The second quarter of the academic year, marks an opportunity for students to “hit their stride,” pushing themselves to achieve new heights in both their academic and spiritual journeys. The first day of the new quarter began with a prayer led by Fr. Roy Joseph, S.J., setting a reflective and focused tone for the quarter ahead. Seniors Wilson Frischertz and Wyatt Mire announced the start of the Blue 25 football intramural leagues, adding an element of excitement and camaraderie to the morning.

Principal Jeremy Reuther ’01 shared an inspirational story from his own time as a student-athlete, recounting a memorable distance race at Tad Gormley Stadium. Despite having never run in such a race before, Reuther’s coach emphasized the importance of sprinting out of the box, “finding his stride” in the second quarter of the race, gradually build up speed in third portion, and then sprint to the finish. In his youthful enthusiasm, Reuther did not fully grasp the significance of this advice.

On the day of the race, he sprinted from the start, leading the pack by a significant margin, only to falter near the finish line as exhaustion set in. The crowd’s cheers turned to gasps as he collapsed on the track, a poignant reminder of the lesson he learned that day all because he was unaware of how to shift to a stride during the race.

Reuther urged Blue Jays not to let youthful exuberance blind them to a lack of perspective: “You make the culture in your classroom by how you engage. Do not be passive.” He continued, “In your spiritual life, don’t say you are too young to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Take your decisions to the Lord in prayer and do what He tells you. Hit your stride and take ownership of the man you want to be before the Lord.”

He also encouraged students to embrace opportunities for service, particularly by volunteering for the upcoming Thanksgiving Drive. Reuther concluded with a plea for students to guide themselves in determining what kind of men they will become, emphasizing that this is the work of the second quarter. He encouraged students to “hit their stride” as they round the turn.