Wisdom, Strength, and Honor: The Mantra of Tesoro High

Dr. Burch, the founding principal of Tesoro, created the mantra of the school: “wisdom, strength, and honor.”

According to the Oxford dictionary, wisdom refers to “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” Strength is defined as “the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure.” Honor is “adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct.”

At Tesoro, this mantra is read daily in the morning announcements, as well as displayed in classrooms. Despite her limited experience with Dr. Burch, Mrs. O’Malley, a science teacher, uses the mantra. She encourages students to follow it and uses it to evaluate students for awards such as the Spirit of the Titan and the Torch of Excellence. She thinks that it is important to evaluate students based on their academic performance, but it is equally important to evaluate their character and honesty. 

Aleena Charles, a Tesoro Senior, expressed how she strives to follow the mantra: “It means taking charge of your own actions, studying above and beyond and to have perseverance.”