When I walked through the doors of my first day of Freshman year, I remember feeling as though I was an alien about to inhabit a whole new planet filled with concepts I had yet to understand. No this new planet was not mars or Neptune, but rather something that seemed almost stranger to me: Catholic School. Being a public school kid my whole life, the concept of wearing a uniform, having mass during school, and the minuscule size of my new graduating class was a lot to get used to. But through my four years of being a real life Catholic School girl I began to adjust to my new community filled with all its typical signs that can only equal one thing: you went to a Catholic High school.

1.You became a pro at putting on tights:

While most girls struggle with tights, us Catholic school kids developed the lifelong skill of being able to successfully put on a pair of tights when we were half asleep at 7am. We know the truth that yes a skort is an actual thing, that the right tie can make even the most drab of school uniforms a little more colorful, and that no outfit is ever complete without a pair of dress shoes or my personal favorite: school approved Sperry's!

2. The teachers knew you before you ever stepped foot in their class:

When your school is as small as mine was chances are that after freshman year, almost every teacher in your school knows who everyone in a graduating class is. Whether it be from gossip told by another teacher, from having your older siblings because of course they remember them, or my God even having your parents in class (yes they shockingly remember them too)

3. Meatless Fridays:

Going to a Catholic school meant that they tried to follow the practices of the Catholic faith to the best of their abilities which include meatless Fridays during lent. This honestly became one of my favorite things about Catholic school as Friday's meant panzerotti days!

4. Everyone did everything:

Yes in such a small school it was almost a requirement that in order to experience the whole high school experience in all of its glory, every student had to be involved. Not just involved in one or two clubs but REALLY INVOLVED. It was not uncommon for one student to be on the soccer team, have a role in the play, and also be running for student council president. Although this made life a little hectic I wouldn't have wanted anything else because it forces you to really get involved in your high school community

5. News traveled fast:

Being in a small group meant that when news happened, it spread like wildfire and literally almost the entire class would know within a week of said news happening. Although this was often a scary concept, it made you learn who you could trust and who you could not really quickly

6. The day you get to put on the upperclassmen uniform is the day that you conquered the world:

That day when you finally make it to the mid way point of your high school career is truly life altering: you now get to wear the upper classman uniform! Next year when walking down the halls you and your class will feel like the hot shots looking down at the freshman and sophomores

7. You come to enjoy mass:

you learn almost at your first Catholic School mass that going to mass with your class is a bit different than going to mass with your family. Mass at my school allowed for a time for our whole school to rally together and share our faith, and also acted as a much needed refresher and retrieve from our everyday classes.

Although it took some getting used to, I don't regret everything that "The Academy" has given me. Although it may not have been the typical big high school experience, my Catholic high school gave me so many things from revelations in my faith to revelations in myself as well, as it truly did help me grow as a person.