Let's see, what does someone first think of when they hear the words "Catholic School?" Well, what are some of the questions I get asked when I say to people, "I go to Catholic School"?

"Ew, do you have to wear a uniform?"
"Don't you get annoyed with having to pray everyday?"
"Isn't it a lot of money?"
"Aren't the teachers really mean?"

My honest replies to them are, "Yeah, it's great. Plus I don't have to worry about picking out an outfit in the morning."
"No not really, it's nice to be able to express my faith in school."
"Sure it's expensive now, but it is worth every cent. And you know, if Catholic schools had more support from the state, they wouldn't be as expensive."
"No, the teachers are just passionate about what they do and are helping us to succeed."

In eighth grade, everyone is trying to decide where to go to high school. Sometimes it is a very tough choice, and sometimes it is a very simple choice. For me, it was very hard. Now, I attended public elementary school and middle school growing up and I had many very close friends who were also trying to decide where to go. My options were the Atlantic County Technical Institute (ACIT), Ocean City High School, and Holy Spirit High School. My sister had attended Holy Spirit, and she absolutely loved it there. But all of my closest friends were going to ACIT and other public schools. I felt torn between Holy Spirit and the other schools. I had
absolutely no clue where I should go.

At the moment I was most lost, I realized what I could do. Something, or someone, I knew I could always turn to when I need guidance; God. So I prayed and asked for Him to help me decide which high school was best for me. After a while, I was still lost. Yet, I still prayed for guidance each night. Then it came time for the open houses at each school. As I went to Ocean City, ACIT, and a few other schools, I felt something I couldn't describe at first, but after some time finally came to realize; none of those schools felt like home. I knew what God was telling me. So I made the decision to go to Holy Spirit.

I now know I made the right choice. At Spirit, I made close friends, and I am still making new friends. I truly look forward to going to school everyday and learning and making great memories. We also have wonderful teachers, excellent academics, awesome sports, pretty cool clubs, and everything in between is great. I could not be prouder to call myself a Spartan! And not only are we a family of Spartans, we are a family of God.

Since I attended both public school and now Catholic school, I noticed a huge difference between between the two. Everyone knows the obvious; in Catholic school we wear uniforms, we pray, etc. - while in public schools we do not. But is this requirement of Catholic schools a bad thing? Not at all! Wearing uniforms helps teach discipline to the students and it also shows our pride in being a family of believers, and praying helps us to learn to communicate with God when we need Him and to always remember to give praise and thanks to Him.

While these are the first things many people think of when they hear "Catholic school," there are deeper differences I have discovered firsthand, and I have found that a Catholic education has immensely much more to offer young minds. We are given the opportunity to give back to our
school and our community through volunteer service. I myself have honestly found a love for community service thanks to Holy Spirit. I learned I can make a difference in my own neighborhood and around the world. 

We are also given the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Mass together as a family, grow closer together as a family, and grow closer to God as a family. Many people who have not been to a Catholic school get the notion that Catholic school is all about strict discipline. But I can say that Catholic school is not just about strict discipline. Catholic School is about molding young people to become the best that they can be, making successful students who will go on to do great things while spreading the marvelous wonders of this faith! Of course public schools do the same, but they lack the significant aspect of embracing a relationship with God and they do not offer the ability for students to grow closer to God through learning. This is an invaluable ability for young, faithful people.

Imagine if there were no Catholic schools. These young pupils would not be able to deepen their faith through education. The barrier between education and faith would be sealed with no chance of breaking through. Thankfully and gratefully, we have to opportunity to have Catholic schools in New Jersey, but the state must understand how indispensable Catholic schools are.

We also face another issue. Many who wish to attend Catholic school can not afford the cost because the state does not support Catholic schools sufficiently. If New Jersey, and even states beyond our own, more fully supported Catholic schools, the cost would dramatically decrease and more students would be given the chance to attend the school they genuinely desire; the school where they can embrace their faith proudly through education. I am not alone in understanding how valuable Catholic schools are; we are not alone. This is indisputable.

We need Catholic schools, right now, and our schools need us to
maintain and support them so they can continue to serve everything they have to offer to our students; our future.