Whenever I tell someone I went to an all girls high school, they are usually shocked. They ask me how I survived without boys, or assume that we had to wear awful uniforms. Admittedly, our dress uniforms could be considered modern torture devices, but I loved my high school. I am so thankful for my time at Incarnate Word Academy, and I wouldn’t trade my experience for the world. Here are some reasons that I loved going to an all girls school.
1. Uniforms
School uniforms are a gift from God. I never had to wake up and worry about what I was going to wear to school because it had already been picked out for me. The jumpers and skirts were comfortable, and everyone had to wear them so there was no use in being embarrassed. We suffered through dress uniform days together, pantyhose and all. Having to pick out an outfit each day in college is a struggle that I’m still not entirely used to.
2. Food
At an all girls high school, there is food everywhere. Food at club meetings, food during classes, food at parties celebrating the end of the semester. Everyone understood that food was a way to a girl’s heart, and we were never short of it at our school. This also taught me that, even now, a good way to get people to attend events is to promise free food.
3. T-shirts
At my high school, there was a T-shirt for every occasion. Spirit week, clubs, raising money for a cause: you name it and we had a shirt for it. With over 70 girls in our class, you could count on someone to come up with a masterpiece that would grace our shirts for years to come. I still have a mountain of shirts that came from my high school, and each shirt holds memories I will never forget.
4. Tradition
There were many traditions at my school. We were proud of our history, and wouldn’t let you forget it. The navy blue jumpers were just the beginning of our various traditions. Some of my favorite events were traditions special to our school such as Ring Day and Rose and Candle. Spirit Week was another favorite, which would bring each class closer with activities such as wall decorating and the Big Sit. Participating in these activities each year reminded me why it was so important to remember your history, and how proud I was to be attending such a great school.
5. Education
Going to an all-girls high school also made sure that my focus was on education. The school empowered us to become the best we could be so that we could make a positive impact on the world, and that was something I will treasure forever. We were in an environment that challenged us and prepared us for college, and I don’t think I would be as successful now if I hadn’t gone to Incarnate.
There are so many reasons that I loved going to an all-girls high school, and these are just a few. My school became my home after four years, and I am still proud to say I attended Incarnate Word Academy. By being a Women of the Word, I learned many lessons and made lifelong friends. I’m not only thankful to my school, but also to my sisters who helped me become the person I am today.
