Blog Post #12

Blog Post #12- Notre Dame Community

1. What did you find interesting about the history of the Sisters of Notre Dame?
   I thought it was interesting that the Sisters left behind their lives and families in Europe to establish schools in the US. This was interesting to me because it showed their dedication to underserved people and their bravery. I also thought it was interesting that St Julie and Francoise were so resilient. They were kicked out of their diocese and they continued with their journey and pursued their goals.
2. What is something that you heard from the Alumnae Panel that stuck with you 
   and why?
   There were a few things that I thought were interesting that the Alumnae touched on. A particularly significant one was their opinions on the strictness of the dress code. They said that they felt that guidelines would be present wherever we go, and that we should accept it and understand the rules as they currently are. They went on to say leggings could make male teachers feel uncomfortable. In my opinion, the dress code is relatively reasonable, other than a few elements, the most prominent being the ban on leggings. The aforementioned comment really struck me because it went against the very philosophy of Notre Dame to empower women. I do not think it is very empowering when we as young women get reduced to sexual objects who would possibly make the male members of our community uncomfortable. The way I see it, the male teachers are here to teach, just as the female teachers are. It seems incredibly sexist to immediately give male teachers the benefit of the doubt at an all-girls school where young women and our empowerment should be the focus, not the comfort of male teachers who should not be looking anyway. I think that it is more reasonable if the ban is due to trying to have students adhere their dress to the business of school, however, in my experience this does not seem to be the real reason.
3. What does it mean to you to be a part of the Notre Dame Community?
   For me, it means connecting with my friends, teachers, and coaches as well as participating in school events. I feel that even in just my two years of being at Notre Dame, I have integrated well into the community and formed connections with incredibly intelligent and kind people. I feel that the NDB community is a very welcoming place and I am happy to be a part of it. It is an especially comfortable place to be because of the support that my coaches, friends, and teachers provide me with on a daily basis.
4. When you leave Notre Dame High School, what do you think are some values that will stay with you?

When I leave NDHS, I will carry the values of respect, empowerment, and kindness. In my experience, these values have been of the utmost importance. Without them it is hard to form a genuine and compassionate community of like-minded people. Notre Dame has taught me a lot and I hope to continue to grow as a person in my next two years.

The Power of "Satsang" or Community. Digital image. Old Town Yoga. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.oldtownyoga.com/the-power-of-satsang-or-community/>.