Alumni Spotlight: Alonso M. ’26 on Balancing the Four Pillars
Scholar, Artist, Athlete, Servant: Alonso M. ’26 exemplified all four pillars at St. Andrew’s. He founded the Upper School Engineering Club, played guitar in the Rock Band program all four years, competed in soccer, football, and volleyball, and was President of the Access, Belonging, and Culture Council and Beloved Community. Now a first-year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he plans to study mechanical or nuclear engineering. Alonso shared what balancing the four pillars and having big goals looked like for him.
When asked what he's most proud of, Alonso pointed to his senior year. "Academically, I'm most proud of the research I did at the [University of Texas] during my senior year. I worked all year at the Institute for Fusion Studies, researching how AI can be applied to [nuclear] fusion research and engineering projects. I went into it not knowing much about fusion or AI, but I knew I would figure it out. I'm proud that I was able to start learning something completely new like that."
With so many commitments, some weeks got busy. He spoke about the last week before winter break as the moment that captured it all. "During the last week of school before winter break, we had SPC, finals, and a concert all at once, so that was overwhelming. But it taught me to plan ahead. I learned my songs [for Rock Band] early, planned how to study using only my laptop since that's what would be available to me while traveling, and mapped out my study time. It taught me to think ahead and use all the time I had."
He also credits the faculty and staff around him for making it manageable. "My teachers and coaches were always very understanding. When I would start feeling burnt out, I'd go to them, and they'd work with me." His advisor, Mr. Messner, was also a steady presence. "Mr. Messner was always there. He'd point out that a week might get harder and help us be prepared. Having that group time and making sure we were all on the same page meant I didn't feel like I was facing it alone. We were all going through it together, which made it easier."
For new students who feel nervous about taking on too much, Alonso's message is simple. "There's no reason to be nervous. I signed up for too many sports one year and realized school was harder than I thought. A week before lacrosse started, I reached out to the coach, and he understood and told me I could try out again the next year. You should actually be looking to fail, because that means you're getting outside your comfort zone and trying new things. It's part of the process."
Alonso's four years at SAS show that the pillars aren't meant to be chosen between; they're meant to work together. Whether he was on stage in the rock band, on the soccer field, in the mLab, or out volunteering, each part of his experience shaped the others. Alonso is now at MIT with a foundation that St. Andrew's hopes for every student: curious, well-rounded, and ready for whatever comes next.
