Famous Faces at St. Genevieve's

Written By Kieta Osteen- Cochrane

Attending St. Genevieve's K-12, the auditorium was a big part of my life. There were plays, choral performances, sports, science fairs, holiday celebrations. We learned southern folk dances as well as the box step and the waltz, however reluctantly at first. At afternoon dances in 8th grade, we practiced the social graces as we met with Gibbons hall for our first anxiety ridden boy girl interactions. Dance cards are passe now, but at that time it was one way young men and girls learned how to meet, be cordial to everyone, carry on polite conversations, and practice good manners. Later at junior and senior proms we trekked up the stairs to the balcony to meet the nuns with our dates. Having been thoroughly rehearsed on the fine points of introductions. However, what I remember most are the speakers who came to the auditorium and their influence on idealism, to widen our world, and inspire our visions. Helen Keller spoke to us. How glorious her courage and determination and that of her beloved teacher. Basque separatists made us aware of the struggles for freedom in Franco's Spain and their mortal sacrifices. Missionaries continuing the work of Father Damien came from Molokai. We learned about Father Damien's selfless work with the lepers there and were greatful for our own blessings, and humbled at taking them for granted. How could we help? Dr. Tom Dooley spoke to us about his medical work in Laos, his charisma and quiet zeal lighting fires within. In later years the Peace Corps was modeled in large part after his work there. Generations of students were given inspiration within the walls of what is now the Ivy building, while learning about our culture, and to appreciate other cultures long before it was a curriculum requirement, science, art, the world, our responsibiities in it, respect for everyone as a child of God, and many other things. This is the last building of a school that began on faith with a small group of dedicated women who wanted to teach, and turned out students eager to make their world a better place however large or small that personal world would be. The nuns came from Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland. They had lived through WW2. The stories of survival and underground they told were stunning. We learned one person can make a difference, and one at a time with others can change the world. Many times the nuns and our lay teachers would remind us that we had a vocation in life and we should meditate on finding it. Perhaps homemakers, careers, or the contemplative. We had a reason for being beyond self interest. This building is the last of an era that had a huge influence on the city and drew students from many countries. It is the very symbol of how brick and mortar of education translates into building a better society. I hope it will be preserved as such a symbol while continuing to be used to educate and illuminate. How sad if it should be demolished for a parking lot! It should stand as a shining symbol, just as Fernihurst and Sunnicrest still stand on their histories, and are jewels on the campus.