3/18/2010
Student a good ambassador for her school
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| Student a good ambassador for her school |
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Ed Langlois
When Jesuit Father Peter Byrne strolled into the bookstore at Lloyd Center earlier this month, he was searching for for edifying reading material. Instead, found himself impressed by a studious girl from North Portland.
Earlier in the year, the priest had given a reflection to faculty and staff at De La Salle North Catholic High School and knew about the innovative program. Students who otherwise could not afford Catholic education work as interns in professional settings and make up the time with longer hours in the classroom, plus extracurriculars and community service.
So when Father Byrne saw a reading girl wearing a De La Salle North jacket, he introduced himself and asked if she did indeed attend the North Portland school.
Cydnie Smith-McCarthy, 15, put out her hand and gave a shake that spoke of grace and authority. She looked the priest right in the eye.
“What I found so striking about her is a confidence, but not a snotty confidence, and a nice way of dealing with adults,” says Father Byrne, the Jesuit provincial assistant for parishes and spirituality ministries. “There was poise and respect.”
Smith-McCarthy, who attended Da Vinci Middle School, says she was raised to be respectful to adults. Her experience in dance and theater have bolstered her confidence, she explains.
“You find out how to raise your voice and make your voice heard,” she says. “I used to keep my opinion to myself.”
She gets plenty of opinion exercise talking politics over the family dinner table. She’s in the middle of six children.
Smith-McCarthy planned to attend Jefferson High and secure a spot on the famed dance team there. But her parents wanted her to consider the creative Catholic school they had heard so much about, even though they are not Catholic.
For help with the decision, Smith-McCarthy spoke to a teacher, a police officer friend and a former University of Oregon football player who wishes he had paid more attention to his education.
In the end, she opted for academics. On top of it, she was the first recipient of a scholarship given by Portland Police to students who choose to attend De La Salle or its sister school, La Salle Prep in Milwaukie. Once each week, she works at Northwest Evaluation Association, an academic testing company.
Her grades are up and she still dances. The outlets have been De La Salle liturgies, assemblies and talent shows. She plays soccer, runs track and has many friends; high on her list is going out with them for sushi. Smith-McCarthy’s life plan is to become a psychiatrist while continuing to study theater.
She says her generation has its act together when it comes to finding a path and wanting to help the world. But people her age need some lessons in everyday respect for others, she explains.
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