By LETRE SWEETING

Tribune Staff Reporter

lsweeting@tribunemedia.net

THE students, faculty and staff of Queen’s College confronted the death of a beloved student leader with tears, reflections and tributes yesterday.

During a special assembly for Dario Rahming, who died suddenly on Saturday, they struggled to answer a difficult question: Why him?

Some wore sunglasses to hide their tears. Many posted tributes on memorial boards around the campus pavilion.

Dario was a model student and devout Christian who maintained honour roll status and completed some BGCSE exams in Grade 11. He was a member of the Student Christian Movement, the basketball team and the Junkanoo club. He died during a basketball practice at the school’s campus under unclear circumstances.

His homeroom teacher, Michell Peters, said he was like a son to her, his desk directly opposite hers.

 “It’s going to be very difficult every homeroom session when I have to be looking up to see an empty desk looking back at me,” she said. “It hurts. It’s indescribable. It’s still surreal.”

 She said Dario confided in her. The last time she saw him, around Friday afternoon, his last words were: “See you on Monday, Ms Peters”.

 “This morning when I came to school and I opened the homeroom door, I still expected him to be there at 8.10 this morning,” she said. “When we finally got to 8.10am, and he did not show up, that is when reality hit.”

 Dario’s other homeroom teacher, Carlene Hanna, said he was the classroom’s prayer warrior and a big brother to his peers.

 “He always gave thought-provoking devotionals that not just helped the students, but even us as teachers, we were guided by them,” she said.

 Dario’s classmates remained in the auditorium for most of the school day, praying, singing and recounting stories of how he helped them.  

 “If there was anyone who loved God, it was Dario,” said Matthias Simms, who met Dario when he was six. “He would not want us walking around and sulking. He would want us to praise God and just give thanks for what he lived for.

“This morning, his pastor said he finished his mission and he was called home. I truly believe that. That brought me peace because he fully lived his life for God, and that’s something that we’re celebrating here today.”

 Queen’s College Principal Rev Henry Knowles said the school is providing resources to help students and staff process the grief.

 “At Queen’s College, we have a very extensive guidance department, who came together to prepare, but we know we could not handle it alone,” he said. “We are very blessed that many schools within The Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) sent their guidance counsellors. They were messaging me all weekend, and they were here. They came out in full force from their schools. Many of them are still here, meeting with students, consoling them and just offering words of hope.”

 Rev Knowles said it may be sometime before classes return to normal.

 “We’re looking toward healing,” he said. “For the next few days, we know things will not be normal, but we also know that young people still need the structure, so in the midst of our grief and our healing, we know that we need to get back to the business of education and as we continue to progress, we’ll be honouring and remembering Dario along the way.”

 Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander, Dario’s godfather, led a moment of silence for the young man at a press event on an unrelated matter yesterday. He said police await the autopsy report into the death.