Students

The following is Bellarmine's "Graduate at Graduation" document, which is based on a comprehensive understanding of curriculum, which includes every aspect of the Bellarmine experience -- religious, social, and psychological, as well as academic. This statement represents the consensus of our faculty regarding what we consider the essential characteristics of our ideal graduate. We are not so quixotic as to expect any one of our graduates to reflect completely this profile. However, we do offer this statement as an articulation of the kind of Ignatians we are striving to form: men and women who, in the words of Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., former Jesuit Superior General, must be "men and women for others."

I. Open To Growth

By graduation, the Bellarmine student has matured as a person-emotionally, intellectually, physically, socially, religiously-to a level that reflects some intentional responsibility for one's own growth (as opposed to a passive, drifting, laissez-faire attitude about growth). The graduate is at least beginning to reach out in his development, seeking opportunities to stretch one's mind, imagination, feelings, and religious consciousness.

II. Intellectually Competent

By graduation, the Bellarmine student will exhibit a mastery of those academic requirements for advanced forms of education. While these requirements are broken down into departmental subject matter areas, the student will have developed many intellectual skills and understandings, which cut across and go beyond academic requirements for college entrance. Moreover, the student is beginning to see the need for intellectual integrity in his personal response to issues of social justice.

III. Religious

By graduation, the Bellarmine student will have a basic knowledge of the major doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church. The graduate will also have examined his own religious feelings and beliefs with a view to choosing a fundamental orientation toward God and establishing a relationship with a religious tradition and/or community. The level of theological understanding of the Jesuit high school graduate will naturally be limited by the student's level of religious and human development.

IV. Loving



By graduation, the Bellarmine student is well on the way to establishing his own identity. The Graduate is also on the threshold of being able to move beyond self-interest or self-centeredness in relationships with significant others. In other words, the student is beginning to be able to risk some deeper levels of relationship in which one can disclose self and accept the mystery of another person and cherish that person.

V. Committed to Doing Justice

By graduation, the Bellarmine student has achieved considerable knowledge of the many needs of local and wider communities and is preparing for the day when he will take a place in these communities as a competent, concerned, and responsible member. The graduate has begun to acquire the skills and motivation necessary to live as a person for others.

VI. Pursuing Leadership Growth

By graduation, the Bellarmine student has become aware of the difference between actions appropriately taken as an individual and the effectiveness of concerted group actions in affecting the outcome of issues in which he is interested. The student has learned through study, observation, and experience that some tasks are performed better by individuals acting on their own initiative, and that other projects are better undertaken by group actions, directed, supervised, and coordinated by leaders. The student has learned that not all leaders are entirely ethical and moral in their conduct, and that there is a great need for educated Christian leaders to assist all vocations to conduct themselves in accord with Christian principles. The graduate has had some experience as a follower and as a leader at a variety of levels within groups, and has begun to acquire some leadership qualities.