Below is a letter Mrs. Karen Van Metre received from a former student thanking her for her support in his life. Servite teachers are all committed to the young men who call themselves Friars, and they wish every young man all the best.
Mrs. Van Metre:
I would just like to express my gratitude to you again for all of your help and support in regards to my decision to pursue photography for the Servite Spectrum my senior year. Because of your encouragement at Servite, I gained the experience necessary to have the opportunity to take photographs for Texas Christian University’s Image Magazine.
This semester I have decided to take on two separate internships while at TCU so as to gain a better understanding of the real working world. My first internship is at a local Congresswoman’s office but it is the second internship I believe I can thank you, as well as a few others, for.
Among the wide variety of internship programs I applied for (Youth Education Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club, Community Outreach Assistant for REAL Gardens, and Communications and Events Intern at the Child Study Center) I was surprised to hear back from the Fort Worth nonprofit Bass Hall Theatre. Comparable to the Dorothy Chandler Theatre in Los Angles, Bass Hall hosts a variety of traveling productions as well as 3 separate Fort Worth Acting/Dance companies. It turns out that the internship I was applying for was already filled, however, because of my experience in photography, the intern director instead offered me a better position in the advertising department.
Perhaps this is my long-winded way of saying that you do not know where the arts will take you, whether it is drawing, film or photography. At the time I applied for the internship I knew it would be a stretch to obtain. Frankly, I would have never guessed that it would be my skills in photography that would open the doors at Bass Hall for me.
I know you are already encouraging your students to pursue the arts and perhaps this is my way of telling you not to stop. I am well aware of the lack of sincerity the pupils of Servite sometimes project but may you know that there will always be one student sitting in the back of your classroom heeding your words carefully. The arts truly open doors in all walks of life whether one realizes it or not and I believe my experience perfectly exemplifies this.
I will send you my photos from the TCU Image when I can. Until then, keep supporting the arts at Servite and may you never be discouraged!
Thank you again Mrs. Van Metre for all of your support. I look forward to seeing you when I come back to visit Servite sometime in the near future.
Your former student,
John
