ABC7 News Reporter and graduate class of 1996 Diane Pathieu returned to Niles West to videotape a news segment titled ‘Back to School’ on Aug. 29. Pathieu and the ABC7 crew toured the high school with Principal Jeremy Christian to revisit classes and activities she was involved in during her time at West.
Pathieu, a founding member of the Assyrian Club, met with current club leaders. She also visited the broadcasting class, choir room, cafeteria, senior alley, science and engineering classrooms. Afterward, she was given a tour of the new pool renovation by swim and dive athletes. Pathieu went to the Student Commons to meet with the Student Leadership Council, a group comprised of club leaders and athletes nominated by their coaches. There she met with old classmate Daniel Maric (’96), Serbian club sponsor and English paraprofessional at West. The last stop on Pathieu’s tour was the Assyrian for Heritage Speakers class.
“We are trying to get as much local talent that graduated from local schools to come back to their schools and look at what’s changed, what’s the same, how [it has] progressed, [what] are some of the traditions, in order to do a well-rounded story of how school has had a positive impact on us,” Pathieu said.
Senior Gio Galanto, a member of the Student Leadership Council, watched Principal Christian interview Pathieu at the Student Commons about her career journey.
“I really liked hearing about her story and her journey through college and what it was like to be a person of color who who went through all these struggles while at Niles West,” Galanto said.
One of the organizers of the tour, Student Activities Director Caitlin Lucci was inspired by Pathieu sharing her story with student leaders.
“I think it was really inspiring for me to stand in the back and listen to our student leaders engage with her. I think it’s really powerful, similar to the way that we were able to show the video of Jewell Loyd in her Olympic vlog,” Lucci said.
Pathieu also reflected on the impact Niles West had on her career.
“It was very significant. It helped form the confidence I have today in that knowing I’m capable. I think when you enter high school, you have no idea what you’re capable of. And the experiences you get from here, the friendships you make here, the knowledge you learn here, the education you get here, it propels you into the next chapter of your life. It did that for me. It propelled me to college, it propelled me out of college and then coming full circle back to the hallways. It created my next generation,” Pathieu said.
Now that Pathieu has come full circle to her alma mater, she advises current high school students to plan for their future.
“I know it seems overwhelming to think ahead, but it’s really important to do that. To think where you would like to be in 10 or 15 years and see what you can do here today and how that will help you 10 years from now. And there are so many things offered here that can make you great. You should take advantage of that because it’s here. It’s for you to grab, it’s for you to take hold of and you can do that today for tomorrow,” Pathieu said.
‘Back to School’ aired on the ABC 7 News Channel on September 4th.
