Dear Carroll,
As my time here comes to an end, I can’t help but look back on how I’ve bettered myself across my four years. I remember September 2020, when I first arrived on Carroll’s campus as an incoming freshman. I was afraid to reach out and make new connections, which is something that held true throughout my freshman year. High school is what you make of it, so I urge those who feel the same way to get involved. Even if it’s something as simple as talking to someone new, becoming closer in the Carroll community is a rewarding experience.
To Carroll soccer, thank you for watching me grow from a little boy into a senior in what felt like no time. I think back to my first game, a 2-1 overtime loss to Monsignor Bonner at their field, a game where I was incredibly nervous, starting as a freshman against players who towered over me. Due to my reluctance to speak to my teammates that season, I didn’t feel fully immersed in the team.
My sophomore year was when we started to become a family. Those bus rides are some of my fondest memories from the program. This carried through my junior and senior seasons, where my final game was a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Lansdale Catholic, a loss that eliminated us from playoff contention. I remember walking off the field for the last time, where reality set in that I’d never play with our group ever again. On the last bus ride, we reminisced on jokes across the years, realizing how far we’d come. While we were not the most successful squad, we created memories that last a lifetime, like overcoming Saint Joseph’s Prep on our senior night in an upset victory.
My biggest takeaway from my time at Carroll is to simply get involved. In my senior year, I decided to join the tennis team in the spring. This decision ended up being one of the most fulfilling activities I have participated in at Carroll. I was relatively new to the sport and received nothing but support and encouragement from my teammates. I always looked forward to practice, hoping to improve day by day.
To anybody who feels the same way, I encourage you to try new things here at Carroll and leave your comfort zone, because far sooner than you realize, you will be a senior, reminiscing about your high school experience. So go to that dance, try out for that sport, or join that club, because you never know what opportunities will come your way.
Jack Sarne
