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I Wanna Be FEARLESS

What does it mean to be fearless? It’s a question nearly 2,000 students, faculty, and staff will contemplate at Archbishop Mitty High School this year.

“The irony of us asking you to be fearless is that you can never go without fear, you just need to acknowledge your fear and work thought it,” said Mr. Wesmiller, the Director of Campus Ministry, as he spoke at the all-school assembly on the first day of school. “Fear is a reaction, love is a decision. Make the decision to live your life outof love and not fear. Doing what you love, and attacking it head on, is the greatest cure for fear.”

Each year, the school selects a liturgical theme song that serves as the focus for the year. This year, that musical number was “Fearless,” by Jasmine Murray. The song explores the importance of replacing insecurities and self-doubt with positivity. Students invent dance moves for key lyrics and sing the song at least once a month at school gatherings, including liturgies, masses, and the ultimate spirit rally that is Monarch Madness.

Since Exodus, the school’s liturgical rock band, started performing theme songs at liturgies more than two decades ago, students have sung and danced to a total of 20 tunes. The first one was “Voices that Challenge,” by David Haas, in 1998. With the introduction of that melody, theme songs became a tradition. The following year, Exodus did a cover of Jewel’s “Life Uncommon.” Since then, Monarchs have swayed

“Fear is a reaction, love is a decision. Make the decision to live your life out of love and not fear. Doing what you love, and attacking it head on, is the greatest cure for fear.”

Tim Wesmiller Director of Campus Ministry

to “I Lived,” by OneRepublic and rocked out to “What Are You Waiting For?” by Natalie Grant. In 2012, students started to put the lyrics to dance moves, drawing the audience into the music on a physical level. Ms. Kalyn Simon ’13, now an intern in Campus Ministry, joined Courtney Hessler ’13 and Kylie Palacio ’13 in being the first studentsto set the song “Sunshine” by Matisyahu to choreography for the school.

“Kalyn taught it to a few students and they started it at a liturgy toward the beginning of the year, and it caught on like wildfire,” Mr. Wesmiller said. “We had no idea it would become a rich tradition of students creating the hand gestures every year before the school year started.”

Today, the dance for the song “Fearless” includes students clapping, crossing their arms, and lifting their hands high. This year, Monarchs are taking a good hard look at opposite forces: fear and love. Fear is an inner energy that contracts, closes down, draws in, hides, hoards, and harms. Living in fear means pulling back from life. But love is an inner energy that expands, opens up, sends out, reveals, shares, and heals. Love means being open to all life has to offer. As part of his reflection at the all-school assembly on the first day of class, Mr. Wesmiller shared four tips for how we can live fearlessly this school year:

Feel Fear Yet Choose Love.

Feeling fear is normal. The challenge is to not let that feeling control your actions. This year, the Athletics Department is teaching student-athletes to focus on training not just their bodies but their minds. The school hired sports performance coaches to help Monarchs focus on the things they can control: attitude and effort. The department’s focus on resilience is part of a larger school conversation about choosing to be present in the moment. This year in particular, athletes are working on their “next play speed,” so they can quickly transition from a setback to the next task at hand. Read how Monarchs are being fearless on the court on page 6.

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Practice Courage Every Day. Start Small.

Every day, Monarchs practice being fearless in small ways on campus. For some, courage is walking to the front of the room to speak to the class. For others, it might be taking the stage for a performance in front of parents, teachers, and friends. The process is like a dance and with each step taken during rehearsal, the next step onto the stage becomes easier. To learn how the Royals dance team practices courage as the group prepares for performances, go to page 8.

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Stand Up For What Is Right.

Often being fearless involves standing up for what is right, even when that is not comfortable. Students involved in Cornerstone, an after-school group that spends equal time reflecting together as a youth group and working in the community, know this first hand. Every other week, students travel to Belmont Village to work with local community members living with dementia. Their work is not always comfortable but it challenges students to recognize that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and deserves love and respect. Read more about the important work students are doing off campus on page 10.

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Know You Are Not Alone.

Perhaps the biggest take away this year is Monarchs are never alone. They’ve got classmates and teachers who care about them, so the school’s campus is a great place to practice courage. It is also a place where students can learn to put their insecurities aside to achieve at the highest level. Student Activities teaches Monarchs to hold themselves to high standards. Students learn to plan, anticipate problems, and have the courage to share new ideas with their peers. In doing this, they become young people who change the world. To learn about Monarch leaders in Student Activities, go to page 12.

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Beginning in August, students from Life Team and Life Corps are chosen to design and paint a banner inspired by the liturgical theme song. Every September, the banner is unveiled at the Mass of the Holy Spirit and is also used at various functions throughout the year.

Lyrics from “Fearless” by Jasmine Murray:

I wake up, I feel it Those fears are back again Can’t shake them, can’t make them Ever fade, ever end Am I good enough? Do I measure up? Feels like a war I can’t win

But I wasn’t given the spirit of fear I was given the power of love Everything I’ve been fighting against I’m gonna lift it up

I wanna be fearless No holding back, no backing down Fearless Because I believe you’re with me now Bring on the unknown Lead me and I’ll go Come set me free God, I want to be Fearless