Fordham Tutors Come To You

John Hughes, an Irish-born son of a farmer, came from humble beginnings when he entered the world in 1797. As a young man, he left behind his native country with his family and immigrated to America, settling in Pennsylvania. Discontent with the life of farming, and dreaming of something more, Hughes applied to Mount St. Mary’s College in Maryland and was rejected. Undaunted, he applied several more times, and each time, was rejected by admissions. Still, Hughes continued applying, and eventually, Hughes’ persistence paid off—he was hired by the rector of the school to come live on the campus and work as a gardener. Hughes took advantage of the offer and went to Mount St. Mary’s, where he worked for several years. While there, he gained the attention of Mother Elizabeth Ann Seton, who pulled strings, advocated on his behalf, and persuaded the admissions board to enroll Hughes as a student as a result of his dedication to the school.

Six years later, Hughes enrolled in a seminary and became a priest. He served in ministerial capacities around Philadelphia, helping build the community and administering to the spiritual and physical needs of his congregants, but he never forgot the valuable lessons of his education at Mount St. Mary’s, or the kindness shown to him by its rector and matron. He resolved to further the mission of the church through formal education, and determined to establish his own school. He set out for a rural part of New York, in what is now Fordham in the Bronx, and eventually settled on Rose Hill Manor, on the Bronx River, as the perfect spot for his university.

Hughes’ college would eventually become the now-famous Fordham University, but it was originally named St. John’s College. His vision for the school would be distinct from other elite institutions at the time—he wanted education open, available, and affordable for all. At this time, New York was experiencing one of its first of many waves of immigration, and every day, hundreds of people arrived in search of a better life. Hughes remembered the opportunity that education had given him to rise above his circumstances, and saw that fellow immigrants to New York would need the same access to education if they were going to succeed in a new country. He worked hard, fiercely advocated for the underprivileged, and established an institution that would serve thousands over the decades.

Fordham’s own website reports, “The vision of ‘Dagger John,’ as Archbishop Hughes became known due to his aggressive and determined personality, remains actively alive at Fordham today.” Its students are driven and focused, and bring a certain gusto to the neighborhood of Fordham Heights. Likewise, tutors working in Fordham Heights further the vision of Hughes with their patient and compassionate work exerted on behalf of their clients. Struggling students in and around Fordham can rely on Grade Potential tutors for help, just like the underprivileged newcomers to New York once relied on Hughes for opportunities to succeed.