The older I get the more thankful and appreciative I become. My dad always tells me he wants me to live a life with “compassion” and to be compassionate to others, and Catholic schooling has helped me accomplish that.
I attended a small Catholic School down the street from my house from pre-k to eighth grade. I wore a uniform that consisted of a plaid jumper and tie until fifth grade, then I upgraded to a dark green skirt and white shirt for middle school. We went to “first Friday mass” the first Friday of every month, began and ended our day with prayer, and had religion class every day.
I was surrounded by the same 23 kids for the 10 years I was at that school, and when it was time for our eighth grade graduation, we all went different ways. Some of the boys went to a prestigious all boys prep school a town over, others strayed from the norm and went to our towns public school, and I, along with eight of my friends, went to our towns Catholic high school.
I remember my first day of freshman year, putting on my khaki pants and navy blue polo for the first time. I thought I was the coolest because I didn’t have to wear knee high socks and the green skirt anymore. I made new friends while joining sports teams, clubs, and organizations and always made sure to get involved in whatever the school was offering. I was in a class of 110 students instead of 23, and actually changed classrooms instead of staying in the same classroom all day.
A Catholic school isn’t really that different from a public school, except for the fact that Catholic school kids have religion class and attend church; however, I wouldn't change my Catholic school experience for anything. Catholic school taught me the importance of family, friends, and God.
Every day when I entered the front doors of my high school I always felt a sense of acceptance. No matter how I was feeling that day or what I was going through I always knew that I could talk to any of the teachers in Campus Ministry about really anything. At the end of every day as I walked out to my car my principal stood in front of the school and said good bye to all of the students leaving for the day, and this just enhanced my sense of acceptance and the feeling of family.
Going to Catholic school made me feel that I had value in this world, and I wasn’t just another face. The friends I made throughout my years of schooling will truly last a lifetime. Friends I made in elementary school are some of my best friends to this day. My school made me feel safe and that I could trust every faculty member, teacher, and student. I was always being reassured that I have importance and that I am worth it, which is always a confidence boost.
Being so immersed into the Catholic faith truly brought me closer to God. Although I attended Catholic School my entire life, I am Greek Orthodox. I never felt shunned or turned away just because I wasn’t Catholic, but instead, felt even more welcomed into my school. I am so thankful for every teacher I’ve had a long the way because they taught me so much more than the subject I had them for.
My mom and dad sacrificed so much in order to send me to Catholic schooling for fourteen years. I cannot even begin to explain hoe thankful I am and how lucky I am to have them as my parents. I am so proud to be able to say I attended Catholic school for my whole life, including college, and I am prouder to say that Catholic school has made me, me.
