Attending public school kindergarten to eighth grade, then moving over to a Catholic high school, I feel I have had the best of both worlds and could not be more thankful for the education I was given. Though some might never understand the value of a catholic school or tell you that it’s a waste of money, I truly believe that this decision was life-changing and completely worth it.

Thank you for allowing me a fresh start and a chance to reinvent myself at an age where I needed it most. Knowing that I was leaving my middle school friends to continue their journeys together was weird, but this created independence in me as I learned to be confident in my decisions. It showed me that it’s okay to not follow the crowd.

Thank you for giving me a faith centered foundation at an age where I was craving it. At a time of confusion and self-discovery, I was glad to have my center at a place that felt like home.

Thank you for difficult, fast-paced classes that challenged me, and taught me to work hard and take ownership of my future.

Thank you for surrounding me with students from different towns, even a different state, which taught me that the world is much bigger than my hometown and expanded my network.

Thank you for giving personal and spiritual growth through retreats and service trips. My Kairos retreat (popular among many Catholic schools) was the best weekend of my high school days and shaped the person I am.

Thank you for less-than-stylish uniforms that gave us a sense of camaraderie and an even playing field at a time when appearances can matter way too much. Thank you for being strict in enforcing them, even though I rolled my eyes when I was told to remove my sweatshirt in class. It now gives me funny memories and an appreciation for the freedom I have to keep myself warm on the daily.

Thanks for leading me to my amazing college. I would have never ended up at my university if I was not the person I became through my high school.

Thank you for giving me a tight-knit family and support system that will forever be a part of me.

Thank you for giving me a school I can be proud of. Despite the drama that comes along with any high school, the benefits far exceed the low points or any complaints about where I spend my 4 years.

So, as high school seniors approach graduation and move on from the small bubble that is your school to bigger and better opportunities, soak up the last of it and be so thankful for the things that you have been given. One day you will look back and be so proud of the direction you decided to take your life, thanks to where you spent your 4 years.

And for young students or parents starting to make this decision regarding their future, as the product of a catholic high school education, I will stand by the fact that it is the best investment you can make.