Dear Archbishop Carroll,

I first want to start this hard goodbye off by saying thank you. Thank you for everything you have given me, as in, amazing teachers, memories, and life long friendships. Thank you for being so welcoming to me and my fellow Hallahan classmates. Since the first day of school, Carroll has made sure we felt comfortable coming to a new school. The Carroll community took me into their sports teams as well. I loved celebrating victories with the Carroll community and knowing they were there for the losses. When days were hard, Carroll was still there making me enjoy my time. I am very appreciative of when they let us Hallahan girls still wear out Hallahan sweaters. Even though I was very upset dealing with my school closing, I wouldn’t change a thing.

With everything Carroll has brought, one of my favorite things are the memories. I have only attended Carroll for two school years, but I have made almost too many memories. My first one was when I was touring the school right before junior year, and the tour guide thought I was a freshman. I also love all the memories I made with the two sport teams I joined.

Carroll every day is like a movie. There is always something going on. Carroll has brought me not just little memories, but memories that I will remember forever. Every day I come home with another story to tell my friends who don’t attend Carroll. Even in English class, I have spent so many times there not being able to stop laughing. I love the joy that the Carroll community expresses every day. Thank you, Carroll, for having me wake up excited to go to school.

I will like to end this goodbye by saying thank you for my life long friendships. I remember on the first day of school thinking I will never make any friends. I remember being so scared that all the “popular” kids will never talk to me. Little did I know that some of those people will be my closest friends. I am so happy to have met these amazing people that will forever be in my life.

Goodbye, Carroll. I wouldn’t change a thing.

Emilia Straface