Photo Provided by Addison Felix’26

We are soaking up the last moments of senior year.

I once stood in front of Rosary, unaware of how it would change my life, but now it is time to walk these halls once more, this time for graduation. Now, in my final week at Rosary, days before graduation, I can reflect back on my past three years here. Three years? Yes, I transferred to Rosary after my freshman year, which was one of the best choices I have made in my life. Rosary has allowed me to be the leader, student and person I am today, and as I look back on my experiences, I am filled with gratitude. 

Rosary is unique from any other school I have attended– all-girls and Catholic– but that is what has made it so special. I was raised Catholic my whole life, but never attended a Catholic school. Instead, I went to a small, private, non-religious school from preschool through freshman year. The thought of going to an all-girls school would have been enough to steer me away any other year, but once I looked further into what it truly means, my energy shifted. It excited me to be in an all-girls environment fueled by the creativity of others and truly growing sisterhood every day. Rosary’s core values are: sisterhood, faith, community and service. Each of these has impacted my high school experience and made me grateful for my Rosary experience.

Sisterhood is one of the unique traits of Rosary that sets it apart from other schools. Rosary is a tight-knit community, and you can get to know everyone, which means you can grow even stronger relationships with each other. Since it is an all-girls school, it fosters sisterhood in every action we take. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming, but this environment has allowed me to thrive. Sitting in all-girls classes and being surrounded by this environment on campus has helped shape who I am now. High school comes with the pressure to do well academically, excel in sports and still maintain a social life. I truly felt this stress during my first year at Rosary because I threw myself into anything I could. But the bonds I made along the way through each different activity have stuck with me and filled my high school experience. Sisterhood has made me feel a part of a larger community and given me the chance to make lasting friendships that I can take with me for the rest of my life. 

Rosary’s traditions initially sparked my excitement when I began learning about the school. Red & Gold, Rosary Day and Kairos were only a few of the traditions I knew little about, only that I would love them. I was met with Rosary Day first, watching the ceremony and going to Disneyland with my friends. This was one of the first experiences where I felt secure in my choice and knew this school was the place for me. Red & Gold was another tradition that was filled with new emotions and experiences that I will carry with me forever. For everyone at Rosary, we know it is an experience you cannot put into words, and to truly understand it, you need to experience it. It creates another special bond with your sisters to cherish and look back on, and also gives the opportunity to meet new people. I look back on Red & Gold with so much love, even though I have a losing record of 1-2. I will cherish the win and each dance, costume, finale and experience that came with me through pictures and memories. Lastly, Kairos was a retreat I cannot recommend more to any senior, and it was a great way to reflect and connect with my friends and welcome new people into my life. These traditions have impacted me in more ways than I can express, and each has given me unforgettable experiences.

Another one of Rosary’s core values is faith. Faith has always been in my life, but I have strengthened my faith in more ways than one. Having prayer in the morning, before lunch and after school was a little overwhelming, but I grew to appreciate it. Although Mass is pretty universal in structure, the Rosary Mass is special, and we sing most parts. Faith is a crucial component at school that centers us each day and grounds us in challenging times. Sharing faith with friends next to you is another special trait unique to Rosary – from Adoration to getting ashes together on Ash Wednesday – it is just another example of how impactful faith is. During Mass and times of prayer, you can always rely and lean on your sisters. In my time at Rosary, I have grown my faith and become more confident in my relationship with God and others.

Another large part of my life at Rosary has been athletics. During my time, I have been a part of the indoor volleyball team and the beach volleyball team. These teams gave me lasting friendships and people I will miss when I am away at college. One of my friends, Aurora Ortuno ‘26, I knew from volleyball before I came to Rosary, but really became close with her through athletics and in the classroom. She was one of the first people to welcome me to Rosary and show me the ropes before fully diving in. The sleepovers, games and bus rides will stay with me and continue bringing a smile to my face. Beach volleyball is a relatively new sport to high schools, and I am so grateful it is a part of Rosary’s athletic program. Getting to visit and play at the beach each week in spring brought me so much joy and was one of my favorite experiences. I met another one of my best friends, Tatyana Maldonado ‘27, through beach volleyball and shared a season with her as my beach partner. She made my senior year so much more memorable and I am so grateful to have shared these events with her. Volleyball has been a large chapter in my life, and Rosary helped me continue my love for the sport and compete alongside my friends.

Two more aspects that shaped my Rosary experience were leadership and academics. Rosary leadership spans over several activities, such as ASB and the leadership pathway. These programs have given me more opportunities to be involved at school and make a difference for others. Another large part of my Rosary experience has been academics. Academics have challenged me and definitely put me through struggles, but it has only prepared me for my life in college. The difficult times in academics were rewarding, though, and I get the opportunity to spend the next four years at my dream school, New York University (NYU). The teachers have been supportive, and I cannot give enough love to my counselor Mrs. Lee. Of course, I have to give another shoutout to our Journalism teacher, Ms. B ‘16, who the staff can not thank enough for giving us a great senior year. 

Looking back on my time at Rosary, I am filled with gratitude and a bittersweet feeling. High school is a whirlwind of emotions and experiences, but I am so glad to have shared it with a special group of people. Although my time in high school is over, I can reflect that I made the most of my time and spent each day with a special purpose. Each activity I participated in became a larger part of my year and created memories I hold on to. Now, I can close the door on my chapter at Rosary, but I know it has more than prepared me for my next steps away at college.