Dear Archbishop Carroll,
I am not even sure where to begin. This school as a whole has done so much for me in the short three years I have been here. I have felt so many emotions towards this school. I am so happy to say it is all positive. This school was the solution to my problems at one of the absolute lowest points in my life. When I was at rock bottom, the Carroll community was there for me. This school has found a way to give me a real high school experience that I thought I would never get. This school helped me become the adult I am today and has taught me so many valuable skills. From its students, staff, athletics programs and so much more, Carroll gave me a place to call home when I thought I would never have one.
For my entire life up until the first quarter of my sophomore year, I attended a public school district. My experience at these schools was always fine but was lacking something. Even in elementary school, I felt like I was in a judgmental and overall hard social community. This made it very hard to make friends. My parents always reassured me that it was a maturity thing and my peers would grow out of it. They unfortunately were mistaken. In middle school is where the problems began. My school was one giant clique. The majority of people in that clique were really bad people. Anyone who was not in that clique was an outcast and was bullied for it. I was one of those outcasts. I was bullied like any kid was. While I still had a solid group of friends, it got to a bad point. It kept getting worse and worse and the adults who were supposed to have my back and protect me were leaving me out to dry. I was not even sure why I was being bullied. I tried everything to just fit in and stay out of it. Sadly, no matter what I did, I was always the punching bag. In high school is where it got to the point where I could not take it. The bullying turned from verbal to physical in a matter of a year. I was so scared to go to school each day in fear that I would get beat up for just existing. Even in my sports, hockey and lacrosse, the high school teams treated me the exact same way. My school felt more like a prison than a school. My family moved to this neighborhood so I could be safer. In reality I was at way more risk of getting hurt. After one day sophomore year, I was followed home by a large group of kids and walked into the door with a black eye that I had received for standing up myself. I was done. I needed a new environment.
I wanted to go somewhere where I knew absolutely no one — a place where I can leave everyone behind and get a fresh start. I had no clue Carroll existed, so after I shadowed, I gave it a try. It was definitely an adjustment. I had never gone to a Catholic school even though my father had when he was younger. Getting used to the uniforms, the new traditions and overall a different structure was a challenge. However, I kept with it. I am so happy that I did. I made some amazing friends and found my group of people who care about me. I was able to blend in with a more mature and forgiving group. I was welcomed by a staff who defends their students and actually cares about them. I was taught by some teachers (like Mrs. Gimpel) who I will be thankful for as life goes on. I was welcomed on to a hockey team that helped me be a part of a family that prepared me to live out my dream and play in college. I was able to take classes that helped me work with the kids in St. Katherine’s. This helped me find my skill in working with kids with disabilities. I finally was attending a normal high school and not a school that is in the news every week for things more horrible than the last. People may complain about the minor inconveniences of Carroll. However, I know how bad it can really be. I am so thankful for the good and the bad of this amazing school. Thank you for everything, Archbishop Carroll.
Sincerely,
Domenic Terruso
