Senior Reflections: Always a Monarch

From socially distanced gatherings with friends to over a year of distance learning, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncommon challenges for each and every one of us. Although Archbishop Mitty’s seniors could view these obstacles as an unfair ending to their high school careers, they have decided to take a different perspective.

May 11, 2021

From socially distanced gatherings with friends to over a year of distance learning, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncommon challenges for each and every one of us. Although Archbishop Mitty’s seniors could view these obstacles as an unfair ending to their high school careers, they have decided to take a different perspective. Here are some reflections from seniors on their time at Mitty and this unique past year:

 

Q: Are there any specific liturgical themes that you have seen reflected across your time at Mitty?


Ines Ben Makhlouf – “There was a specific line from our liturgical theme song freshman year, ‘Love is the Evidence,’ that I kept remembering throughout the pandemic: ‘We need hands that are open, reaching out to broken hearts.’ Not only was it my favorite part of the song, but it reminded me of the importance of staying connected with both the people around me and the Mitty community as a whole. Even if I was tired and really didn’t feel like talking to anyone that day, I knew that reaching out to a friend and checking on them while we were all self-isolating could really make an impact.” 

 

Q: What do you appreciate about Mitty that you would not have realized without this pandemic?


Erica Cardozo and fellow seniors decorate pumpkins together as part of Life Corps

Erica Cardozo – “When I first came on campus as a freshman, I genuinely thought Mitty’s campus was so big that 10 minutes wouldn’t be enough time to get between classes. By the second week of freshman year, I figured out that it wasn’t actually that big; having a campus of Mitty’s size actually allowed me to see more people on my walk between classes. I loved that I could speak to multiple friends and say hi to teachers in that 10 minute period, and that’s something I’ve missed a lot during online school.”

Emilie-Anne Roxas “Do you realize that the snack shack is now closed due to the pandemic? The audacity! I loved those terribly tasty neon nachos and the frozen lemonade! But seriously, there are certain unofficial Mitty rites of passage and experiences that many of the classes missed out on this year. The sophomores never had the chance to get their butts frozen on the auditorium floor (lucky for them, I guess). The freshmen never got to run through dozens of arms into the gym during orientation. There’s no cutting the cafeteria line, no Dr. Scott singing ‘Sweet Caroline’ during karaoke, no ‘Where’s the Party’ cheer—the devil’s in the details. We never got to see those little moments this year, which is sad. But it makes me all the more thankful I got those moments when I had them.”

 

Q: What is one piece of advice that you would share with underclassmen?


Matthew Beymer stands in from of the Mitty sign at the beginning of his senior year.

Matthew Beymer – “Stop letting yourself compare your academic and extracurricular trajectories to those of your peers. It can be tempting to compare yourself with others on a regular basis, but resisting this urge is what will allow you to discover your true passions at Mitty. When I finally understood this lesson, I became so much more confident in my skills and my sense of self. In doing this, you can finally take the reins of your Mitty career and allow it to play out much more naturally.”

 

Q: What will you miss most about Mitty?


Vincent Micallef – Despite the ongoing pandemic, my answer to the question ‘What will you miss most about Mitty?’ happens to be the same as most seniors, both current and past. I’ll miss the people most. Whether it be my friends or teachers, ever since my first day on campus at Mitty I have been welcomed with open arms by many. It will be hard to move on from the teachers who inspire me to do my best, and I dread seeing my peers move away and disperse, though I’m beyond happy for their successes.” 

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