During Morning Meeting, Xavier Jesuit Academy welcomed Sister Rose Ann Fleming, SNDdeN, a Xavier University professor with more than 40 years of teaching experience, who shared a powerful message about self-discipline, community, and the transformative power of education.
Her visit held special meaning, as Sister Fleming had served as a mentor to XJA's PE Teacher, Sherwin Anderson, a former Xavier University basketball player. Anderson introduced her to students, sharing how she had been a guiding light during a difficult period in his life. "This person has taught me how to respect others, how to love knowledge," Anderson told the students. "She gave me the love for knowledge and the desire to get more knowledge."
After serving as President of Trinity Washington University from 1976 to 1982, Sister Fleming returned to Xavier University where she currently serves as Special Assistant to EMSS and Athletics. Her impressive academic credentials, including so many degrees she joked she couldn't remember them all, stand as a testament to her lifelong commitment to learning.
During her talk, Sister Fleming emphasized self-discipline as essential for success. "Self-control means that you give the ability to think about what is right to do in every situation," she explained. "The school here is a wonderful school. It's going to teach you what is right to do in a group situation. We're not just here for ourselves, we're here for community."
She helped students understand that XJA's rules and structure serve a greater purpose. "The rules in the book are for everybody's safety and for everybody's good health and happy living."
True to XJA's mission of forming "Men for Others," Sister Fleming emphasized that education extends beyond personal advancement. "Being in an academy is a wonderful opportunity. And this opportunity of education is not just for you, it's for all those people that you're gonna meet as you go through life."
She shared how throughout her own education, from age five through college, she heard one consistent message: "We are not here for ourselves. We're here for community."
The connection between Sister Fleming, Mr. Anderson, and now the students of XJA demonstrates the lasting impact of Jesuit education across generations. For the students of Xavier Jesuit Academy, her words serve as a reminder that the self-discipline they develop today, combined with a goal to serve their community, will shape them into the faith-filled leaders the world needs.
