SBA First Impressions: Through the Lens of a Newcomer

First day of school. You could imagine stepping into the halls of an unfamiliar building and finding yourself in the midst of all the chattering and chaos. It was a foreign atmosphere I had little time to adjust to. And just as I was pondering where to go next, the trumpet notes of “William Tell Overture” sounded through the PA system, sending me scrambling for my homeroom. This was a good summary for my beginnings at SBA, not as a freshman, but instead as a brand new eleventh grader looking to navigate my life at a new school again.

As I gradually settled into the school, I actively looked for ways to involve myself in the school community to accustom myself with this new environment. It couldn’t be more convenient the atrium hosted the school clubs fair the very next week, which provided me a chance to contribute to SBA in a fun and meaningful way. The fair garnered much interest from the student body, and to me, it was an excellent resource to get to know the behind- the- scenes workings that took place at school. I was amazed by the volume and diversity of extracurriculars offered, ranging from athletics to niche clubs, and almost guaranteed to suit everyone’s interests. I jumped at the opportunity and signed up for four different clubs, one of which was The Orator, and so my school year officially sprang into action.

As someone who grew up attending non-religious public schools, I was oblivious to how Catholic schools are run. But during my first weeks here, I was quick to notice the role religion played in the SBA’s culture. The morning and afternoon prayers gave me insights as to how Catholics pray, in contrast to the Protestant way that I was taught from a young age. But the most profound moment came when I attended Mass for the first time, and admittedly, I had little knowledge of the Catholic faith and its rituals prior to joining the school. I took in the sounds and sights of students singing hymns in unison, and watched as they received the offerings of the Holy Communion. It was then when I realized the significance that Catholicism held at SBA. It was a representation of joint values and it built a sense of community among everyone at the school. An eye-opening experience indeed.

This largely summed up my first month at SBA, where I had the privilege of meeting new people, and kickstarted my new life at this school for the final two years of secondary education. I hope to feel more integrated into the school community in the months to come, and make lasting memories here.