The Archdiocese of Louisville celebrated Catholic Schools Week from January 27 to February 2. The following essay won the Catholic Schools Week Essay Contest sponsored by the Catholic Education Foundation for Catholic high school students in the Archdiocese. Holly Kissel is a junior at Presentation Academy.

By Holly Kissel

I have attended Catholic schools ever since Pre-K. Because of this blessing, I have been given a plethora of opportunities that have transformed me into the well-rounded person I am today. Catholic schools provide an excellent education, inspirational mentors, and many other resources that one could not find anywhere else, allowing their students to become outstanding leaders in their communities. My Catholic education has helped me grow as a lifelong learner and servant leader.

Education at Catholic schools is extraordinary, as it is focused on the individual student and his or her goals. The teachers take special interest in each student, learning their name and helping them on their path to success. Students are encouraged by the teachers to reach beyond the classroom, leading them out of their comfort zones so that they can become global citizens. Through trip to museums, theatres, historic sites, and festival of faiths, my Catholic education uses the entire city as a classroom, providing context and an engaging learning environment.

The experiences that I have been gifted with are almost all the results of having a Catholic education. I never would have met my best friends if I had chosen a public school. It now seems impossible that I would never have had these people in my life, because they are the ones who give my life and my Catholic education meaning. In Catholic school, I am among my peers who share and help develop my faith. We attend Mass together, we go on retreats together, and we serve others together. The connections that I made in Catholic school with my mentors, peers, and God will serve me well as I continue on my faith journey and career.

Through extracurriculars offered by my school, I have had the privilege to connect with those younger and older than me, allowing me to see the rapid maturity that a Catholic high school gives someone. From freshman year where you are finding your footing in a new setting, to sophomore year where you are strengthening your relationships with others, to junior year where you focus on those who need more help than you to prepare you to be leaders in both high school and in your faith community, Catholic schools make it possible for you to find what is important to you.

Catholic schools emphasize the importance of service and helping your neighbor. Various projects reflect this: canned food drives, vigils for immigrants, and fundraisers for Huntington’s disease. These are just a few of the service opportunities offered to me because of Catholic schools. The most amazing part of these service projects is that all of them were student-run.

Catholic schools go beyond requiring students to do service hours; they instill a desire to help those around you in the smallest and biggest ways.

Service connects me to a community outside of my school. I have had my whole world put into perspective after I volunteered at the Franciscan Kitchen. Serving there showed me how much I am blessed: I have food, shelter, clothing, and access to an excellent education. All the guests that I saw at the soup kitchen were so grateful for some food, and when I served them, many of them said “Bless you” or “thanks for being here,” which is something so simple, but so meaningful. There is no other way to experience such gratitude than doing service and interacting with those you are helping. Catholic schools provide this feeling to all of its students by teaching the importance of service.

My education and the extracurriculars that my school offers have allowed me to have my hard work to pay off, encouraging me to continue to try my best so that I may succeed outside of school. I have maintained excellent grades throughout my high school career, and that is because I was constantly motivated and have had help from my teachers when I was struggling. I have grown so much that I now hold leadership positions in three clubs at my school, something I never thought I would do when I was younger. I have become involved in so much and learned so much from my time in Catholic schools that I know I will lead a full life, which is the ultimate success.