Lessons learned on the journey
Published Jan 25, 2008The uniforms were fairly bedraggled by the time our daughters were finished with them; especially for Suzanne, the youngest, who cheerfully donned Valerie’s hand-me-down plaid skirts as she skipped off to engage in the wonderful world of learning, wrapped inside an elementary school where prayer was a part of daily lessons and faith was underscored at every turn. Friendships were forged that endured—occasionally “tried” but ultimately “true”—and are still solid to this day.
And when it came to high school, the uniform had a new look but the concept of an education steeped in the Christian experience was unwavering. It was in this environment that our daughters encountered opportunities for service that seemed to make a lasting impression and definitely left a permanent imprint on their adult lives.
A memorable bonus for parents like us who willingly sacrificed yet sometimes struggled to meet the financial demands of a private education was getting to know both the devoted faculty members and the other parents, likeminded women and men who shared the same philosophies and were equally dedicated to a family-focused, faith-based education for the children.
When the cheering stopped and the graduates parted ways, heading off to colleges and universities all over the Midwest and beyond, we felt confident knowing that the concrete was poured and dried, the bricks were in place, yet the windows and doors were wide open and it was time for our girls and their companions to soar.
As we head into the annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week, there are ever-present challenges to overcome and some changes to accept. But the constant is the quality and the commitment that never falters. So hats off to all who hold tight to the vision and stay the course where it comes to the communal effort that is Catholic education.