“We are brothers and together nothing is impossible”
(The following is a testimonial Michael Dreize gave at the Class of 2030 Pin Mass on May 7, 2026, at the Our Lady of Belen Chapel.)
Good evening, everyone. My name is Michael Dreize, but my classmates call me Dreize. I am honored to have been asked to speak on behalf of my class, the Class of 2030. This evening isn’t just a celebration, it’s a milestone. A milestone of our middle school years at Belen. It’s crazy to think that only 3 years ago, we walked into Belen for the first time, not knowing what was to come, and now, here we are, ending our middle school years and getting ready for high school.
In preparing this speech, I couldn’t help but remember the process of trying to become a Belen student. Like many of you, I went to review courses and studied hard, in hopes of getting into this amazing school, which offered many new opportunities. The day I found out I was officially a Wolverine, I felt relieved and excited, which I’m sure many of my classmates felt as well.
Some of us may have also felt a little nervous, but since day 1, we have felt welcomed - From Fr. Willie’s daily handshake greeting to gathering with friends before the first bell, we knew we weren’t alone.
The last three years have helped form us from boys to men of Christ. In 6th Grade, we were all adjusting to a new school and trying to find our way. We were guided by counselors, teachers, and other students. We were discovering new activities and opportunities. For me, it was all the different clubs I could join that amazed me. By the second semester, many of us had reasons to stay in school just a little longer and we were begging our parents to pick us up a few minutes later.
7th grade was where we all strengthened ourselves: our sports, our grades, our behavior and our friendships. Since we weren't in 6th grade anymore, teachers were holding us to higher expectations.
And 8th grade has been the best year yet. We’ve enjoyed experiences like Founding of a Nation and Founding of a City. Together we received the Sacrament of Confirmation, and tomorrow we hope to have a great time at Gradventure. This is the year that I feel we have grown most spiritually, academically, and well, physically too. And I think I can confidently say that Belen has become our second home.
Over the past few years, we have learned valuable lessons. We have been taught:
- To always do everything for the “Greater Glory of God.”
- To do the MAGIS, to do more for Christ.
- And to live by this year’s school theme, “As Iron sharpens Iron, …one man sharpens another.”
I know we will carry these lessons with us wherever we go.
Tonight is a perfect opportunity to give thanks to the many people who have helped us throughout these past years. On behalf of our class, we want to thank God. Without him, we would be nothing. Let us never get so caught up in what we are doing that we forget about God. He should be the center of everything we do. He will lead us to a happy life and most importantly, to Heaven.
Thank you to the Belen faculty for always going beyond teaching just a lesson from a book; you have pushed us to be the best version of ourselves in and out of the classroom. We want to thank the cafeteria staff for always giving us a smile, a conversation, and, most importantly, making us our food. To the maintenance crew, who stays back long after we’ve left to clean and prepare the school for the following day, we thank you. And thank you to the security team and school nurse for always keeping us safe and healthy.
Finally, thank you to all of our parents for their constant guidance and the many sacrifices they make for us. You are our #1 supporters and we hope to make you proud.
Tonight, I also want to remember a very important person that we lost this year, Deacon O’Malley. He worked at Belen for 30 years. He showed up every day to do what he loved and support our spiritual journeys. Deacon was someone you could always have a conversation with and who would help you out if you were going through a rough patch. Even when he was very sick, he kept showing up for us, daily sending us/ his Deacon’s Den emails, full of lessons and wisdom. He is the perfect example of service and of doing everything for the Greater Glory of God.
Another example of being a man of service is my father. I don’t know if you knew this, but when I entered Belen, my dad was already deployed in the Army. I still have a picture of my first day of school with my mom and my dad was on FaceTime. As we prepare for this new chapter in our lives, I would like to share with you three important lessons that my parents taught me during this time, which continue to shape me into the man I am today.
- First, when you make a commitment, you honor it and follow through with your responsibilities.
- Second, always hold on to your faith, because it will get you through the most difficult situations.
- Lastly, if you ever have an opportunity to help someone, even just a little bit, DO IT!
I will always be grateful to everyone who helped our family during that time.
I hope as a class we will always strive to be men of Commitment, Faith, and Gratitude. We are brothers and together nothing is impossible for us. I can’t wait to share the next 4 years with all of you.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.