Personal anecdotes, insights, and the importance of faith in our lives were all themes discussed through the lens of love and education when the current Brother Visitor for The Lasallian San Francisco New Orleans District Nick Gonzalez came to La Salle for an all-school assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 25. 

Moderated by seniors Nola Bartley and Rylan De Souza, this Q&A event took place in the gym during a special schedule Flex Time.

Br. Nick grew up in the border community of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a place that he believed promoted a sense of exclusion and division — especially for the marginalized — and aided in his perception of what belonging and service meant and their importance. In contrast, he explained that Portland, Oregon, fosters a diverse community, which La Salle exhibits by striving to live out the values Jesus reflected.

“You are very blessed to be here, to be in Portland,” he said. “That is not the way it is in a lot of places.”

Advocating for a mission built on inclusivity, Br. Nick firmly believes that “everyone deserves a place at the table.” He sees this statement as a guiding compass in his goal of working to overcome division and injustice by prioritizing knowledge, love, and relationships with others.

However, to be truly welcoming, it’s essential to go beyond acknowledging that inclusion is important, Br. Nick explained, even if it takes time. 

“You have to be patient,” Br. Nick said. “It’s not enough to be invited to the table and then ignored.”

The idea of becoming a teacher came from a friend of his, who suggested it when he felt disheartened after taking a business accounting exam in his sophomore year of college. While he struggled to connect with the brothers’ intensity when they were at his high school, he felt inspired by their dedication to faith and education later on when it came to deciding what kind of teacher he wanted to be. 

“I thought, ‘If I was going to be a teacher, I’d want to be like those crazy brothers,’” he said.

He began his career as a teacher before later on establishing a school in Tucson, Arizona. He would come back to Cathedral High School — his alma mater — just prior to beginning his vocation and role as a Lasallian Brother. A current Brother Visitor, he assists fellow De La Salle Brothers and ensures that the mission of Lasallian schools throughout the West Coast, Southwest, and South is brought to fruition. 

Some teaching role models in his life who have inspired him include his second grade teacher, who changed how he perceived educators because of the assistance he received despite being slow with reading and writing. In his junior year of high school, the work ethic and commitment of his history teacher both impressed and motivated him. 

“I knew he loved us because of how hard he worked,” Br. Nick said.

Another role model of his is Brother Martin DeMartini, a beacon of positivity despite his struggles with Crohn’s disease and recovering from two strokes. Br. Nick conveyed how Br. Martin is the light that brightens up the room, both for himself and others, and an inspiration “to choose joy every day.”

Br. Nick also talked about how one can grow their spirituality by getting to know Jesus, and as a result, see Jesus in others, particularly those who “make us uncomfortable, the people who we subconsciously write off,” advocating for demonstrating equity towards everyone. 

He recalled an instance from the previous day at Fire On The Mountain, when there was a homeless person whose presence left him feeling uncomfortable. However, that encounter brought to light these internal biases, and he recognized how important it was that it happened. 

“That was very challenging for me,” Br. Nick said. “I got to keep working at it.” 

When discussing change, he illustrated how genuine success in implementing a new policy comes from careful consideration of student accessibility and finances. “Failure is a great teacher,” he said. “Most of life comes down to two choices: do I want to be right or do I want to be helpful?” 

While fast action might result in short-term solutions, it doesn’t offer stability and infrastructure in the long run, meaning that it isn’t helpful. 

“Real change takes time,” he said. “Lasting change takes time.”

In a similar fashion, faith is constantly transforming. Br. Nick reiterated this by saying how he challenges and questions the relationship he has with his beliefs. “That’s why it’s called faith, because you don’t have all the answers,” he said, furthering his point by saying the wonder of faith is intentional, because God gave us a brain that should be used for thinking. 

“In the end,” he said, “it’s about your journey toward love.”