Prep Journeys: Stephen Dierkes '18

One of the most iconic phrases of “The Wizard of Oz” movie is when Dorothy clicks her heels and says aloud, “There’s No Place Like Home.” Those words ended a terrific journey for the character, who ended up right back in Kansas where it all began.

Those words may also be true for Prep Teacher Stephen Dierkes ’18. Though he went away for college and made other stops along the way, his yellow brick road kept drawing him back to 17th & Girard. 

“I always felt welcome, from the very moment I arrived,” says Dierkes. “At the end of my time at the Prep, I was left wanting to experience more, so I continued my Jesuit education at The College of The Holy Cross, where I had another amazing four years. At the end of that time, I explored my options and found myself wanting to be back at the Prep.”

So, Dierkes joined the Prep's Alumni Service Corps, serving one year in that volunteer position, teaching and working with the liturgical musicians. The year went so well that the Prep invited him back to the newly created Emmaus Teaching Fellow position where he continued to impress. Finally, after that, he was hired as a full-time teacher, sharing time in the Classics and Music Departments. 

“My family told me that they could picture me at the Prep, teaching Latin, working with the choir, and continuing to share my faith through Mission and Ministry,” Dierkes says. “So here I am, doing exactly that. It is a bit wild.”

As a student, he was at the Prep perhaps more than his actual home as he was an active member of the Cape and Sword Drama Society and was also part of the Swim Team. 

“I spent so much time at school,” he remembers. “There were few days when I wasn’t doing something after the school day.”

It’s perhaps not surprising that he wanted his school to feel like home. After all, he and his seven siblings were homeschooled until they reached the ninth grade. They were all encouraged to pursue musical talents so he learned to play piano, organ, and the cello. Coming to the Prep was a bit of an eye opener but it was made easier by his older brother, Andrew ’11 attending. 

“I accepted the fact that everything would be different,” he says. “I got involved very quickly as I was curious to seek out all that was available.”

In addition to Cape and Sword and Swimming, at the Prep Dierkes sought out liturgical music and Mission and Ministry opportunities, including Ignatian Service and Retreats. “The Prep has such a rich liturgy program, a rich service program,” he says. “I did my best to partake in all of it and the energy I put in was so worth it.”

Another love he found at the Prep was Latin. “First period, first day of school, Mr. (Jonathan) Pohlig (‘02),” Dierkes says. “I liked the problem-solving aspect. I liked the struggle. I especially liked the teachers in the Department.”

Dierkes took regular Latin for four years, including classes on Athenian Democracy, Mythology, and Roman Archaeology & Topography. “Those classes were amazing and a hint of what college would be like,” he says.

He chose the College of the Holy Cross because of its outstanding Classics program. “The teachers there had such a passion for the subject and also cared about you, a lot like I had experienced at the Prep,” Dierkes says. “I felt it was a good stepping stone to whatever I wanted to do.”

Though he may not have guessed he would return to  the Prep as a Classics teacher, he was open to the possibility. Now he hopes to inspire current and future Prep Hawks, just as he was inspired a decade ago. “Seeing the Prep with different eyes, it still feels very familiar,” he says. “It still feels like home.”