The Ambassador

School Years

“But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14. I grew up in Catholic elementary school, I attended Sacred Heart from kindergarten through sixth grade. Growing up going to catholic private school, God’s word was part of everyday learning. Many songs were incorporated for my childhood, during elementary school it was christian music because it was the only kind of music we were allowed to listen to during school hours. As I got older, my favorite artist is Carrie Underwood. Her song, “So Small”, is my inspiration when facing a challenge. From entering elementary school and being excited to be a “big girl”, finally in kindergarten, to entering middle school in seventh grade and now getting ready to go to St.Ben’s and seeing my future call my name; “So Small”, describes how I feel each step of the way.

 

“Open the eyes of my heart, Lord/ Open the eyes of my heart/ I want to see You/ I want to see You.”-PAUL JOSEPH BALOCHE. I went to Sacred Heart, a private catholic school. I attended private school from kindergarten to sixth grade. I was very shy and quiet as kid, but our class was a close group of kids. Our class consisted of seventy-four kids, with only one class for our grade. This song was a classroom favorite, and a church favorite because it allowed us to clap along with the song. It wasn’t until I entered upper elementary that I truly learned the meaning of the song, it was to follow God’s teaching and open our hearts and our minds up to His love. During my last year at Sacred Heart, we were assigned kindergarten buddies. I was paired with Haley and Tommy. Both kids were a joy to spend time with while riding the bus to church on Thursdays and eating lunch with our buddies on Fridays. This was the first time, I discovered my love for volunteering and being a role model/ inspiration for others.

 

Now, it’s time for middle school. I came to the Sauk Rapids school district in seventh grade. I was scared and excited to go to the middle school. It was quite a shock of going to a class of twenty-four to over three hundred kids. The first few weeks were quite a shock and an adjustment period. I had not come out of my shell yet and was still quiet. At the time middle school seemed to be very scary and intimidating, but now, looking back it seems so small. “Cause sometimes that mountain you've been climbing/

Is just a grain of sand/ It sure makes everything seem so small. -Carrie Underwood.

 

Fast Forward, I am now a senior; preparing to go to college, pick a career and start the beginning of my future. In these last four years of high school, I have conquered challenged and adventures that use to scare me to do. I joined the speech team, when I use to be afraid to talk in front of people or do any kind of public speaking. I joined a new sport, cross country my sophomore year after playing soccer for over nine years. The speech team changed me, it taught me to speak up during class, how to give presentations for school and it turned me into the chatter box I am today. Cross country taught me to try new things and go out of my comfort zone. These lesson I not only apply during the classroom, but also in my activities and life. All the lessons I’ve been taught and the adventures I’ve conquered have prepared me for what is about to come next. Even if I face challenges, I know I can conquer them.

All throughout my school years, I have faced adventures that seem as if it is the biggest challenge at the time. I have grown and I am now ready to take the next step. All my teachers, coaches and mentors have prepared me for the future and the adventures to come.