Everyday Holiness

As you look toward the finish of your high school career and the beginning of a new chapter at Tulane, what will you miss most — and what are you most excited about?

What I will miss the most and what I am most anticipating is rather paradoxical. I will miss the familiarity of life now. Every day I wake up in the same room I grew up in and go to the high school I know like the back of my hand. I travel the same roads, see the same people, and wear the same uniform. It is a routine I know and love well. Leaving it behind for the unknown can be daunting, yet an equal part of me is excited to see who I will be apart from all I know. Tulane and New Orleans will be radically different from what I am used to. I will be tested spiritually, mentally, and academically; however, I know that the test of fire purifies silver and gold. I am eager to see what version of myself emerges.

How has your Catholic school education shaped not just what you know, but who you are as a person? 

My growth in knowledge and self go hand-in-hand. In eighth grade, I learned the facts of the sacraments, and my heart was touched by God’s desire to bring us closer to Him. In freshman year, I became more knowledgeable about the ancient kings and prophets, and my faith was then strengthened by the examples of God’s trustworthiness despite man’s disobedience. As a sophomore, my life was changed. I learned about the intricacies of the Gospels and about the other faiths in the world. By the end of the year, I had grown significantly in my boldness and leadership, and by the year after that, I was on the Bridge Team and co-leading a committee. In junior year, I learned of church history and saw how the Holy Spirit protected our predecessors against all odds. Now as a senior, I have learned how to take what I have learned and defend it. The beauty of Catholic schools is that the classes target the mind and the heart, thus maturing both the intellect and the self. Even in classes where the curriculum is not centered around Christ, it was always taught that He is in everything we learn. Now I can see that everything has traces of God.

Who is someone who has made a big impact on your life, and what did you learn from him/her? 

My mom has made the biggest impact on my life. It was through her fervor in prayer and endurance in faith that led to my adoption. She has taught me how to work hard, chase after my greatest ambitions, and persevere through hardship. I would not be who I am without her guidance and support. There is a very special bond between a mother and her child, no matter if they are related by blood or not. Out of all her life lessons, her greatest and most reiterated is that she will always be there for me, she will always love me. Before I had a mind developed enough to comprehend the existence of my Lord’s love for me, she demonstrated it through her own. 

What motivates you to give your best in your studies, activities, and clubs? Where does that desire to strive for excellence come from?

I have three great motivators. The first is that when I wake up, I recognize that every moment I breathe is a gift from the Lord. My motivation to strive for the best in my academic endeavors and extracurriculars stems from the great respect for life that the miraculous circumstances of my adoption and journey to the United States instilled in me. In Colossians 3:17, we are instructed to “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him.” I try to keep this verse in mind as I study and lead. I also draw inspiration from all the hard work my parents have done in order for me to have the education and opportunities offered to me. While my dad’s lesson that I only need to be “happy and healthy” is repeated often, I respect all that they have done for me by trying to do my best academically while maintaining my health and joy in the Lord. Thirdly, I acknowledge the eyes of others on my life. I am not motivated by their acclamation or praise but rather by the knowledge that the Lord has shown to them his providence through my life. I can excel in my academics, activities, and organizations because God has given me the gifts to do so. I credit nothing to myself; instead, I boast in the Lord. My motivation begins and ends with Him who made me.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not studying or serving?  

My three favorite things are being with my friends, reading, and writing. As a child, I always prayed to the Lord for a community of fellow believers whom I can lean on, and we know that the Father always provides for his children. The brothers and sisters in Christ that I have in my life now are the answers to my innumerable childhood prayers. Whether we go to Mass, grab food, drive around, or do something fun around town, I enjoy every moment. I love them more than they know, and I’m sure they already know that I care for them a great deal. I have grown in my love for reading poetry recently in my English class. We are discussing something called eternizing. It is a way poets would immortalize their loved ones through their verses. Everything of the world will pass away, but I pray that until then, their presence in these words endures. The power of words has always struck me. When I was a young girl, my father would say, “If you can read and comprehend, you can do anything you want.” I grew to love exploring every genre and even aspiring to write. Whether I create rosary reflections or simply write in my journal, I delight in the beauty of words.