Judge Memorial Catholic High School professor composes musical tribute to the Class of 2020

Friday, May. 29, 2020

SALT LAKE CITY — The Judge Memorial Catholic High School Class of 2020 has their own song.

Dr. Christopher Sloan, chairman of the school’s English department, composed a song about living through the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 23, the last day of classes for the 2020 JMCHS seniors, Dr. Sloan made a public video with his tribute.

“In these dark times, somehow you shined,” is one of the lines of the song “You Got This.”

“Today is my seniors’ last day of high school. They inspired me to write this song,” said Sloan, who began working at JMCHS in 1986. He teaches English language, new media and photography, as well as serves on different boards.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Sloan learned some important lessons from his students, he said.

He said the inspiration for the song came from one of his students during the first days after the schools closed their doors and moved instruction online.

“Back in March, my students and I were talking about what to do about their peers who were struggling to attend online classes for all kinds of legitimate reasons,” he said.

Some of the students were having hard times, struggling with being their family providers because their parents lost their jobs, while others battled anxiety and still others were reaching out to provide help, Sloan said.

“She said, ‘You know, we’ve got each other.’ She said she would reach out to a classmate who couldn’t make the session; other students did the same. As she said that to the class, the students and I started talking about the larger meaning of those words. It was such a beautiful thing to say right then, and with each passing day ‘we’ve got each other’ became more significant for me, and I think for all of us,” Sloan said.

Despite their struggles, the students still turned in their homework.

“I admire that perseverance and that resilience in my students,” Sloan said.

In the song, Sloan says, “I wish I could promise that this is the worst of it, but the fact is you’re going to have dark days ahead. But when the dark days come again in your life, learn from one another to be there for one another. … You got this. You’ve got each other. Don’t forget it.”

 “It’s really heartwarming [to hear the song],” said  Derek Jensen, the school’s director of communications. “People didn’t even know he had that talent; he is a jack of all trades.”

The YouTube video has generated thousands of views, reaching not only the school’s present students but also previous generations.

Among the comments on the YouTube page is this, from Morvarid Fafgaru JMCHS Class of 1996: “Mr. Sloan, you were always so super kind, I have many fond memories of you and your classes. ... High school was such a dark time in my life ... but I remember how supportive and compassionate you were! I haven’t had the chance to tell you, thank you, so grateful for teachers like yourself. Thank you for continuing to be a light in other’s lives and bettering humanity.”