From the Podium” are reflections on life at Rice from the teachers and staff at Rice Memorial High School.

Earlier this week, I attended the funeral of Tobian Callan, class of ‘22. I had Tobias in AP Lang and remember him, as many of his loved ones and acquaintances voiced, for his sense of humor, honesty, curiosity, and quirkiness.

My memories of him will always include him as a freshman running everywhere and his ubiquitous polo, dress-up day, dress-down day, and every day in between. 

I will also remember the day he confessed to me that he had a goal of trying to pass AP Lang without ever turning in a formal writing assignment. He admitted it with a smile and was consistently good-natured about needing to show up to my classroom every day after school in order to graduate when his experiment yielded data that refuted his hypothesis.

There were many things that struck me during his funeral. In case the presence of 16 priests, a deacon, and our bishop didn’t speak for itself, Bishop McDermott, before his final commendation, addressed Tobias’s family and said that they were such “an important part of our diocesan family”. How blessed we are to have a shepherd who knows his flock and how blessed to have a church that knows how to wrap around us and comfort us when we grieve.

Another family, the Rice family, showed up in a big way… more than a hundred strong. I taught Tobias’s oldest brother and have had every sibling since. To see their classmates and friends, along with current and former parents, teachers, chaplains, and administrators, fill the pews reminded me of one of the greatest benefits of being part of the Rice community–being a part of its family. Although I often feel gratitude, tragedy often sharpens our appreciation for what we do have.

But I was left haunted by a conversation I had with one of Tobias’s brothers. Our talk had reached deep waters quickly, as the rawness of grief can often allow, and we talked about some of life’s big struggles, including the questions about purpose and meaning. 

He good-naturedly grabbed my jacket and pretended to shake me, asking, “Why didn’t you teach us the meaning of life in English class?” He then answered his own question, “I guess that’s more of a biology question.” 

There were many things that broke my heart that day and many that drew tears, but in my contemplations afterward, this one has weighed heavily. 

If students do not perform well on a test, we have to wonder where the fault lies. Just because a teacher presents information, doesn’t mean it is retained. A good teacher reflects on their work to see how it can be improved.

In my own grief, I hear a call to let myself be affected by this conviction. Just as in my Christian faith there is a command to spread the good news, so Catholic teachers have an even greater responsibility. 

I have the mission of Rice, one I believe in wholeheartedly, posted in my classroom: Our mission is to guide our students toward the realization of their God-given potential. Rice teaches students to recognize and develop their gifts by inspiring them to love learning, to serve others and to seek God through Jesus Christ and his Church.

I am grateful that Tobias’s family clearly reflects this in their own lives and know that their seeking God is bringing them comfort.

Every one of Tobias’s siblings has read the Odyssey at Rice, and I’m reminded of one of my favorite lines. When Telémakhos, the son of Odysseus, is struggling alone and feeling powerless and crushed by the absence of his father, the goddess Athena, in disguise, says to him, “Reason and heart will give you words, Telémakhos; and a spirit will counsel others. I should say the gods were never indifferent to your life.”

To any students reading this, know that God is not indifferent to your life. We don’t see the whole picture. As it says in 1 Corinthians 13:12–in the middle of St. Paul’s famous reflection on love: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.”

You are known, and you are loved.