One of my favorite weeks has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Catholic Schools Week. It reminded me of my elementary school days where we participated in extraordinary activities throughout the week all while wearing jeans instead of khakis. I remember listening to talks at Mass about what Catholic school meant to people. My school even posed this same question to the students. What does Catholic school mean to you? As an adult, I find the question even more important in my life at this moment.
When I was interviewing for my first job after graduation, I would often repeat the same phrase to those asking about my career plans: I would be lucky to teach at any school, but my ultimate goal would be a Catholic school. I can't emphasize enough that I also support public schools and had amazing student teaching experiences. However, it is personally important and valuable to me to teach religion. I was incredibly fortunate to have my first job be at a Catholic school and then to have been hired by one after I moved. The support of a Catholic school environment is something that is hard to put into words. The atmosphere is something that you can just feel when entering the building. It is an atmosphere of trust and unity.
As I sit in Mass every week with my students, I can't think of a better way to build student rapport than that. While teachers gather before school every morning to pray for one another, I can't think of a more perfect way to focus my attention for the job ahead. God can become the center of conversation throughout the day and I get the opportunity to learn and talk with my students about their faith. I truly felt called to teach at a Catholic school. I am encouraged to keep up with my own prayer life in order to be the best teacher I can be.
My class was completing prayer centers the other week during religion and one of my students asked me if I was okay because I seemed lost in my thoughts, and I was. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed (in the best possible way) with the combination of high level academics, respect, service, and spirituality that I get to be a part of every day.
Thank you. Thank you to the parents that make hard sacrifices to be able to send their children to a Catholic school. Thank you to all of my mentors and coworkers for embodying Catholic ideals every day. Thank you to all of the people who support Catholic schools in ways both big and small because you know that they matter. Educators want the best for their students as they help shape them to become the person God is calling them to be. And wow, Catholic schools are sure worth celebrating!
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