Flintridge Sacred Heart will always be there for you

But adjusting was troublesome. My classmates always talked about places I didn’t know – I honestly asked what St. Francis was more than once during that first semester. The teachers always spoke as if my belief in God was assumed. It seemed like every student except me knew boys and how to apply eyeliner. I didn’t feel like there was anyone I could talk to and I was really confused about who I was. I worried about people liking me and stressed out over the fact that this would be my life for the next four years.

Now I’m a senior and I really do consider my classmates my sisters. I believe in God. I even know how to apply eyeliner and too many boys. Instead of worrying about being liked, I feel blessed about being loved by so many people at FSHA. And I know exactly who I am now. Here is a short list of the qualities Flintridge Sacred Heart has developed in me.

Yes, there were those projects when I had to stand in front of the classroom and speak bravely and articulately, and having a roomful of encouraging classmates was helpful. But the fearlessness goes beyond that. One of the things I’ve noted about a Tolog is that she tends to be stubborn. Here on the hill I’ve learned to voice my opinions proudly, no matter how different or weird they seem. In a comfortable setting, I’ve gained what many young women in the world lack: empowerment.

A prospective parent approached me on Open House this year, asking about the religious aspect of Flintridge Sacred Heart. She, not being Catholic, wondered if God was shoved down our throats. I began my career at FSHA without a strong faith in God and even if I were an atheist today, I would still be an advocate for a Catholic education. At Mark Keppel, there would never have been any discussion of character; there, the only thing learnt is calculus and English.

Here on the hill, there are expectations of how a Tolog should act. Mrs. Sadler has said there have been weeks when not a day went by without a student asking her if she could do this or that service project. A Tolog not only learns how to find a limit and how to use correct parallel structure here but also how to be a servant leader, how to be compassionate, how to navigate troubled waters… such qualities are open for discussion due to the standards of what a Catholic is but here at FSHA, you don’t have to be a Catholic to develop these characteristics.

There will be many people in the world who will judge a person’s lack of faith. There will be people who will try to push God upon someone.

At some colleges, a person is even required to attend Mass despite a lack of belief in Him. I felt that sometimes in my first year at Flintridge Sacred Heart. Then I realized I was on the hill by choice and that I should be more open-minded about the beliefs emphasized by my school, the way I thought FSHA wasn’t being about my own faith (or lack thereof). I learned that Flintridge Sacred Heart wasn’t being close-minded toward my own values… the people here simply really, really, really love God and disagreed with me on his existence, and having such a relationship with the Lord, they wanted me to experience His love and awesomeness too. Well, they got me!

The open discussion about God, whether one is Hindi, Muslim, Jewish or Christian, enabled me to learn more about Him.

Before Flintridge Sacred Heart, I thought I had Him all figured out: He was scary and strict, with all these rules that had to be followed; He was a hypocrite, as the suffering in the world made no sense; He was stuck in his outdated ways, closed off to my differences.

Now I know that I will never completely figure Him out. And I also know that any preconceived notion I had of Him, whether it was from the Church or made up by myself, is not necessarily true and probably isn’t true. FSHA has taught me that God is actually that single friend I searched for freshman year, that one guy I can always count on to be there for me.

A rich, white girl who attends a single-sex private school can be easily judged by the opportunities she’s been given. I actually live in a small town next to East Los Angeles and I’m only half white but I fit this stereotype better than a lot of the girls on the hill.

Instead of acting like the brat a few may think I am, I am often reminded of the blessings I’ve been given. Through experiences like APES class, speakers and service, I understand how fortunate I am to be healthy, wealthy and capable enough to receive an education many third-world countries and sexist nations prevent other young women receiving.

Even next to any other girl in Southern California, rich or poor, I am special simply because I am a part of a beautiful, tight-knit community. Right next door in Pasadena, there are homeless students commuting from shelters in Hollywood and sleeping on the streets trying to make it to school. I often whine about my 45-minute commute to school, I can complain about my family’s problems and how it hurts me or impedes my success but truthfully my blessings outweigh my obstacles and even the awespiring view from the hill reminds me of that every day.

Those four lessons are a small part of all the things I’ve learned and gained from FSHA. This was supposed to be a farewell editorial but my time, memories and lessons will always be a part of me so I guess this is simply goodbye for now. I will always have a home on the hill and I hope to say hello again soon.

Laura Allen is a third-year journalism student who served as editor of Veritas Shield for the 2010-11 academic year. She will attend Barnard College in New York in the fall.