The Canon - January 2021, Vol 1 Issue 1

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An open letter to St. Benedicts Teachers:

Dear Titas and Titos,

PAX! I am Omid Etemadi, a proud Benedictine child. From playgroup until i became a cancer physician, i graduated from 7 different institutions. Suffice to say, i learned THE MOST ABOUT LIFE from St. Benedicts. While other schools would focus on memorizing massive amounts of information, SBCEC would always emphasize practical application to life. No rote memorization, no robotic learning methods, only pure bliss engaging classmates and teachers. From the time we walk in and greet the guards "good morning" to the prayers before class, to the fun-filled recess hours of ample play and rest...St. Benedicts is not only a school but a way of life. Its funny how i have to say grace before meals up to now, or why i need to jog daily to break a sweat. Or my endless uber-respectful way of communicating with others - all products of good habit-forming years at SBCEC. They say that the best prayers are seen in action. The whole community of learning in SBCEC must be a large Mass of prayer, perhaps equivalent to several Masses per day... I survived med school because of my thirst for application of knowledge which i picked up early from Tita Emie and Tita Mena. I swear i never memorized a thing in medicine. I always remembered how to apply information and how to care for my patients. Thats all. That simple. Plus Having an excellent english school background also helps a lot in understanding complex journals and reading materials. Life in the real world can be really tough and cynical. But i always take a step back, breathe deeply, remeber the SBCEC community i grew up in and gain renewed confidence. Belief that the world out there can be as nice, peaceful, loving, fun-filled and united. If we can do it in the SBCEC community, so why cant we do it at the hospital, in our own homes & in our own communities. I know the situation this year is tough. Distance learning is a new experiment. Enrollment might not be as high, students not as engaged. But teachers, pls trudge forward and never give up for one moment. Know this - THAT YOU MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES WAY BEYOND the years we spend in the halls of the school. We are molded FOR LIFE. Happy Feast of the Immaculate Concepcion  LOVE YOU ALL