Introduction

If I were a betting woman, I would say that one of the most asked questions in St. Louis is “Where did you go to high school?”. Yes, really. This question is a core part of St. Louis’ identity and it is extremely powerful. One of my favorite stories about this question happened when I advocated for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Washington D.C. Usually, the Congress member is not present for these types of meeting and instead sends a congressional aide to take notes. While talking with the congressional aide before the meeting, he asked me if I was from St. Louis, and I said yes. I swear that the next words out of his mouth were “Where do you go to high school?”. After I answered “Visitation Academy”, he left for a couple of minutes, and then out popped Congresswoman Ann Wagner. The first thing she told me was “I went to Cor Jesu, and I remember playing against Visition at sporting events”. So, this question can (literally) open doors for you!

You might have guessed by the title of this blog post that I went to a Catholic high school. People usually find out about this pretty quickly. You take one look at my graduation photos on my Instagram, and it is pretty obvious that I did not have a traditional cap and gown ceremony (hint, I wore a white wedding dress and did a Maypole). I get a range of reactions and questions from people (especially people who are not from St. Louis) about my experiences in Catholic schools. Some people are horrified that I had to take mandated Catholic Theology classes (in my opinion, they were not bad most of the time). Some people find it hilarious that I had to wear a plaid skirt every single day (fun fact: the skirt I wore on the first day of eighth grade was the same skirt that I wore on my last day of senior year). Some people are happy that I had a faith-based education. Very few people ask me about how that type of education shaped me as a human being, especially in a positive way. So today, I want to share with you some of the ways that having a Catholic education has shaped me as a person.

Gave Me a Devoted Community

When I was interviewing to become an Ambassador for my high school, I was asked, “What do you look for in a friend?”. Since eighth grade, the answer to that question has always been the same. Loyalty. Loyalty is one of the most important things to me. To have the strength to stick by the people you love, even when things are difficult. To support them in future endeavors but also to have the grace to tell them when they make a mistake. To never make me doubt if I am loved and cared for. To me, that is what a friend is. I have been extremely lucky in life to have been given such devoted friends through Visitation. There is something so special about the friends I made in high school. I want to highlight my friend Naomi here because she is the epitome of devotion. Naomi and I met during my junior year. Like so many of my other friends, she entered my life at exactly the right time (some might call it divine timing). There is something special about the way Naomi and I just clicked, and I think a lot of that has to do with our shared values and beliefs. Even though I am a year older, she has taught me so much about friendship and faith. She is the definition of loyalty since she has stuck with me through my average Spanish and (very) terrible golf skills. I do not want to think about the person I would be without Naomi in my life. Part of the reason that our friendship blossomed is because of the way that Visitation fosters strong female friendships between students. The photo attached to this blog post is of Naomi and me at my graduation, where I had the honor of having her as my ribbon holder (where a senior chooses an underclassman to literally hold her ribbon during Maypole – it is seen as a testament to your friendship). Naomi and I continue to support and love each other, even now when there is a six-hour time difference between us. Even though our days of seeing each other every day are gone, I know that Visitation has given us the foundation to nurture our relationship into adulthood.

Helped Me Strengthen My Values and Beliefs

I argue that Visitation did a wonderful job of instilling values into me that will take me far in life. They taught me a strong, diligent work ethic, which has helped me balance all my college classes. They taught me the importance of serving others, which led to me joining the National MS Society’s Emerging Leaders Association. They taught me the value of forgiveness, which has assisted me in building stronger relationships with others. There are countless traits I could name, but I want to get into the meat of this section. There is this misconception that Catholic schools force their values onto young students and punish those who do not agree with them. While I know that this is not the same for all Catholic schools, Visitation gave me a safe space to talk about values with students. One of the best ways you can develop and hone your own values or beliefs is by talking to people who have different values. This reminds me a lot about a TikTok that I saw posted by one of my favorite political podcasts (Unbiased – seriously, please check this out!). She asked her audience to reflect on whether or not they could name someone they respected or admired who is in different political party. It is important to surround yourself with people who agree and people who disagree with your beliefs and values. It keeps you out of an echo chamber. Not only is it important for democracy, it is important for growth. How do you know if you truly agree with something if you have never researched the dissenting opinion? Visitation gave me a safe space to explore my beliefs and values with different kinds of people.

Taught Me the Stories of the Bible

Now, this one might sound strange, but stick with me. I would say that this is the most peculiar gift that Catholic school has given me. While it might not be important for some major programs, I would argue that it is pretty important to understand the Bible if you want to obtain an English degree. Countless classic novels are influenced by religion, especially those from the Early Modern period (which is my favorite literature to study). When I was in my Early Modern Texts and Contexts class, we were discussing John Milton’s Paradise Lost. I instantly connected that Paradise Lost is a story that combines Genesis (the first book of the Bible) and Revelations (the last book of the Bible). When I brought this up in our class discussion, other students were confused. They did not realize that the novel included hints of Revelations because they only understood the stories commonly utilized in pop culture (like Eve eating the forbidden fruit). Countless other novels like Frankenstein or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe or The Handmaiden’s Tale utilize the Bible as a tool. There are even Biblical references in Star Wars! (Seriously, look it up!) As someone who was taught the Bible for thirteen years, it has helped me in ways that I never imagined. It gives me the ability to pick up Biblical references very quickly (and without consulting online sources). It aids me in crafting better arguments for papers. It provides me a cultural understanding of the time period and/or author’s intent. Who knew that those Theology classes would help me dissect Fahrenheit 451 or Lord of the Flies?

Aided Me in Building My Relationship with God

When I am asked if I grew up Catholic, my answer is never a straight “yes” or “no”. Yes, I was baptized and confirmed (fun fact: my confirmation saint is Joan of Arc). Yes, I sometimes wear a cross necklace. Yes, I ask my grandmother to light candles for me during important events. No, my family does not have a local parish that we go to every Sunday for Mass. No, my brothers did not go to a Catholic high school. No, my parents’ rules were not founded on what the Bible said. The answer is not “yes” or “no” because my parents allowed me to choose my religion. They encouraged me to make decisions about my faith, my values, and my beliefs. When it came time to pick a high school, I decided to go to a Catholic school. When I reflect, my decision to go to Visitation Academy was one of the best of my life. While it might sound counterintuitive, the place that allowed me to explore my religion the most was the Campus Ministry at my high school. This was my safe space during my time at Visitation. The campus ministers allowed me to dive deeper into my values and reflect on how they align with my religious identity. When I struggled with my beliefs, they were always willing to chat with me. They inspired many young girls, including myself, to create positive change in St. Louis through our faith. They encouraged me to create my own unique relationship with God. They gave me tools to find God for myself. My faith exploration is just beginning. My whole life is ahead of me to explore my relationship with God. Visitation gave me a place to get started.

Conclusion

It is difficult for me to put into words the way that my Catholic education has shaped me because it has shaped me in ways that I cannot begin to understand or imagine. That is not to say that it was perfect. Not all Catholic schools are created equal. I read the news, and I have experienced it myself. I do not believe that a Catholic education is for everyone. It is a personal choice that you should have control over. However, it does everyone a disservice if you discount the importance of something just because you cannot understand it or because you dislike it. There is so much value in Catholic schools, especially ones that dedicate themselves to their students and their futures. My high school restored my faith in a Catholic-based education after my horrible experience at my elementary school. My personality, my values, my support system, and my relationship with God would look very different if I turned away from a Catholic education. This is why I believe St. Louisans love the question, “Where did you go to high school?”. It is a reflection of who you are. It can tell a person so much about you. It is something that you can share with someone who understands the unique ways that a Catholic education can shape you. It is a red thread that connects many St. Louisans to each other and their hometown. And yes, sometimes it can even be a laugh about playing each other in sports!