I have had the blessing of being able to attend a Catholic school since kindergarten.

This

opportunity has helped me become even closer to my faith. Teachers such as Ms. Islas, Coach

Blair, and Mr. Barragan have helped throughout my faith journey. Ms. Islas has helped me

understand how service is a big part of our faith. Whether it’s her sharing stories and experiences

she’s had while serving, or telling us how important it is to help those in need. Coach Blair is

always talking to us about our morals. These discussions help me understand and figure out

where I stand in society’s debates. They help me find out who I really am and prepare me for

high school. Mr. Barragan’s life stories are always very interesting. Whether they’re about his

time with the military or his time at school they all have a good message in them. Their teaching

goes beyond textbooks; they show me how to become a better person.

In my nine years at St. Charles I have learned how to experience God in various ways.

Having my First Reconciliation was a great experience for me. I still remember crying before I

while thinking of all the times I have sinned. I had so much guilt built up from all the times I was

wrong. I was embarrassed to tell the priest my sins. I felt the guilt pushing down on me as if I

was carrying my cross for the first time. Mrs. Granberg helped me calm down and I had my

confession with Fr. Jim. When I finished, I felt like a new person. Only now do I realize that this

experience helped me understand that there is beauty in the mercy that God shows us.

Something that I never forgot was my brother telling me that retreat was better than 6th

Grade Camp. He was not wrong. Retreat was an experience that I will never forget. Being in a

cabin with all the boys helped me see them as my brothers. Talking to the people in my group

and freeing the caged part of myself by opening up to them and telling them about my struggles
was a great experience that gave me a new perspective on things. I began to see God in my

classmates through their struggles. I realized that we all have to carry our crosses on a daily

basis. We all have our struggles that we carry on our shoulders. After retreat, I became closer to

all my classmates, not just my normal group of friends. I have realized that they are all like

family to me. We do have our disagreements, but no family is perfect. At the end of the day, I

spend the same amount of time with them than with my family at home. Through this new

perspective, I experience God on a daily basis. I see the beauty in the moments where we laugh

together. Now that the year is coming to an end, I am cherishing every moment because we are

never going to be together as classmates after this year.

After nine years full of beautiful experiences at St. Charles, my faith has only gotten

stronger. I truly believe that I am on the right path towards heaven. With the help of not only my

teachers, but most importantly my parents, I have a very strong belief in my faith. I am proud of

the person that I have become. If it wasn’t for my dad, my faith journey would be completely

different. He is my go-to person when I have questions or I just have some things to get off my

chest. When I ask him a question, he always answers without sugarcoating. He tells me when

I’m right, and he is not afraid to tell me when I’m wrong. He always wants the best for me and

makes the sacrifice of sometimes going to mass twice on Sundays just so he can take me at the

time that I want to go. Not only is he a great example in faith, but also as a dad. He is the reason

I want to be a dad when I grow up. I want to give to my kids the gifts that he has given to my

brother and I. He is the perfect example of what a great dad does. His main objective is to get me

to heaven. My dad is like the candle that guides me through the darkness and negativity of the

world.
 I want to be an example to other teenagers that think that religion isn’t important. I want

to show them that it is never too early to start practicing their faith. I want to be a role-model to

all the people that feel like they are missing something in their life. I want to show them that

faith will get them through anything just like it does to me. Whether it’s losing a family member,

messing up a friendship, or dealing with struggles and conflict in a family, my faith has always

pushed me through all the obstacles. I see my faith as my superpower. It gives me the ability to

face obstacles with confidence and certainty. My faith has helped me fix friendships through the

forgiveness that I find so valuable and beautiful. I have been able to find the rare light in

moments of darkness, because that is the reason that I am religious person in the first place. My

faith has helped me find beauty in losing my loved ones. It has helped me understand that I need

to keep praying for those I have lost. I now see the beauty in mourning with others who have lost

someone as well. I’m never going to forget when I mourned with my classmates on Dia de Los

Muertos. We all remembered the people that we lost. Now I am not afraid to show when I am

sad. That day, I wasn’t afraid or embarrassed to cry over the loss of my grandfather and uncle. I

embraced my emotions and let them out. Through my faith I have the courage to try new things.

Faith is the most valuable gift that can be given. I hope to give that gift to others through the way

I live.