Blog Post #11: Bridge To The Present

Blog Post #11: Bridge To The Present

A Written Response By Lily Jeffs

1. What did you find interesting about the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame?

After being taught about the Sisters of Notre Dame, I learned many different interesting things related to their mission, history, and contributions to society. Specifically, I found it interesting that the Sisters of Notre Dame first began their journey of spreading Catholicism in Europe. Because of how influential their work was, they were later able to introduce Catholicism to those living in North America. I also found it interesting that the Sisters of Notre Dame worked directly with children that attracted many women to join them soon after. Because the Sisters of Notre Dame worked hard to try and bring new people to follow the Catholic faith, they were eventually able to establish Catholic schools, including NDB. I found it fascinating that without the Sisters of Notre Dame, I wouldn't be able to attend NDB and grow as a student both academically as well as spiritually. I ultimately really enjoyed learning more about the Sisters of Notre Dame and connecting this to high school, and am interested in discovering more about the history of our school in the near future. To illustrate this, an image is shown below of a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame assisting a female student with her work, similarly to how teachers in the modern era at NDB help their own students.

                                      ("ND Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur Office 1968") 

2. What is something that you heard from the Alumnae Panel that stuck with you and why?

There were many different things that I heard from the Alumnae Panel which stuck with me. Specifically, one part of the Alumnae Panel where each of the alumnae talked about them wishing they took part in more high school activities such as going to dances or football games related to myself. As a sophomore, I haven't ever attended a Notre Dame dance or other school activities, because either I don't feel excited to take part or none of my friends want to go with me. After hearing about how the alumnae regretted not being very involved with school activities, I now want to start going to more so I can meet new people and try something new. The Alumnae Panel ultimately taught me that I should always try something new in high school, and I should enjoy it while it lasts. They also taught me that I need to live in the moment and always acknowledge everything that I am being taught at NDB, because all of this will later benefit me once I am an adult. To illustrate this, an image is shown below of a cycle that relates to the Alumnae sharing what high school was like for them with us, in which as they spoke with us, we were able to learn more about themselves and school while also relating this to our own experiences.

("Mind Learning")

3. What does it mean to you to be a part of the Notre Dame Community?

Being a part of the Notre Dame Community allows me to grow closely with both my peers, teachers, and with my own faith. After becoming a student at NDB, I immediately felt supported, especially if I was feeling upset or stressed in school. As a current sophomore, the Notre Dame Community has helped me immensely with teaching me new, rigorous concepts, and growing me as a student and athlete. The Notre Dame Community has also introduced me to new people, including many that are currently my friends. Without the Notre Dame Community, I wouldn't enjoy high school as much and I wouldn't be able to perform well academically. It is ultimately a great privilege to attend NDB and to be a part of the Notre Dame Community. When the incoming freshmen begin high school next year, I want to help them transition into high school, similarly to how last year's seniors did with my freshmen class. To illustrate this, an image of two people shaking hands is shown that symbolizes how the Notre Dame Community works together to welcome everyone and establish unity within the school.

                                                                 ("Shaking Hands")

4. When you leave Notre Dame High School, what do you think are some values that will stay with you?

When I graduate from Notre Dame High School, there will be many different values that will stay with me as a continue to grow academically and into an adult. A specific value that will stay with me, is to always put all of my effort into my work. I also learned that I should always strive for the best, and never give up when wanting to reach my goals. Another moral that I will continue building upon after I leave NDB, is that everything happens for a reason. If something doesn't happen in the way that I would like it to, then I tell myself that something even better will happen in the near future to make up for this. One value from NDB that was incorporated throughout all four years of high school and relates to the theme of community, is to always know that there will always be people who love and support me, and that I will always be able to turn to them when I am having trouble in life. I ultimately learned many important morals so far as a sophomore at Notre Dame High School which I hope to increase and bring these with me once I graduate and continue working to accomplish my goals. To illustrate this, an image of my friends and I at Aquacades is shown below, in which all of us have learned similar values that we have been taught at NDB, and work hard to attain these as we continue high school.

(Image Owned By Me)

Works Cited

PatricksMercy. "ND Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur Office 1968." Flickr, Yahoo!, 17 Oct. 2014, 

             

               www.flickr.com/photos/65359853@N00/15366146159.

"Shaking Hands." Hawkesprojects.com, 8 Aug. 2015, hawkesprojects.com/shaking-hands-2/.

"Mind Learning." Benjamin Degen, benjamindegen.com/index.php/site/news/.

All other images are owned by me

Blog Post #10: Growth

Blog Post #10: Growth

A Written Response By Lily Jeffs

1. Which event that you learned about from the Church History textbook presentations did you find most interesting and why?

When reflecting on the Church History textbook presentations, the event that I found most interesting was Missions to North America. I didn't realize that Catholicism had been brought to North America only a few hundred years ago. I also didn't realize that Catholicism had a large European connection, and was specifically first followed by the Spanish and the French. I found it fascinating that one religion from areas thousands of miles away were able to spread to North America. As someone who lives in North America in the modern era, learning about Missions to North America has showed me how much of a major influence Catholicism has had on the world. This event has also showed me that Catholicism is one of society's most engaging and spiritual religions, and has shaped many peoples' lives and the occurrence of history as a whole. Missions to North America ultimately made me very curious about other aspects of how Catholicism came to be and what effect this religion will have on different cultures years later. To illustrate this, an image of a cross is shown below that acts as a renowned symbol of Catholicism and expresses the immense connection this religion has with God and the community.

                                                                           ("Cross")

2. Which person whom you learned about from the Church History textbook presentations did you find most interesting and why?

One person that I learned about from the Church History textbook presentations and found the most interesting was Thomas Aquinas. I found it fascinating that he was able to bring two very controversial subjects, science and religion, together. I also found it interesting that because of Thomas Aquinas' work, I am now able to learn about both science and religion in school hundreds of years later. As someone who thoroughly enjoys science, I admire that Thomas Aquinas was able to fight for what he believed in and was able to bring two very strong subjects together. Originally, I only knew of well known figures who helped contribute solely to the making of Catholicism. After learning about Thomas Aquinas, I now know about someone who worked in two contrasting fields. Thomas Aquinas has ultimately showed me that when I am passionate about something, I need to show others and fight for what I believe in. To illustrate this, an image is shown below of Thomas Aquinas who is holding a book that connects to his scholarly work in both religion and science.

                                                                ("Thomas Aquinas")

3. If you end up being known as an influential figure in history, what do you want to be remembered for?

If I ended up being known as an influential figure in history, I would want to be remembered as someone who paved the way for female sports medicine physicians working in male sports leagues. Currently, there are only a few female sports medicine physicians for professional male sports teams in the world. As someone who has the aspiration of having this career when I am older, I would not only want to take part in this job and help those on a sports team, but I would also want to help other females who want to do similar work to me. With this, I would also want to be an advocate who is able to change the pay rates between males and females in sports. Doing both of these things would transform how others perceive females taking part in professional athletics. This would also be helping the sports community across the globe, instead of just myself. I would ultimately want to be remembered and acknowledged for opening the doors for other females my age to work in an inclusive environment rather than in an area that is predominantly male. To illustrate this, an image is shown below of female physicians working together to help another patient that relates to my goal of changing the roles of male and female workers in a similar field.

          ("Harvard Study: Elderly Hospital Patients Live Longer, Do Better With Female Doctors")

4. How have you personally experienced growth (either mentally, emotionally or spiritually) after your own challenges in life?

I have personally experienced growth both mentally and physically after going through challenges in life. Specifically, I have grown as a soccer player. When I first began playing for the club team that I still currently play for, I always felt very nervous and even cried at times because I was afraid that I was going to play poorly and would upset my coach. With saying this, after playing for the team for over a year and improving my skills, instead of feeling anxious, I became confident. I began playing very well and scored over 10 goals, and have recently become captain. Controlling my emotions while playing have helped me become mentally stronger. Once I began 9th grade at NDB, I used this growth and experience from playing soccer to how I perform as a student. Within the first two months of school, I was very upset and stressed due to how much work I was being assigned and how much I was going to have to start studying to do well. Although I disliked school at first, once I became used to completing this work, I started to thoroughly enjoy school and started to feel an intellectual benefit because of how hard I was working. Both of these experiences have ultimately shaped the healthy, wise, and conscientious person that I am today, that I will always be improving upon as I get older. To illustrate this, a picture of me is shown below that was taken last summer which shows how much I have developed as a person, from the time I was born to the present.

                                                            Own Image Owned By Me

Works Cited

“Harvard Study: Elderly Hospital Patients Live Longer, Do Better With Female Doctors.”Harvard 

               

                 Study: Elderly Hospital Patients Live Longer, Do Better With Female Doctors | 

              

                CommonHealth, www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2016/12/19/harvard-female-physicians-

              

                outcomes.

Wilson, Dottie. “Cross.” Pinterest, 27 Apr. 2014, www.pinterest.com/pin/500251471081768601/.

“Thomas Aquinas.” Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, www.iep.utm.edu/aquinas/.

All other images are owned by me