Learning from the people of Immaculata
Ianthe Lo
Attending a Catholic, classical school like Immaculata, we read a wide variety of books ranging from Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” to the Greek tragedies of “The Oresteia” and “Antigone,” to Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment.”
We study Latin, philosophy, theology, the sciences and math. The education one receives while attending Immaculata is almost unparalleled, and yet, if you were to ask me what I have learned the most from this school, I would not tell you a certain book or class. I have learned the most from the people who make up this school.
This may come as a surprise to some who know me, a lover of books, science and knowledge in general. It was surely a surprise to me. While I have learned from and enjoyed everything I have read and been taught over the past four years, I really believe nothing will stick with me as much as what I’ve gathered from the people around me.
From my teachers, I learned true excellence. I saw how they challenged me to try harder and do more, yet they never pushed me beyond what I could handle.
Dr. Keith Parkinson was the first teacher to ever expect more from me than what I had presented him. He challenged me beyond the limits I had set upon myself and truly believed in the excellence I could achieve.
Miss Danielle Mucci showed me what real, honest faith and a relationship with God looks like. She was always extremely compassionate and had a kind word for me. Mr. Jerry Salyer showed me what passion for a subject looked like and how to be humorous and excellent at the same time.
I have learned more from all my teachers than I could ever put into words.
By my peers, I was challenged academically and socially. Before Immaculata, I had little experience with balancing friendships and school. I spent most of my time comparing myself to my peers instead of enjoying them. But while attending this school, I began to be inspired by my fellow students.
I saw my friend Rachel’s joy and zeal for life, and it inspired me to let go of my anxiety for perfection. I saw from my peer, Luke, his discipline and true enjoyment of learning, which led to my own excitement for school. I learned from my friend Estelle’s strength and honesty how to channel my own confidence and strength.
I could go on for pages and pages about how each individual within Immaculata has irrevocably changed me for the better.
I have not just learned and grown from the top-tier education and curriculum as a whole, but from every person that makes up the community of Immaculata Classical Academy. This place and its people have changed me for good, and I will miss it fiercely when I graduate.
At Immaculata, every kid is heard and loved
Kamille Martin
For most of my life, I have gone to public school. Then I came to Immaculata. This school was a very big change, and I would say that it had to do with the teachers, and especially with the community, which is one of the best things about Immaculata.
The community at Immaculata is very welcoming and caring. The teachers love what they are teaching and love the students. Whenever I had a problem with something, I could ask the teachers to help me with it, and they did whatever they could to help me.
I remember that one of my favorite things about going here was that all the teachers knew my name (whether it was for a good thing or not!), but it was definitely different. Having all the teachers know your name and say good morning to you makes you feel like you really belong. Immaculata does a great job of ensuring that every kid is heard and is loved.
One very unique thing I would say about Immaculata is also their faith. I’m not a Catholic, but whenever we have a theology lesson, it is very interesting and cool to see how much they love their faith — and how much they incorporate it in our everyday life in school, with prayer, the rosary and with Mass.
I can definitely say that my love for the school has grown a lot. Immaculata has made an impact in my life by giving me friends and a community that I will always remember and keep with me throughout my life.
Immaculata and the value of friendship
Thomas Prechtel
While considering the many years that I have spent as a student at Immaculata Classical Academy, there are many truly wonderful things that I could go on and on about.
One of these has been understanding the value of friendship, and really, how to be a good friend.
Each time that we say the “Our Father,” we plead with the Lord God to be merciful to us as we have been to others. With this comes a very certain truth: Just as God loves us, we are called to love others, and that means loving them as God Himself does. This is the essence of friendship.
How does one love as God? By following the example that He Himself sets. God gives us everything that we have, for He is the Creator. He also gives us His entire self in the Man, Jesus Christ. It took His desolation, agony, and excruciating death to show how far love would reach, and for us to understand His example.
The very tight and very Catholic community here has done much to help me understand this, and I would not trade it for the world. To love others, and sacrificially so, requires a beautiful and strong witness to bring it to fruition, and I will forever be indebted to the example set at Immaculata.
Our world is wandering further and further afield from this truth about friendship, but this is less than anyone in it can afford. We must cling to the words of Christ: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13)
