For Matt Wagner, being a student at Cathedral Preparatory School was about more than academics; it was about tradition, family, and learning lessons. Wagner graduated from Prep in 2007, but his connection to the school started long before his freshman year.

“I went to Prep because my three older brothers had graduated from Prep, and I wanted to experience what they had,” Wagner said.

Growing up, he watched his brothers wear the orange and black and talk about the brotherhood they experienced. By the time it was his turn, he wanted to continue that family legacy and make his own memories.

One of the best parts of Wagner’s high school experience was the football program.

“My favorite part was being in the football program as the equipment manager,” he said. While he was not scoring touchdowns on Friday nights, he played an important role behind the scenes. Making sure the team had everything they needed taught him responsibility and gave him pride in his work.

After graduating in 2007, Wagner began working for the United States Postal Service, where he has now been a mailman for 12 years. His job requires dedication, independence, and consistency. Every day, no matter the weather, he has a route to complete.

When asked how Prep prepared him for life after high school, Wagner gave an honest response.

“I understand that Prep is a college preparatory school, but I feel that Prep prepared me more for college than for life,” he said.

He admitted that as a husband and father, he does not use many of the skills he was taught in his classes.

“I wish they would have had personal finance classes or some classes that would teach on how to run a household,” he added.

Despite this, the academic challenges at Prep helped him learn how to think critically and stay disciplined.

Several teachers and staff members made a lasting impact on him. His freshman English teacher, Mr. Jim Scharrer, had a teaching style that stuck with him. The first week of class, Mr. Scharrer told students to remember the word “adulterate,” meaning to make worse by adding something, because it would appear on every vocabulary test. It did, and Wagner still remembers it today. Mr. Scharrer showed him that learning can happen one word at a time.

His junior trigonometry teacher, Mrs. Joanne Mullen, pushed him to think harder. She often told students to use their “gray matter.” One day at the board, when he was clearly struggling, she asked, “Mr. Wagner, what do you think you are doing?”

He replied honestly, “I have no idea.”

Even though math was difficult, he learned the importance of effort and accountability.

Looking back, Wagner wishes he had prayed more and had been a stronger example of his Catholic faith.

“I wish I could have been a better example of what it meant to be a Catholic in a Catholic high school,” he said.

Now, as a father, he is committed to teaching his children to stand up for their faith and live out the truths of the Catholic Church, even if they are the only ones standing.