Get to know Officer Dan

We all know the friendly face of the security guard, Dan, who brightens up the downstairs C wing hallway. All of us are familiar with the, “Hi there!” while making a trip to the bathroom, the occasional, “Late again?” as the bell strikes 7:55 or the random conversation starter while walking back to class. We pass Dan everyday, converse with him everyday, but how well do we really know Dan?

Let’s start with the basics. Dan Hnatusko worked as a Chicago police officer for 30 years, specifically in the K-9 unit for 7 years. “I worked with bomb dogs a few years before I retired.” He explained, “We used to get sent all over the United States as a part of the Marshal Service.” Traveling is not an unfamiliar topic to Dan. As he was in the Armed Forces, he has traveled to every state in the United States, except for Hawaii. Dan hasn’t just explored The United States. Dan has also traveled to Singapore, Japan, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. While traveling is one of his favorite hobbies, patrolling Mother McAuley occupies a majority of Dan’s time.

above. The Inscape team lists funny and memorable moments from their encounters with Dan Hnatusko. graphic by Keira Jarrett Keira Jarrett

above. Officer Dan Hnatusko sharing stories with students as they pass through main hall.

photo by Keira Jarrett

When asked what his favorite trait of the school was, his response was rather surprising: “It’s peaceful.”

While our fan sections may not be, Dan expressed his love for the warm, calm school environment. Before he worked in the K-9 unit, he patrolled a few local public schools. When mentioning the numerous fights he had to gain control over, he hinted at the disturbing memories he gained during his time in the police force. As he shared specific instances of disturbances that seemed hard for Dan, he was willing to mention one specific heartwarming story. “We had many cases of elderly people with dementia wandering outside of the neighborhoods.” While this may seem distressing, he continues with, “When we finally tracked them down, being able to reassure their safety to their families was the most rewarding part.”

As Dan reminisced on those small victories, he began to explain why he joined the police department in the first place. “I saw all the tragic stories on the news, and I just wanted to do my part in trying to make the world a better place!” Dan surely did his part in making the world a better place and continues to do so here at Mother McAuley. “I love making people smile; that’s why I love this job.”

Teachers and students all look forward to greeting Dan in the morning, some even say he brightens their day. “Dan’s morning jokes and positive attitude make my slow mornings more cheerful!” Ms. Sheahan says, “He never fails to make me crack a smile!”

So, the next time you’re passing his desk over in the C wing, stop and chat with Dan for a while. It’s not only a guaranteed boost in your mood, but you may be lucky enough to get a glimpse into who Dan really is.

Counselors care

Keira Jarrett

In honor of National Suicide Prevention Week being early in September, specifically Sept. 4 through Sept. 10, it is important to truly priortize the responsibilities we face in life. The most common reason students fail to acknowledge the need to take care of themselves mentally is the lack of resources they are surrounded by throughout their entire lives.

From the article “The Importance of Mental Health in Schools,” author Nancy Barile says, “Despite the fact that the average age of early signs of mental illness is 14, most individuals don’t seek help until adulthood.” While many students feel that they can’t reach out to their counselor in other school environments, Mother McAuley and its counseling department have worked harder than ever to create a welcoming environment for everyone. One of McAuley’s own counselor’s, Mrs. Unold, explained what she has observed in the average McAuley student: “I think anxiety’s the main issue most students come to the counselors for.” She continues, “A lot of the time it’s testing anxiety, social anxiety or just anxiety for pretty much anything you could think of.”

According to the article, “Teen Stress and Anxiety: Facts and Statistics,’’ it is proven that 31.9% of students are faced with some sort of anxiety disorder. With this number in mind, Mrs. Unold advises every student to, “Go beyond the main ‘generic’ tips that are broadcasted to everyone.” She follows up with, “Be self-compassionate.” To be selfcompassionate means to not only focus on the needs of others around you, but focus on your own needs as well.

When Mrs. Unold was asked if she observed students’ mental health improving once they started to prioritize their own needs, she said, “I’ve observed major improvements when students actually start to get the right amount of sleep, fuel their bodies and understand that it really is okay to give themselves some lenience.” She continues to point out, “Your mental health covers your entire being.” That level of neglect observed is being met with change. “Instead of us just having a ‘Mental Health Awareness’ week, we are transitioning to changing that to ‘Mental Health Matters,’” Mrs. Unold explains. “Instead of just focusing on educating students on the importance of their mental health one week a year, we are going to make some changes based on students’ suggestions, which will last year round.” This goes to show that even though we raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention once a week each year, these are year round topics that need to be brought to light everyday of the year.