Theta Chi Fraternity President Ethan Poweleit (L) and Interfraternity Council President Isaac Dailey (R) spoke on the creation of the Christian “Jet Li” Dichoso Memorial scholarship at the vigil on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.
‘Forever loved’: vigil honors student’s life
Hundreds mourn loss of Christian Dichoso
November 8, 2018
At an evening vigil for an NKU student who recently died on campus, students, faculty, alumni and community members gathered in the Student Union ballroom to remember his life.
On Tuesday, the ballroom had a table in the back to write letters to the family of Christian “Jet Li” Dichoso, a 21-year-old student who died Saturday.
The audience reminisced on the life that Dischoso led and the effect he had on them, refusing to forget him and his impact.
Theta Chi, along with the Interfraternity Council, said that they will be creating a scholarship in memorial of Dichoso. The Christian “Jet Li” Dichoso Memorial scholarship will be going to a student who is in a fraternity on campus.
Isaac Dailey, Interfraternity Council president, said 50 percent of the proceeds from the “Movember” shirts will go toward the scholarship and the other 50 percent toward the Movember Foundation as a donation in Dichoso’s name “as a way for Christian’s legacy to live on on campus.”
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The floor then opened for students to share the impact that Dichoso had on them.
The first to speak was Dichoso’s aunt, Joy Coronel. She read a letter that she wrote for him, in which she recalled moments of Dichoso’s childhood—babysitting his “mischievous self” and seeing him grow over the years.
“And that is how I remember you for so long: Little, naughty, charming Christian with his sly little grin,” Coronel said. “But then in the fall of 2015, you began your first year at NKU and I began my first teaching internship at the University of Cincinnati.” She had met different, self-assured, mature young man.
He was an inspiration to her. The way Dichoso ran toward his dreams was what made her proud.
“Shine bright my dearest Christian; I’ll be looking for you among the stars. Love always, Auntie Joy,” she said.
Longtime friend and student Derek Holden spoke about his attachment to Dichoso. The two met in sixth grade and stuck by each other ever since, and Holden said Dichoso made college more bearable for him.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends coming into college, a lot of them went to other schools and Christian and I stood by each other,” Holden said.
Holden said Dichoso’s mischievous side never waned through the years, and he recalls Dichoso switching pieces while they played Risk, making comments while the teacher gave their lesson.
“It just reminds me that some of the happiest people have some of the worst problems,” said Holden. “I just hope that Christian found the peace he was looking for.”
Nicole Millward, another close friend of Dichoso, spoke as well.
“Basically Christian and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, but unfortunately we were unable to put a label on it,” Millward said.
Millward said, they believed being best friends was “more meaningful.”
She recalled her final day with Dichoso. The two were shopping for a semiformal dance they would be attending together.
“Every time that I tried on a dress, every single dress, which is a lot of dresses—let me remind you—he was like, ‘Nicole, you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.’ Then he told me, ‘you’re going to be the most stunning girl on Saturday at semiformal.’”
Millward closed and said, “he was loved and he’ll forever be loved.”
Another common thread was the times people had met Dichoso, who often introduced himself as “Jet Li.”
The story behind the name, according to senior Caleb Tiller, originated in high school after Dichoso was taunted by another student. But the teasing didn’t discourage him.
“He owned it, and proactively called himself that to take the power out of that. Use it as a way to put a positive spin on it as who he was as a person,” Tiller said.
It was such a popular nickname, many student speakers said they at some point believed Dichoso’s real name was Jet.
Curtis Adamson, Assistant Director of University Housing, met Dichoso when he was a freshman moving into Norse Hall. There had been an issue with a roommate and Dichoso went to the Housing office to speak with Adamson.
Adamson recalls walking out of his office to meet Dichoso and said, “Hi, I’m here for Christian.” Dichoso replied, “Hi, I’m Jet Li.”
Adamson then said he asked Dichoso what he planned on doing in his future. Dichoso answered and immediately reversed the question to Adamson.
Junior Noah Cullen speaks about his roommate Christian Dichoso at an evening vigil on Nov. 6, 2018.
“‘Well I’m a hall director,’” Adamson said. “‘No, what are your aspirations?’” Dichoso asked.
Moments like these were showcased throughout the night, the moments when Dichoso wanted to know the person the best that he could.
It’s exactly what attracted Noah Cullen, his Theta Chi Fraternity little, to him.
Cullen met him at an event and knew he wanted the energetic and constantly compassionate Dichoso as his big.
The pair were also roommates.
“I think that’ll be the hardest part, when I come back from duty round or when I come back to my dorm,” Cullen said. “He’s not going to be there to ask me how it went or how I’m doing.”
Nonetheless, Cullen knows he’s not “completely gone,” for he will always carry a part of Dichoso with him.
“The last thing he said to me, I was leaving for a party and [he said], ‘if you need anything, need me to pick you up, just let me know and I’ll come and get you.’ Even everything he was going through, at that time, he would’ve put it all aside because he loved me. And he loved so many people, and that’s all I can ask for as a friend, as a mentor as anyone,” Cullen said.
On Monday, the Greek community proudly wore their chapter letters in Dichoso’s memory. Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Kim Vance said, “I couldn’t be any more proud to be an alum of NKU.”
NKU’s Health and Wellness Center also made counselors available at the vigil, which was attended by hundreds of people.
Suicide prevention resources
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, there are resources available near you:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Textline: Text CONNECT to 741741
Health Counseling and Student Wellness Crisis Line: (859) 572-7777
University Police: Call 911 or (859) 572-7777
National Alliance on Mental Illness Kentucky Crisis Line: (800) 950-NAMI (6264)