Why New Jersey Needs Catholic Schools

       Catholic schools are a blessing and a gift. Like all blessings, Catholic schools should be cherished and appreciated, and never taken for granted. The following paragraphs describe the immense feelings of pride and gratitude I experience as a student of a Catholic High School and why I believe New Jersey needs Catholic schools.

         I have never attended a public school; throughout the course of my life, beginning in Pre-Kindergarten and continuing to this day, I have attended Catholic school. I believe that my Catholic education has shaped me into the person I am today; attending a Catholic school affected (and continues to affect) three major aspects of my life: my family, my education, and my faith itself. The values and morals that my family instilled in me when I was young were further strengthened as a result of attending a Catholic school. These values and morals, initially instilled in me by parents, then fortified through my Catholic education, finally came full circle every Sunday, when my family I would attend Mass. I believe that my Catholic education provided me with the ability to more fully understand and appreciate my Catholic faith. Without Catholic schools, I doubt that I would be the person I am today.

           As I venture through adolescence, I notice that I am beginning to look to my faith for comfort and guidance, thus learning to appreciate it more and more. During high school, it is imperative that a student has some sort of support system to guide them and strengthen them, lest they "fall in with the wrong crowd". This is where a Catholic education comes into play; a Catholic school provides that aforementioned support system, in this case, faith, much more than a public school would be able to do. The chances of "falling in with the wrong crowd", so to speak, greatly decreases because a student is provided with a strong, morally right foundation that guides them in the right direction. 

       As I mentioned in the beginning paragraphs, I believe that a Catholic education truly shapes and molds individuals into the people they will become in the future. A Catholic education provides those fortunate enough to experience it with a unique and, I believe, more positive outlook on life. This perspective is derived from the belief in a Higher Power, God, whose Will shall be done; God has a plan and everything happens for a reason. In times of distress, these small phrases truly provide an immense sense of reassurance. No matter what happens, God will always be there; He will always be willing to provide a proverbial "shoulder to lean on".

          These reasons provide clear evidence that Catholic schools are a true blessing; New Jersey should appreciate and nurture the Catholic schools it already is home to and continue to establish new ones for years to come. A Catholic education is absolutely priceless; the values, morals, and spiritual foundation that a Catholic school provides is an irreplaceable gift that should not be taken for granted. Personally, words cannot express the gratitude and appreciation that I possess for my Catholic education; I thank God every day for this amazing gift that He had blessed me with.