Capt S. Chandler Simms II (‘99): “Raise Your Hand”
On Friday, January 13th, decorated alumnus Capt. S. Chandler Simms II (‘99) visited the Casady campus to give a speech for our 90’s Decade Day.
Maj. Simms was a student-athlete during his time in the Upper Division and went on to play Division I football for the United States Naval Academy. He continued his path in the military by joining the United States Marine Corps. He became a helicopter pilot in 2006, then earned his current rank of Captain in 2007. After multiple combat deployments in Iraq, Maj. Simms went to Virginia, where he served as squadron pilot of Marine Helicopter Squadron One for former President Barack Obama. After departing from the Marine Corps in 2015, he joined CBRE, the world's leading commercial real estate and investment services firm, as a Financial Analyst, climbing his way up the ranks to the position of Senior Vice President in 2022.
Speaking on some of his most memorable and impactful moments as a Casady student, Maj. Simms began by outlining some of his high school hardships. “I struggled academically. [...] I wanted to do well. I wanted to be on the honor roll. I wanted to be cum laude. [...] No matter how hard I tried, I’m just not that smart.” He identified Mrs. Zesiger’s chemistry class as one particular area of challenge, which is a relatable experience for many UD students. He also delved into some of his athletic roadblocks. In the fall of 1996, Casady faced off against St. Marks in the SPC Championship, and Maj. Simms, then a sophomore, was tasked with executing a trick play. Unfortunately, he “fumbled the handoff, and we lost the game.” Although both his academic and athletic experiences were often difficult for him as a young student, Maj. Simms learned that even if he made a mistake today, “the sun’s going to come up tomorrow.”
Maj. Simms also emphasized the importance of having the humility to seek help from others. He addressed a common misconception about humility, as many believe that having the humility to ask questions is only important to receive the answers one needs. “It’s not so much about humility to ask for help and learn the answers, it's about understanding the concepts.” He used advanced calculus as an analogy, mentioning how “if you don’t understand the concept of something, as soon as there’s a wrinkle or a variable that happens, you’re stuck. You’re trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.” However, when one understands the concepts and origins of a problem, one can apply critical thinking to reach a realistic solution.
Within the context of the Casady community, Maj. Simms believes that “if you just ask for help, [...] somebody will be there to help you. That is the whole fabric of this institution.” In his four years in the Casady UD, everywhere that he found “strife or an obstacle, someone was there [...] with kindness, and a soft touch, and an encouraging word.” He encourages current UD students to take full advantage of the nurturing environment that Casady has created for its students. Maj. SImms wants students to “raise your hand” now, as later on in life, there may not be anyone to answer. He used his application process for Marine Helicopter Squadron One, or “Marine One,” as an example. “It’s one of those situations where you never know if you don’t ask, and if you don’t ask, the answer’s always ‘no.’” The agency and initiative that Maj. Simms showed in his application for Marine One paid off, as he ended up becoming squadron pilot. Although one may have a plan and an end goal, without initial action, nothing will come to fruition.
To Maj. Simms, “the tie that binds all [of Casady’s] progress” together since his time here is “optionality.” He believes that Casady sets itself apart from other schools around the nation through its diverse options for student involvement. “Unlike a lot of schools across the country, you, if you so choose, can be a renaissance man.” He emphasized how a student can be a football player on Friday nights, while also being a good student, a stagehand, or an orchestra member at the same time. The “bandwidth [we’re] afforded” at Casady is the key to success in the areas of mind, body, and spirit, which stand as Casady’s pillars of education.
Although Maj. Simms was the 90’s alumnus chosen for this speech, he believes that there are many others “who are just as accomplished, more well read, more well educated.” The great number of qualified alumni speaks to “the beauty of [Casady].” According to Maj. Simms, Casady is a place that nurtures and encourages students to “find your pursuit,” while offering the necessary resources for students to succeed, “and there’s not a lot of places [...] that are like that.”
Maj. Simms’ speech and insights give us much to think about as high school students at a crucial time in our lives. We hope to hear from him again in the future.