A senior’s reflection on what it means to be Lasallian

In my eyes there are a few different characteristics that go into classifying one as Lasallian.
These characteristics stem from two of the Lasallian core principles that we have learned about
in class, concern for the poor and promoting an inclusive community. I believe that concern for
the poor is a critical part of being Lasallian because assisting those with fewer resources to
break the cycle of poverty was fundamental in what John Baptist De La Salle hoped to
accomplish with his schools. To be a Lasallian is to carry out this mission today by giving time
and energy to help those who are less fortunate than us. It is not necessary to devote your life’s
work to this mission like De La Salle was called to do but establishing deeper solidarity with the
poor is something that all Lasallians’ should strive for.

Working towards more inclusive communities is another crucial factor in being a Lasallian. De
La Salle practiced inclusion by allowing upper-class children to attend the Christian Brothers’
schools and learn alongside those whom were destitute. This type of inclusivity has evolved for
those who wish to call themselves Lasallian today. Promoting inclusive communities today
means celebrating our human differences in terms race, religion, gender, nationality, and sexual
orientation. Instead of using these differences to build barriers, Lasallians use them to build
bridges of learning and trust between diverse groups of people. Of course, what it means to be
a Lasallian can take on many different forms than simply these two characteristics I have
identified. This brings me to my last point that there is no definitive answer for what it means to
be a Lasallian, interpretations of the term will vary depending on how one perceives De La
Salle’s life and story