by Caroline Fiss
It’s funny how quickly four years pass by, and in a blink of an eye, a community changes so much. It’s my last day as a student of the Academy–i’m still in denial. I walk down the same halls wearing the same tartan plaid skirt as I did my first day of freshman year, even though I have sprout up about six inches. However, today I am a new person. No, not a different person, but I am certainly not the nervous, awkward, insecure, lost and closed off girl I was when I first entered St. Teresa’s Academy. For this I can thank my beloved school. STA has been the most life changing experience for me, for the better.
The Academy has taught me so much about myself and has helped morph me into the young woman I am today. I have discovered things I am passionate about by getting involved with as much as I could. That is the one of the greatest pieces of advice I can give to an underclassman: get involved! Jump at every opportunity that STA throws at you. My freshman year, I was not a part of anything at STA, and that’s my biggest freshman year regret. Oh, how I have changed since then! I look at myself today; I am a member of the spirit club, a CSJ leadership camper, a Big Sister, co-captain of the dance team (shout out to my DT ladies, I’ll miss you all so much!), a photographer and the videographer for the Dart publications staff, and a crew member for STA productions. I’ve loved every second of the things I have become a part of here.
The best word of advice I can give, however, is to branch out and try to get to know all the wonderful girls in your class. As I look around myself today, I realize that I am surrounded by 134 intelligent, beautiful (inside and out) and talented young women who I am proud to have spent the past four years with. It nearly breaks my heart that this journey has come to an end. They have exposed the sisterhood to me, and through their actions have taught me “in this house all must be friends, all must be loved, all must be held dear, all must be helped.” From the wise lyrics sung by Elphaba and Glinda, “because I knew you, I have been changed for good.” I stand today as one of the confident, determined young women of the STA class of 2013.
Although my time here has come to an end, my experience will stay with me forever. (Oh no, here come the waterworks.) As we all turn to the next chapter of our lives, we will keep in mind our precious time at the Academy. I look forward to the future, and I feel so blessed to be able to experience four more years with 22 incredible academy women at the University of Kansas. You see, I am looking forward. Looking back, however, will be a hard habit to break when St. Teresa’s Academy has made such an amazing impact on my life. I am so thankful for the journey STA has provided me with, as well as each and every one of the 134 admirable girls that surround me today. Now it’s time I close this old netty before my tears damage the key board. STA class of 2013, it has been an honor.
