Never give up on Georgetown Prep!
My father, Reed Clark, a proud member of the Georgetown Prep class of 1947, delivered these words in a speech at his 70th High School Reunion last year. As a 1987 graduate of Georgetown Prep, I have the honor of sharing reunion weekends with my father, who has been flying the flag for Prep since he started there in 7th grade in 1941.
Georgetown Prep blood runs thick in the Clark Family. In addition to my dad and me, my two brothers, Jerry Clark, Class of ’80 and Steve Clark, Class of ’83, attended Georgetown Prep, as well as my four nephews and my brother-in-law (Brian Ridgway, Class of ’89—we married sisters, both of whom attended sister schools of Georgetown Prep). And, when it came time to send my own son to high school, the choice was clear. My family was Georgetown Prep. My lifelong friends were Georgetown Prep. My son, Justin class of ’19, would go on to represent a third generation of Clarks at Georgetown Prep.
And now my son, a senior, is part of the current group of dynamic young men, representing cultures from all over the world and varying socio-economic backgrounds, upholding the tradition of excellence embodied by the school. These are men who tirelessly work through their academic regimen and still find time to be “Men for Others.” (Yes, Men for Others!) They volunteer for countless Service Programs. They support each other in the classroom. They vigorously compete in athletic events and participate in debate competitions, plays, and other activities. All the while displaying the virtues of honesty and integrity exemplified at Georgetown Prep. They are teenagers and they are not perfect. But they are good young men.
But in recent months, these young men and this great institution, have come under attack, collateral damage of a divisive political environment. On social media and in public, these high school boys are being called “rapists” and “degenerates” and “cowards.” They have handled it with incredible grace and restraint, but these are despicable insults to lob at 14-18-year-old young men, who have done nothing wrong and are innocent civilians in the political wars.
And the attacks on the institution of Georgetown Prep are even more insidious. We have seen article after article, written by those who know nothing about Georgetown Prep, offer pre-conceived and all-too convenient narratives, with judgment declared before any truth is discovered. There is no mention of the legendary Georgetown Prep teachers, many of whom taught me and now teach my son. No mention of the quiet wisdom of Fr. Byrne or the life-changing largesse of Fr. Galvin. No mention of the steady and strong leadership of Fr. Van Dyke. No discussion of the incredible skills of the Jesuit and lay teachers and the lifelong benefits of a rigorous Jesuit education. And no mention of producing some of the most talented and morally grounded young men in the country.
In my four years, while a student at Georgetown Prep, I witnessed some partying and immaturity, but nothing beyond any typical public or private high school behavior. And I certainly never saw any predatory or even boorish behavior toward women. Our sister schools were truly like sisters. We had their back and their best interests at heart, and still do to this day.
But war has its casualties. And Georgetown Prep has been caught in the crossfire in the last few months. That comes with the territory when you produce two Supreme Court Justices as well as a Federal Reserve Chairman, in such a contentious environment. It can be enough to test anyone’s resilience. But perspective is a calming force in times of hysteria.
And Georgetown Prep’s Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, one of the great traditions, couldn’t have arrived at a better time to provide that perspective. Alums from the class of 1947 right through the most recent graduates, gathered together to celebrate the school that transformed their lives and molded their character. The glorious class of 1983, of which my brother and many other good men are members, celebrated their 35th Reunion. The classes from the “3’s” and “8’s” came out in force. Parents, alums, faculty, coaches, and administrators all came together, proudly wearing their Georgetown Prep colors, to cheer our talented and gritty football team on to another incredible victory.
The pride of Georgetown Prep was on FULL display. The campus was electric! And more importantly, Homecoming Weekend provided a sense of normalcy and comfort, grounded in steep tradition. For many of our alums, it truly was like coming home.
For the Georgetown Prep Community, we need to keep this perspective in mind. This is not a time to hide and hang your head low. Adversity will divide a weak community, but it will galvanize a strong one. This is a time to remain steadfast. This is a time to remain proud. This is a time to bond together and show the world what Georgetown Prep is all about: creating a community of Jesuit-educated, life-long learners with a fine-tuned moral compass!
Now is not the time to shrink. Now is the time to double down on Georgetown Prep and celebrate the strength and character of our great community.
In times like these, my father’s words have never had a truer ring.
NEVER GIVE UP ON GEORGETOWN PREP!