The Speaking Eagle

S.O.A.R. Theme Inspires JD Students to Strive for Greatness

Friday, September 09, 2011 By Karisa Kukuchka

The new school year is well underway, and with it comes a new theme at Juan Diego Catholic High School — summed up by the acronym "S.O.A.R." This high-flying theme stands for: Spirit, Opportunity, Accomplish, and Reach. According to Student Body Officer Drew Billings, each letter of the acronym is targeted to particular classes with the hope of benefiting the community as a whole. SBO Andrew Katsohirakis says, “S.O.A.R. is not a theme, it is a way of life.” He says that idea, if implemented into the individual’s everyday life, will then make a difference in the community. He and the other student leaders are using every opportunity available to them to let other students know about this unifying focus for the school year. The officers believe that spirit -- which is represented by the "S" in the "S.O.A.R" theme -- involves participating in the school activities. This portion of the theme is aimed at the freshmen class because they have not had an opportunity to cheer at sporting events and display Eagle pride. The expectation for spirit is to encourage the freshmen to learn the school fight song, participate in assemblies, and be pumped up about being part of the Soaring Eagle. “Spirit is a large component of what unites the Juan Diego community together,” says Katsohirakis. According to the student body officers, opportunity -- the second component -- is all around the Juan Diego community, whether it be helping the less fortunate close to home or on the other side of the world. Lending a helping hand in service projects makes a huge impact in the lives of others. Opportunity is specifically emphasized for the sophomore class. “They are at a point in their lives where they are beginning to see the big picture of life and realizing their potential for the future,” Billings said. “This is the year where they should become more involved in school, sports, service, and clubs. The opportunities they experience now will open up more possibilities later on in life.” Accomplishment comes when people take risks and strive for success, according to these elected leaders. Student Body President Tyler Cain explained why they made this a focus for the 2011-2012 school year. “Coming together as a community will help to achieve great things," Cain said. "True potential is reached when people risk.” This applies to juniors especially, as this year they are taking the ACT and SAT standardized tests as part of their college preparations. High accomplishment on these tests will help set them up for reaching their full potential in later years. "Reach," the SBOs say, is the principle where one stretches beyond what one thinks is possible. Juan Diego tries to prepare its students for the real world and everything that is out there by laying a solid foundation of virtues, morals and right judgment. “Individually, people must reach beyond that foundation for what they want," Cain said. "Tough things may come into individual paths and try to knock them down, but by reaching forward and moving with confidence, everyone can make it through.” Seniors are the prime group to model this. They are graduating at the end of this year and need to stay focused and “reach” all the way to the end. Cain has great hope that the student body will accept this new theme. “We are the ‘Soaring’ Eagle," Cain said. "However, because this term is already so familiar to us, we decided to present it in a fresh and interactive way. This theme acts as a slingshot to help us get involved with the community at large. Do not hold back JD! We have a bright future ahead of us.”