The school has a unique, tight-knit culture. Terms such as brotherhood are reiterated due to the rigorous curriculum and unique experiences at the school. Although this culture has its benefits, it also tends to narrow our point of view, making it difficult to understand other people’s experiences and our place in the world.
The Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council (IDLC) fosters inclusion and diversity while helping students understand the various cultures within and surrounding our school. As a member of IDLC, sophomore Emiliano Mayo wants to make connections between the school’s community and others, creating the project: The Bridge.
When Mayo first got here, he felt a disconnect between the alumni speakers and himself.
“It felt like they were showing us all of the cool accomplishments they got because of St. Mark’s, but not how they really got there,” Mayo said.
In order to feel more connected to the speakers, Mayo proposed The Bridge to the IDLC, which consisted of bringing in leaders outside of the school to speak about how they use inclusion and diversity while leading. After several meetings with the council, The Bridge hosted their first speaker, Antonio Carrillo.
Carrillo is Mexican and is the CEO of both an American and Mexican company. During his talk with the students, he talked about how his heritage has helped his coordinating skills.
“He’s gone to other countries, learned from their culture, then used what he learned to help his company,” Mayo said. “For example, (Carrillo said) if you ask someone who’s Dutch to do something, they are going to ask you why, and that’s why he gives his employers reasons to do a task.”
After its first success, Mayo plans to continue The Bridge by offering other members of the council to bring in speakers to expand the talks even further.
“I would eventually like to hold assemblies,” Mayo said. “It can really grow and expand to be anything, as long as it maintains the same idea of bridging St. Mark’s to the rest of the world. I just want it to be a way for St. Mark’s students to see that there’s more to the world than St. Mark’s and Dallas.”