There are really no words to express how much the Holy Cross community has impacted my character and who I am, and how important Holy Cross is to me. I believe it is safe to say that Holy Cross has been a part of me that has shaped me into the hardworking, dedicated, involved, and responsible individual that I am today. I am someone who aspires to be involved in everything that I can while excelling in academics, athletics and advocacy, and Holy Cross has provided those stepping stones for me to push myself and develop the tools necessary for post secondary and the years moving forward. Community is one thing that has really impacted who I am as a young woman. I am someone who prioritizes community. Whether volunteering at different community events through Holy Cross or with other organizations in my neighbourhood and at my high school, or sharing my passion and love of athletics by giving back to the community through coaching and volunteering for young children, I have always valued what it means to be a part of a community. Since the very beginning, Holy Cross has taught me how much of a privilege it is to be a part of a community that is so united through faith.
Since I was born, I was introduced to the Holy Cross family. Being Baptized and Confirmed at the church in which I have lived right behind for my whole life, and one that my parents and grandparents have been attending for years now has opened me up to a new layer of my faith that I didn’t know existed. Not only can I hear the choir singing in church every weekend practicing for the upcoming mass from my front door, but seeing Father Chris on his afternoons walks and sharing a brief conversation has really taught me the epitome of community. I have learned how important it is to stay connected with my faith at all times, and how fortunate I am to be in a community where faith is set as a priority all around. With the parish, I have been given so many opportunities in which I have learned how to work with others, how to be discipline, how to be a leader, and how to balance my faith with other extracurricular activities, academics, and family life. These key tools have really helped me manage my time through high school. From my education and experience at Holy Cross, I have learned how to use the opportunities presented to me for the benefit of myself and others. I have learned how to work hard for the things I want, how to manage my time, and how to work around adversity in the classroom with peers, or on and off the field or court with my teammates. I would not have excelled in high school with athletics and academics without the self-discipline, leadership, and hard work ethic that became routine through my years at Holy Cross.
These values that have been instilled in me from Holy Cross made my transition into high school a seamless one, and now also moving into my post secondary journey. The skills of time management and balance with my faith, academics and athletics that I learned at Holy Cross has been my routine and everyday for the past five years, and I owe so much to the teachers and to the community overall for making me the woman that my little elementary school self dreamed to be.