planning activities for my Family Room.

"Camdyn is a tremendous student.   He has taken on the role of brass captain for the Marching Patriots this year and always sets a great example for other students. He's punctual, professional, and positive in his approach to what we do. He shows other students that he cares about their success, and he offers to help when others are in need." - Mr. Carl Soucek