My time at DCD holds a special place in my heart. It was a period of significant growth and learning, which shaped me and influenced who I am today.
I began my journey with Mrs. Maloney in Kindergarten, and had the privilege of being in her first class as a teacher, and our bond was so strong that we attended her wedding, which is a testament to the close-knit community we had at DCD. As I progressed through the grades I was fortunate to be guided by a remarkable group of educators. They all had a lasting impact on my life. Each of those teachers brought a unique perspective and expertise to the classroom. It was truly enriching from my learning experience, but it just wasn’t just the academics that shaped me. It was the time and the dedication that teachers had. I had four pillars there that were Mr. Patriarca and Mr. Jackson, Mr. Bauer, and Mr. Tynan, who all played really pivotal roles in my development as a man, instilling values of accountability and integrity that I still carry today and instill in my four boys, Xander (23), Kaden (18), Xayden-Ray (10), and Jaemon (7)
Reflecting on my experience at DCD, I realize the immense value of knowledge, discipline and expertise that I gained. These lessons continue to guide me in my everyday life. And I’m grateful for everybody that played a role in molding me into the person that I’ve become today.
At DCD, we had the “Golden Rule”, but also the extension of the golden rule, “The Platinum Rule” — treat other people the way that they would want to be treated, not just treating someone how you would want to be treated. This way of thinking offered a spin on social & emotional intelligence and really getting to know one another, understanding the personalities and priorities of the other person and how to treat them accordingly. We don’t necessarily all have the same wants and desires; therefore, in order for me to treat you the way you want to be treated and for you to feel included and appreciated, I have to learn who you are and treat you accordingly. That was one of the things teachers at DCD instilled in us, and that was the extension of the golden rule.
In my heart, it’s clear to me that the faculty, teachers and staff at DCD have a genuine love for teaching and the sharing of knowledge. Despite some of the challenges that I had as a student, their unwavering dedication to students and well-being was always evident to me. They wanted nothing but the best for us, and they spared no effort to give us their absolute best.
The perfect example of this was my experience with Mrs. White. I saw her two years ago, when I came up on a business trip; I intentionally took the red eye so that I could have the morning off, so I was able to visit DCD. I was able to take pictures with Mrs. Maloney, Mrs. Shirley and Mrs. White, three of my teachers from years ago.
Mrs. White’s first year was my sixth-grade year, and she ignited in me a passion. Despite my initial challenges with mathematics, I appreciated her level of commitment to me with a little bit of wisdom beyond my years. I may not have liked it, but the characteristics and life skills that she instilled in me are still here today. I hated math — I was very bad at math before I met Mrs. White. Now, I work for an engineering company and all I see is math — and now, math comes easy to me. So that discipline, that perseverance, that dedication, that commitment to excellence that Mrs. White instilled in me in the sixth grade still carries with me today and enables me to be successful.
As I move forward in life I have carried and continue to carry with me the gratitude and appreciation for the profound impact that DCD has had on my journey, a place filled with lots of great memories, lots of lessons learned. It will really be a special place in my heart for the remainder of my life.
I would not be successful and not be in the position that I’m in today without DCD. So I am eternally and forever grateful for my experience with DCD as an institution, DCD as a personal friend, and an enabler for my professional career. I want to do at least the very least to give back and express my gratitude, relay my experiences and impart as much knowledge as possible to the existing students as well as maybe encourage some of the other alumni to reflect on their experience at DCD and do the same thing.
