Editor’s note: The Daily Press welcomes and publishes columns from local students. Today’s column is by Piper Burrows, senior at Holy Name High School – A Chesterton Academy.

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My daily life is far from average. I’m a senior at Holy Name High School – A Chesterton Academy. Going to a small Catholic school gives me a unique experience, but it is a more fulfilling endeavor than I ever imagined.

When I first started going to the high school, my sophomore year and the year of its grand reopening, I wasn’t thrilled. I missed my friends, and the classes seemed weird, I mean we didn’t use numbers during math class that first year. There were only twelve kids in the whole high school, we were always compared to the twelve disciples. The freshman and sophomore classes were combined, and most of my senior classes are still with the juniors. I didn’t immediately click with anyone there, but now we are all very close. I guess because we are such a small class, everyone gets along.

Ever since that late August morning three years ago, my daily school life has been like this: Gather in the lyceum room for convocation. Go to daily Mass. Have a large variety of classes that all seem to intertwine forming some divine image. Don’t worry, we get plenty of downtime too. There are many opportunities to practice ping pong, shoot pool, football, or reading a book on the couch (my personal favorite).

As you can tell, it’s certainly a unique experience, but how is it fulfilling? For starters daily Mass and a constant focus on God has immensely helped me grow in my Catholic Faith. With a stronger faith comes way less stress. I don’t have to worry about classes or colleges, because it’s all up to the Big Man upstairs. And even when I inevitably worry, there is a strong community to lean on, full of Catholic and non-Catholic friends.

Not only is it fulfilling for being Catholic, but also by the classes. We are rarely told to memorize things, but taught to understand them. We read the classics and learn about the ancients, which allows us to see how humans perceived things so long ago.

I am really thankful that this is my daily life. Focusing on God, and trying to understand the important concepts that education has to offer. It’s definitely not what I imagined as my high school career, but I have no regrets about this unique high school life.