The traditions might be my favorite thing about going to Xavier. Kairos and other retreats, Catholic schools week, Black and Gold spirit rallies, and even JUG (Justice under God) are all part of the Xavier identity. Knowing that what I do links me to hundreds, if not thousands of other students is a blessing. When I graduate, I’ll have a treasure trove of memories of the special things we did, and I’ll have a whole vocabulary- men and women for others, cura personalis, discernment, and the ever-present AMDG- to prove where I came from.
But the other thing about tradition at Xavier is that every day is a new opportunity to make it. Because we’re so new, if you want to do something, you’re bound to have the honor of being the first to try it. Want to start a robotics club? Sure! School record in the shot-put? It’s yours! There’s so much freedom to create, explore, and go out of your comfort zone. I know that it’s special. “Only at Xavier” is something that students say a lot, often with a smirk or an exasperated sigh, but only at Xavier do football players, class clowns, cheerleaders, and gamers get together to put on the spring musical; only at Xavier do you have the chance to eat lunch with your teachers and your friends (who you never would know otherwise); only at Xavier can Toms shoes, ukulele playing, and hug attacks be fads- the list goes on.
Only at Xavier have I felt such a wealth of love, such a thirst for justice, such a challenge to reach the magis. The Jesuits have a bunch of special lingo, and the magis refers to ever-increasing ‘more’ that we are called to strive for in God’s service. It’s not doing more things or getting more A’s, though. It’s pouring your whole being into everything that you do. At Xavier, I do a lot, but when I come home tired, it’s a good tired. I’m proud and happy to do everything I can for my school.
After all, it’s done everything for me. My teachers and classmates are my family, the halls and the classrooms are my home. I know, without a doubt, that I am who I am today because of Xavier.