Zeal - State Cross Country Finish Chute

The finish line at the Wisconsin State Cross Country Meet has stringent guidelines. One of the policies that is vigorously enforced is that only competitors are allowed in the finish area. This prevents the "finishers" from backing up and preventing others from having a clear path across the finish line. Additionally, several race officials are stationed to act as security to prevent fans from entering the area as well.

One year, there was a young man who had run a difficult race. As he sprinted to the finish line, it was clear to bystanders that he had expended all his energy during the race. In fact, a few steps after crossing the finish line he collapsed. There he lay - while other runners passed him down the predetermined chutes.

While watching to see who might assist the young man, I noticed a woman arguing with a race official, attempting to enter the finish area. The race official was shaking his head and refusing her requests. By the distressed look on her face and gestures toward the young man on the ground, I assumed she was his mother.

The woman bolted under the security rope with a look of determination that only a mother could give and ran past the race official, knocking him to the ground. She reached her boy, crouched down and cradled him in her arms. The young man gave his mother a thankful but sheepish grin since after all, he was not injured but merely worn out from his race. The demonstration of this mother's extraordinary zeal has stuck with me over the years.

One of our Seniors, Niamh MacCumascaigh, during a presentation to our faculty and staff last month shared her perspective on the Xaverian value of zeal. Here are some of her remarks:

"Zeal is defined as great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective. When you think of zeal, you might think of Friday night football games, pep rallies, or school spirit. But there is more to zeal than just inside of school. We exemplify zeal in our everyday lives. Our local heroes, such as firefighters, put their own lives in danger for their single-minded devotion to saving a stranger's life. If you have a passion for something, you have zeal, eagerness, and devotion to making a difference.

Many of us may be waiting for change to happen, waiting for some magical event to suddenly transform our lives for the better, but that doesn't happen until we are motivated to carve our paths, overcome our fears and be proud of who we are. Some of you may see zeal in competitive and unachievable ways, thinking, wow, I could never become an Olympic swimmer or a famous talk show host. That's because it doesn't start there; it begins at the bottom with stress, pain, and suffering.

Zeal starts within us. We choose our passions and motivations. What you do with those passions creates change, and I believe everyone in this room can use the Xaverian value of Zeal to impact the world positively."

Niamh's words echo the zeal demonstrated by the runner's mother – a single-minded devotion and action toward making a difference – this is one of our Xaverian values and Niamh remarks articulate the concept well.

Thank you for your support.