Literary and Art Magazine of Notre Dame School
Issue 10 • Spring 2015
3/12/15 3:20 PM
MISSION
Marta MaKatie Ionescu ’15atie
Notre Dame School of Manhattan offers a Catholic education for young women in the tradition of Anne de Xainctonge. Inspired by this 17th century pioneer in women’s education, Notre Dame promotes academic excellence for girls, an awareness of God in their lives and engagement in the world around them. At Notre Dame in the 21st century, the school’s small, nurturing environment encourages each student to be open to personal and intellectual growth. The rich cultural, racial and ethnic mosaic of Notre Dame’s community and its urban location enhance global awareness. A challenging curriculum prepares talented young women for college and for lives of leadership and service.
Words of Gratitude This publication celebrates the creative and promising work of the students of Notre Dame School. It manifests Conversatio, the heartfelt exchange of ideas so valued by Anne de Xainctonge, our founder. Gratitude goes to the faculty members who draw out and facilitate the students’ wonderful work and to all who helped bring this project to fruition. Special thanks to our art teacher, Ms. Katie Walters, and our moderator, Mr. Kevin McDonald. Cover artwork by Maura O’Halloran ’15
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Nicole Rodriguez ’18
Legacy Legacies are like people — complicated. This year at Notre Dame, known to us as Chez Nous, we are investigating the theme of “Legacy” and, as you’ll see from the writing in this year’s Conversatio, there are as many legacies as there are people. We are influenced by the legacy left by others and then we take their legacy and make it our own, influencing others in new ways. Sometimes they are great, big, profound ways —sometimes we influence others in small, seemingly meaningless, but no less profound ways. As you read through the delightful writing of our students, take a moment to reflect on your own legacy; as the girls have discovered, we all have one, whether we are conscious of it or not. Enjoy! Kevin McDonald, Religion Department
The Marks That We Make This year’s theme of “Legacy” was certainly a great way to start the year in the art room, as art is a visual documentation of the things that we think, and the physical marks that we leave behind. Notre Dame students thought about the legacy that one leaves behind when creating art, and they created an oil pastel etching of the legacy that they would like to leave at Notre Dame. While the freshman considered their future years at ND, the Advanced Studio Art class dove into the present, and created an imaginary landscape of their daydreams. Many of their landscapes involved thoughts of college and hopes for the future. Each Advanced Studio Art student investigated her identity and created works of art that represent her name. The collages, watercolors and paper sculptures all involved various kinds of mark making and design techniques, such as balance, rhythm, focal point and color schemes. We learn these new techniques so that we can develop an artistic voice that speaks to our legacy and the world around us. Katie Walters, Art Department
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Table of Contents 1. Ignatian Solidarity Network Teach-In for Justice (page 3) Morgan Fields, Kimberly Cruz 2. Family Legacy (page 8) Julia Betancourt, Haja Sankoh, Sara Junior, Isabella Frasca, Caitlin Daly, Sophia Schaedle, Sarah Okwuoha, Sophia Bertran, Nicole La Greca, Magdalena Dunmar 3. Personal Legacy (page 25) Fanessa de la Rosa, Kathleen Valonis, Stephanie Licciardi, Emily Uruchima, Sabrina Perez, Gianna Gemelli, Rianne Pyle, Sabrina Limchayseng 4. Artistic Legacy (page 39) Kauribel Javier, Courtney Gordon, Princess Gordon 5. Cultural Legacy (page 45) Deirdre O’Donnell, Maria Javier, Kelly Doyle, Martyna Mroziewska
Kyanna Johnson ’15
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Ignatian Solidarity Network Teach-In for Justice This year, several students and faculty members from Notre Dame School took part in the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice (IFTFJ). This annual event held in Washington, D.C. serves to join together the many high schools and colleges that share a connection to the Jesuit tradition. Part of this tradition is the fight for social justice. One of the focuses of this year’s meeting was to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador. These men and women exemplified what it means to give one’s life for others. With the martyrs’ lives providing a framework, students learned about many of the social, economic and environmental injustices taking place throughout the world and were taught methods of addressing these issues through activism on a local, state and national level. With more than 1,500 participants from around the country and the world, the IFTFJ was a memorable and uplifting experience for the students and the chaperones alike. We hope that our first trip to the IFTFJ will be one more step on the long path toward social activism and engagement here at Notre Dame. Kevin McDonald Religion Department
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Siobhan Pender ’18
Justice and Taxes – Not a Typical Teenage Weekend The weekend of Nov. 15 I traveled with Sr. Virginia, Mr. McDonald, Mr. Haller and seven other students from Notre Dame to Washington, D.C. for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. This event drew high school and college students from across the country and internationally. We went there to honor the 25th anniversary of the Jesuit Martyrs in El Salvador and to learn, discuss and educate ourselves on the injustices that face our world today. The convention was absolutely amazing! As we listened to keynote speakers, our hearts were made heavy learning about all the suffering and injustice in the world. But our heavy hearts were also given hope — I realized that feeling sorry for suffering people will not create justice, but giving those people a voice and a helping hand may promote a more just society. After the speakers’ presentations, there were “break-out sessions” where small groups gathered for discussions on various subjects associated with justice. My friend Emilia and I decided to go to a talk about taxes. I know — sounds like a weird choice. Emilia and I were a bit skeptical about attending the session ourselves. We don’t really know anything about taxes and were scared it would be as boring as it sounds. But once we sat down and began to listen to our two speakers, we realized we had made the right choice. As we learned about the tax system in America, our jaws dropped! Here are three shocking facts we learned: • • •
One percent of Americans hold 40% of the nation’s wealth. The third wealthiest man in the world, Warren Buffet, pays fewer taxes than most of the people who work for him. The average worker will make in one month what the C.E.O. of a company will make in one hour.
This presentation hit me hard because I realized that there is real injustice in our country. We learned how we can try to correct these inequities, how we can help by engaging our local, state and national governments on the issues we think are important. Later on that weekend we also learned how to secure a meeting with a senator and strategized about what to say once we were in a meeting. The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice was truly a life changing experience and its legacy of empowering youth will live on inside me. After attending the event, I realized the power I have as an individual. It truly made me want to branch out and join organizations that help our world and even our local community. The event empowered me to do more and be more, both of which I will strive to do for the rest of my life. I truly hope I can attend the conference again next year. Morgan Fields ’17
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Mercy De La Cruz ’16
Dorian Ferrer ’16
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Abandoned Love This fall, I went on a trip with some members of the school community to the The Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice. This became much more than a class trip. For me, it was a stepping stone — the experience transformed me. By participating in seminars and meeting inspirational speakers, I feel more like myself than ever before. The conference included a memorial for the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her teenage daughter who were martyred in El Salvador in 1989. In the seminars, we learned about how, even today, people are martyred for their beliefs. This reminded me of how blessed I am to practice my religion freely. For me, the most memorable part of the weekend was listening to Robert Cronkleton. Robert was born in Vietnam 19 years ago. His mother knew that living in poverty in Ho Chi Minh City in Communist Vietnam was dangerous and that her son would have no opportunity to succeed in life. In the face of that reality, she decided to abandon her infant son on the steps of a Catholic church. When first hearing this story, I was struck by the fact that this boy’s mother had failed him. She would never see him grow up. How could a mother abandon her son like that? Why didn’t she fight for her family? But in the face of questions like these, Robert has been able to see his mother’s actions as truly loving and particularly maternal. By leaving him on the church steps, she gave him a great gift. Robert was eventually adopted by a loving American family, who raised him as a Catholic. He embraced his faith and is currently attending a Jesuit university. Without his mother’s great sacrifice, Robert wouldn’t have become the person he has grown to be. The Teach-In allowed me to meet Robert personally and get to know him as a young man of good will and humility. He remains with me in my heart, especially on hard days, when I find many reasons to be upset. At those times, I think of his struggles. If Robert can find happiness in his life, I know that I, too, can find happiness. This knowledge allows me to turn my bad days into better days. This is the legacy that I strive to leave behind for my Notre Dame sisters: No matter what goes wrong throughout your day, week, or year — even if you feel like the world is crashing down on you — find a little moment of joy and share that with others. We never know what someone else has been through, and the joy you share can go a long way toward helping both of you. Kimberly Cruz ’16
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Family Legacy
Maura O’Halloran ’15
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Checkmate Mate Two Cuban men sit down at a table and set up 32 figures into four rows of eight on a board with 64 squares, alternating black and white. Two rows of pieces are white, two rows are black. José Raúl Capablanca, a world chess champion, looked at the other man intently as they were about to play an ancient Indian game. Roger Themistocles Betancourt picked up the pawn that stood in front of the king and moved it two spaces forward. Jose mirrored Roger’s move. Roger picked up the pawn in front of the white king and threatened Jose’s pawn. Jose moved a knight to protect his pawn. As the battle raged on, Jose and Roger moved pieces back and forth to attack the enemy. After an intense game, Roger, unfortunately, was left defeated. That one setback didn’t stop him, however. In the early 1960s, Roger sat down with his youngest son, Rubén, and taught him the game he loved so much. Like his father, Rubén carried his father’s legacy and competed against many well-known and talented chess players. What Rubén loved most was the games with his father. Even when his papi got sick, Rubén still found time to play his father’s favorite game. One day in the 1980s Roger looked to Rubén and asked, “Will you play chess with me?” Rubén sat across the table from his father and sighed, “Papi, I would love to play, but tomorrow is my final exam. I need to pass this exam in order to graduate college. Could we play tomorrow?” Roger nodded and walked into the kitchen. When Rubén put his books down and walked into the kitchen after him, he saw his father having a stroke. Rubén took his father to the hospital, but it was too late. Roger passed away later that night. At the funeral, Rubén took the white king from his father’s chess set and slipped it into his father’s pocket. He gave his mother the white queen, kept the black king for himself, and gave the other pieces of Roger’s chess set to his family. He saved a few pieces for the children and grandchildren he hoped to have one day. In the early 2000s, Rubén sat with his young daughter and explained the game of chess to her. It felt strange, yet familiar, this game that he loved so much but hadn’t played since his father died. When he set up the pieces and looked into his daughter’s eyes, it was almost like introducing his daughter to the abuelo she would never meet. That day, he showed his daughter something. He had a box containing two black pawns and a black king. Rubén told his daughter the story of her grandfather, gave her one of the pawns, and then said to his little girl: “Julia, this is your piece. Keep it with you.” He also told her that he had pieces saved for her children. Even though she wasn’t yet 10 years old, Rubén’s daughter knew that this story, and her part in it, was something special. She imagined herself doing what her father and grandfather had done, playing against the world’s greatest chess players. Playing chess became Julia’s favorite tradition. Playing chess became my favorite tradition. Julia Betancourt ’17
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The Story of Bai Bareh and His Descendants Bai Bureh was a great ruler and military strategist who led the Temme uprising against the British Empire in Sierra Leone in 1898. He fought against the British because they were attempting to impose a “hut tax” on the local population, in effect charging them for the cost of building roads that would only benefit the British. Bai Bareh was successful in his mission; the “hut tax” was never levied. He left a huge legacy behind, especially for his hometown, Kasseh. His legacy is not only as a great warrior but also as a great father to his children, including my grandfather, Ibrahim Komboh Kamara. My grandfather became a member of the Sierra Leone parliament in the 1930s. He was instrumental in passing the Freedom of Information Bill. My great-grandfather and grandfather had political legacies but also personal ones. They inspired my mother to leave Sierra Leone when she was 17 and seek a life of even greater freedom and opportunity in America. A quote from the philosopher Herbert Spencer reminds me of my great-grandfather: “The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future.” My greatgrandpa truly embodied these words. As I sit and write, I think of him and how he always cared for his children and never forgot where he came from. The legacy of this wonderful man lives on in the stories, memories and lives of all the people he’s inspired — especially me.
Haja Sankoh ’17
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Clarissa Gordon ’15
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The Juniors of Hell’s Kitchen Hell’s Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood in Manhattan bordered by 34th Street to the south, 59th Street to the north, Eighth Avenue to the east, and the Hudson River to the west. Not only have I spent all seventeen years of my life in Hell’s Kitchen, but my family has called it home for generations. The Junior family has carved their legacy into the gritty streets of Midtown Manhattan, and has paved the way for future generations of Juniors to grow and create their own legacy in their beloved community. The story behind the naming of Hell’s Kitchen is lost to history, but many myths exist. One story recounts that two police officers were discussing the worst parts of the city and referred to one neighborhood as being so bad it was “hell on earth.” “Well,” the other replied, “if that’s hell, then Clinton must be hell’s kitchen.” It seemed an appropriate moniker for a part of town that was known for organized crime, gangsters and mysterious disappearances. Both my dad and mom grew up in this Hell’s Kitchen. My dad describes those days by recounting, “When the neighborhood was good it was really good, but when it was bad it was really bad.” In the ’70s and ’80s, crime was so pervasive that my dad and grandpa wouldn’t walk the streets at night without a pocket knife for protection. Despite this violence, my family persevered and continued to grow. In the past 17 years, Hell’s Kitchen has changed dramatically. Construction of modern apartment buildings has brought in new high-end shops and people from other parts of the city and the world. Gang activity is no longer the threat it used to be. My Hell’s Kitchen could be described as “safe” and “family-friendly” — a far cry from the “hell on earth” it used to be. As I walk the streets of my ancestors, I don’t need to carry a pocket knife. Much has changed. But it’s heartwarming to know that there are some things that remain the same. I walk by some of the same places that my parents and grandparents passed when they were my age. My relatives hung out in the playgrounds on 50th Street, and DeWitt Clinton Park on 54th Street. They laughed and talked with friends on the stoops of the brownstones on 48th Street. As I travel these once gritty streets I enjoy a community that the Juniors helped to build. It gives me great pride to have the old folks of the neighborhood refer to me as Billy and Kelly Junior’s daughter. They know us as the Juniors from Hell’s Kitchen. Sara Junior ’15
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Rebecca Raslowsky ’18
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I Miei Figli Avranno una Vita Migliore My grandparents, Rocco and Teresa, came to America from Italy in the 1960s. To them, America was the land of great opportunity, a way out of poverty. As they sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in a fetid, crammed ship, they began their American Dream, which they made their American Legacy. My grandparents’ fortitude, strength and courage enabled them to build a life for themselves and their five children. With the Statue of Liberty in the background, my grandparents worked from sun up to sundown, rain or shine, with one great belief in their minds: I miei figli avaranno una vita migliore -“my children will have a better life. “ Through their efforts my mother, her three sisters and brother have all led successful lives. When I visit my grandparents, I listen to stories of the coldest, toughest days of working in New York City construction and the tedious, tiresome work of being a seamstress in Brooklyn. Yet all this toil made it possible for Rocco and Teresa’s kids to go to school and have greater opportunities than they had. Their stories give me hope. Their legacy of effort and optimism fortifies me whenever I question the meaning of all the schoolwork and extracurricular activities that fill my days. My grandparents’ legacy pushes me to aim higher and work harder. As I write my own story, I remember that a legacy without hard work and optimism does not really seem like a legacy at all. I remember those who came before me and made sure that “I miei figli avranno una vita migliore.” Isabella Frasca ’17
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Meggie Osorio ’17
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Like Mother, Like Daughter Notre Dame School was founded in 1912 by the Sisters of Saint Ursula. It is now on West 13th Street in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan. This location, the school’s fourth, is where I have class every weekday. Notre Dame is a very important place to me personally and to my whole family. My mother is a Notre Dame graduate, having attended at its second location, West 79th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. She has always attributed her experience at Notre Dame to helping her to become the woman she is today. Every day she traveled from her home in the Bronx to the West Side of Manhattan, where she was sure to leave her mark. She worked her hardest to excel academically, later becoming a successful nurse practitioner. Currently, she is the head of the transplant unit at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Along with her academic achievements, my mom also participated in sports at Notre Dame and was a member of both the basketball and softball teams. Today, Notre Dame has become my second home, just as it was my mother’s. I proudly follow in my mother’s footsteps and have decided that this tiny school with its rich diversity is the place where I belong. So, every day I wake up at 5:30 a.m., and I’m out the door and on the 6:41 a.m. express train from White Plains into Grand Central Station. There, I catch the 4 or 5 train and take it to the L train at Union Square so that I can arrive at school by 7:45 each day. Throughout the week, I try as hard as I can to follow my mother’s example in both academic and athletic achievement. As a sophomore in the accelerated math program, I enjoy Algebra II and Trig. And like my mother, I, too, play for both the basketball and softball teams. Last year our junior varsity basketball team had a perfect season, which is something my mother also achieved. My mom calls me her “legacy child,” because I followed in her footsteps and made the lifechanging decision to attend Notre Dame. I’ve grown in personal responsibility and learned how to best manage my time. I have friends who live in all five boroughs and New Jersey and who represent all different nationalities. My mother’s legacy at Notre Dame looms large over me every day. But I do not let that legacy overshadow me — instead I use it as a guide to help me build a legacy of my very own. Right now I’m convinced I’ll follow my mother’s footsteps in science, perhaps by becoming a physical therapist. Caitlin Daly ’17
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Isabelle Oleksiuk ’17
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EGuten Tag. ¿Cómo Estás? NEEDED It’s Thanksgiving night and I’m home at last in my cozy Brooklyn brownstone. The sounds of cars and people outside seep in through the windows. The smells of fireplaces burning in my neighbors’ homes filter throughout the streets. Just that morning I had rushed through New York City to get to my Puerto Rican grandmother’s house. Filled to the brim with her 12 children, and then their children, there are typically upwards of 40 people packed into her apartment. It’s a boisterous atmosphere —endless hands scooping out of pots to fill everyone’s plates, lots of kissing and laughing, and the Spanish language, spoken loudly and quickly, reverberates through the home. My Puerto Rican grandmother worked so hard to be where she is today. Forced to work at an early age by her foster mother, she was deprived of an education. She smiles and lives vivaciously and effortlessly, even after all that she has been through. I gaze at her with my eternal respect, for she has shaped my life in many ways; most importantly, she has taught me how to persevere and love unconditionally. Half the day, to my surprise, is suddenly gone, and we are racing out of the house to the sounds of merengue and salsa music. Next stop: my German oma’s (grandmother’s) house. We enter her home to the soothing sounds of classical piano and violin. It’s quiet and serene there. She embraces me with an air of majesty, and then she focuses on her food, which she carefully nurses to perfection. I can hear the German language spoken softly and slowly between her and her only child, my father. She is lovely and beautiful and the boss of her own life, never settling for anything less than perfection. My oma left Germany as a teenager to pave her own path — she was stubborn and determined to succeed on her own. She continues to live with an unquenchable thirst for travel, knowledge and independence. She is a force to be reckoned with. My oma taught me how to be my own woman with a clear, unyielding direction; always to be proud of who I am; and never to settle for anything less than what I desire. I marvel at how different traditions have joined together to create my reality. The Hispanic culture of laughter, music, affection, generosity and the German culture of focus, order, control and intellect are surely generalizations that can never fully describe either culture — but they do describe the person I have become. My legacy has been handed down by two very different cultures from opposite sides of the ocean. This combined legacy is the one that I want to preserve and continue. Sophia Schaedle ’15
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Elisa Sikula ’18 ‘
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Ge ing My Goat It was my three cousins, my second oldest brother and me — versus a goat. One of my cousins had decided to start playing with the goat. Goats, I found out, are not animals you want to play with. It got angry and chased us around the house. Eventually the goat was caught, my cousins and brother disappeared, and I went to watch TV, thinking that the whole fiasco was over. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the goat jumped over the couch and began chasing me again! As quickly as I could, I darted up the stairs and with nowhere else to go, I jumped off the balcony and into a tree. Phew! Close one. Seeing that the coast was clear, I climbed down the tree and went inside only to be staring at my nemesis, the goat, once again. With nowhere to go and no way to outsmart this ornery beast, I ran to my grandmother’s house, where she saved the day – and probably my life! This all happened on my last trip to Nigeria to visit my grandparents for Christmas. As in many parts of the world, in Nigeria Christmas is celebrated with a great banquet. An animal is slaughtered and the family joins together to celebrate and feast. This year, we happened to be dining on the very same goat that tried to kill me. Maybe he knew something. In preparation for the feast we ceremonially kill the animal (in this case, the goat), draining its blood and removing any arteries and fat. Afterward, the animal is cooked with local spices and prepared for the people. I have great memories of smelling that delicious goat wafting through the air — and not just because he was the one who was chasing me around the house. After dinner, we all sit in a giant circle and say a prayer and eat our blessed food. na ha nka nna, nwa nekopara, na nke mmụọ nsọ (translation: in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit)
Sarah Okwuoha ’17
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Amanda Msallem ’18
Family Tree I look at my family tree, I start at the bottom, It all starts with me. Next up the line are my mother and father, Along with their sisters and brothers three. I work my way up to four extra branches, Of my grandparents who, so many years ago, took dramatic chances. A family’s legacy sets up its heritage and history, Whether the sources are known or a mystery. It’s strange when you think about it, That life as you know it was determined by someone boarding a ship. Or perhaps it was a plane, or a car. Nevertheless, even if they didn’t travel far, It sets up a legacy for your family and yourself, And you probably can’t imagine living anywhere else. And if you’re lucky one day to go out and spread your wings, You’ll no longer be at the bottom of the tree, For one of your offspring’s offspring, you’ll just be a leaf. Sophia Bertran ’17
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Treasure What Is Beautiful to You “Leaving something behind” is a phrase that makes some people think of being thoughtless, as in forgetting something or neglecting someone. In the military, soldiers are taught to “leave no one behind.” Leaving something behind, though, could also refer to someone leaving a path for someone else to pick up on and travel along — a legacy. A legacy may be left by a renowned leader, a famous coach, a great chef who’s written a book that has sold millions of copies, but also, a legacy is left behind by the people in your life. My grandma Emily has left a great legacy for me to continue. She helped raise me, my twin sister and my brother, who is five years older than us. My family lived in Brooklyn, but once my twin and I were born, we moved to Manhattan to be closer to my grandma so she could babysit for us. She spoiled us all and made sure we knew that happiness could not be bought. Being a twin, I already knew how to share my belongings better than children without siblings, but my grandma taught me that keeping things to myself wouldn’t get me anywhere. She taught me to put others first, but to ensure my own happiness before doing so. If I ever came home crying, she would tell me not to cry over something that was temporary. When I would be reprimanded for misbehaving and I felt alone, she came to me and told me I was not alone — I have a twin sister. If I complained about something someone said or did to me, she reminded me that no matter how many times someone hurts me, I should forgive them when they apologize because life is short. Recently I asked her about my late uncle Anthony, whom she talks about a lot. She told me, “Only the good die young.” (I guess my grandma likes Billy Joel.) She said that he called her every day to speak to her and my grandfather just to say hello and check in with them. Whenever he came over, he brought so much food that they had leftovers for a week. He was always known as a good friend who was there to help when someone was in need. One day, as he was crossing Catherine Street, bringing coffee to a friend, he suffered a heart attack and lost his life. He had an altruistic way about him that my grandmother admired. She misses him very much and believes he’s the kind of person who should live forever. To me, that is what legacies are all about. Someone whose memory stays with you and who you strive to emulate. We are only given so much time, only so many hours in a day to make each other happy. Each day I find myself giving advice to friends that my grandma has given to me. The way Uncle Anthony changed my grandmother’s life is the way that Grandma Emily has changed mine. Nicole La Greca ’16
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Our Legacy Is Not Our Own One day I hope my legacy will spread out like the branches of a tree. However my legacy branches out, it is rooted in the bold and difficult choices of my mother, Lili. Born in Egypt in 1954, my mother hails from a well-to-do family of ophthalmologists from the ancient city of Alexandria. But she had even bigger dreams. Living in the Middle East then, as now, was challenging for women. Not wanting to be fenced in by her society’s expectations of what a woman should be, she left. On the night of her 33rd birthday, my mom got on a plane bound for J.F.K. airport and left her family behind for a better life in the United States. She wanted to work as a pharmacist, but when she got to New York, she had to go back to school to receive her pharmacy school equivalence. My mom worked her way through school without any financial help from back home. Eventually, she earned her pharmacy degree and became a practicing pharmacist and a citizen of the United States. My mom’s determination to improve her life has inspired me to follow her legacy. Her determination to achieve her dreams, no matter how impossible they seemed to everyone at the time, has inspired me to become a human rights lawyer helping women in the Middle East. I hope to use my mom’s story and inspiration as an example to empower women who feel stuck in a society that mistreats them. I hope that my legacy will empower Middle Eastern women to hand down to their children the same legacy my mom has handed down to me — a legacy that is not ours alone, but that belongs to all of us. Magdalena Dunmar ’15
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Personal Legacy
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Rahshel Larregui ’17
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Words Words? Words are groups of letters formed into phrases, which complete sentences and have a purpose. Purpose? Those who write sentences have reason to make their audience feel. Feelings? Emotions inside the heart, inside the soul that cause human beings to act. Action is a powerful thing that causes change, which results in movements. Yes, action is strong, inspirational and momentous, but it is the feeling, the emotion, that is the root of it all. Oftentimes the words written on a sheet of paper that have feelings attached to them are the ones we remember most. Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Maya Angelou, Robert Frost — these authors are remembered not only for the words they wrote but for the feelings they conveyed. As inhabitants of this Earth, we all subconsciously strive to be remembered just as those great authors are. We aim to leave a legacy through the emotions we conjure in another’s heart when they think of us or read something we have written. We strive…I strive to have my words printed on the heart of the Earth so when my grandchildren read them, they remember me by feeling my presence. In contemplating the idea of “legacy,” I’ve come to understand the words of Maya Angelou when she wrote, “People will forget what you have said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Fanessa de la Rosa ’15
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A Mother-Daughter Scientific Legacy
In the eighth grade, I won second place in a citywide competition in computer science. I was very proud of my accomplishment, and it encouraged me to look into a career in mechanical engineering. This wasn’t a far-off dream because intelligent women in the sciences have surrounded me my whole life: My mother is the manager of a laboratory for pathology at Mt. Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, and many of my aunts have careers in medicine as hospice nurses and physician’s assistants. Despite the time I spend studying, despite the grades I receive in my technical subjects, and despite the hours I dedicate to ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering), many people still question me when I tell them I want to be an engineer. For some time, I thought of these questions as a compliment, or a form of “checking in” to see that I was following the right path to make myself an engineer. When people would say, “Are you sure you can handle that? It’s a lot of math and science,” I would say, “I like math, and science is one of my favorite subjects.” I realize now that many saw a limitation in me: my gender. The number of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers is dismal. Women hold only 27% of all computer science jobs. When I attended an engineering mentorship program, I was disheartened to see 10 male engineers and one female engineer in the room. My parents have always taught me that life has no limitations except the ones you make. Sometimes these limitations stem from fear, or feelings of inadequacy, or outside voices saying, “No you can’t.” I have no doubt I will encounter all of these demons when I enter college. Pericles said, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” What my mother and all women of science have woven into me is resilience in the face of opposition and a desire to overcome sexism. A girl should invest in herself to be the best she can be at whatever she dreams of becoming — doctor, engineer, artist or stay-at-home mom. I hope to live this legacy and pass it on to every girl who wants to enter a STEM career. Kathleen Valonis ’16
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The Ferry Girls I take the Staten Island Ferry to and from school every day. As a freshman, my first few weeks on the ferry were nerve-wracking. I was unsure about attending a new school, and about the best way to get to this new school. Fortunately, I met some upperclassmen and they took me and some other ninth graders under their wing. They showed us the quickest ways to get to the ferry from school, the best places to grab a bagel or some coffee, and the spots on each ferry where all the students sit each day. Pretty soon, we all got the hang of it. After continuing those patterns for a while, we started to learn new things on our own. We discovered different places to eat breakfast, and alternative ways to get to the ferry. Now that I’m a senior at Notre Dame, one of my roles is to help all of the ninth graders learn the ways of the city, but especially to help the “ferry girls.” While I want to teach the girls the basics, I also think they should learn something deeper. The legacy I want to leave is one of kindness — one that teaches the underclasswomen that the workers on the ferry are to be respected. I want to leave a legacy of responsiblity, to show the girls how to manage their time by doing homework and studying on the ferry. A legacy of mindfulness teaches them to be conscientious of others around them on the ferry. If I respect the police officers and ferry workers, then the girls will know to do the same. The legacy that the 2012 seniors left me is one that I hope to share with the class of 2018. I look back at my freshman year and think about the seniors who were my ferry guides. As they prepare to graduate college next year and enter into their new careers, I am preparing for my college journey, which will begin in August. Just as these ND upperclassmen helped me to learn the ins and outs of this new city, I hope that I have left the same legacy for the ferry girls who follow in our footsteps. I hope this legacy continues as the years stretch on and more girls from Staten Island hear about Notre Dame! Stephanie Licciardi ’15
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Allyssa Olivan ’17
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Kristina Lisi ’18
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Teaching by Being One of my favorite authors, Maya Angelou, wrote that “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” One’s legacy is the feelings we inspire in those whose lives we’ve touched. With this idea in mind, I’ve become more involved with different organizations that promote peace in the world. For the past two years I’ve been working with School of Peace, a program that offers tutoring to low-income children in New York City. It has been a life-changing experience. Each week it’s my job to teach grade school children about math, science and reading, but sometimes I feel like they’re the ones who are teaching me! It is heartwarming to tutor these children who have come from all over the world to New York City and to know that I’m doing a small part to help promote peace through education. Each child has a different story to tell and share. My legacy is to be part of the life of each child — I’ve been able to help them through some really tough times. Recently, the father of one of my students was deported to his home country, leaving her distraught and confused. Being able to give comfort in a difficult time felt like a gift to me. As tutors, we urge our students to not give in to their fears and to realize that they have unique gifts to share with the world. Years from now, I will remember these special moments that I have shared with each and every child. My legacy to these children, and to other people I encounter each day, is my kindness. I’ve seen firsthand how kindness is essential to the world. While some are losing hope in the integrity of all society, I believe that kindness can turn that cynicism into optimism. Whether it is greeting my doorman, thanking a stranger who holds the door, or helping an elderly neighbor with their groceries, it is those little actions that can be my legacy. Kindness does not cost as much as a diamond, but its value far exceeds it. As I go forth into the world and begin new endeavors, I wish to build upon my legacy, and there are some things that I hope to never forget. Whether in a college dorm a couple years down the road, or at a new job several years from now, I hope to remember those I have helped and those who have helped me. Most importantly, I will never forget to be kind to everyone I encounter. As for my overall lifetime legacy, it is again Maya Angelou that best captures the sentiment by writing, “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.” Emily Uruchima ’16
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Age Is Just a Number I can still hear Sr. Margaret saying, “Ladies, don’t forget that you MUST complete your 40 hours of service before you graduate. I really recommend you ladies start soon.” I want to be a doctor, and it was my mission the summer of my sophomore year to find a hospital or doctor’s office where I could get some experience and also put in some hours of service. To my surprise, when I asked my doctor if I could work with him, he put me to work the next day! I was assigned to work with a woman that I would eventually learn to love like a mother. Her name was Fiordaliza. She assigned me boring tasks like checking if all the vaccines had been entered into the CIR (Citywide Immunization Records). It was a tedious job. Sometimes I had to enter the information manually and I spent almost all day sitting behind a desk, which was something I really wanted to avoid. Although it was boring, I learned the basics which enabled me to work at any part of the clinic. Eventually, I moved to the front desk. I worked there for about two days, picking up calls and calming down patients who had been waiting for a long time to see the doctor. This was more exciting than entering records, but I was still sitting down all day in front of a computer. Then Fior gave me the opportunity to work with her in the triage unit. It was in the triage unit that I realized how passionate I was about this job. One very hot summer day when the unit was jammed with people and everyone was extremely busy, I had so much to do all day that I forgot to eat! I was so worried about keeping the waiting time to less than two hours that I barely noticed I was hungry. It was a nice feeling to know that I was thinking less about myself than about the patients. I currently work at the clinic’s triage unit every Saturday. Anyone, no matter what age, is capable of achieving her dreams, especially if she enjoys what she’s doing and has the great training that I was lucky to have. It still amazes people at my job that I’m the youngest one working there. It makes my coworkers proud because they taught me everything I know today. And as I hear Sr. Margaret’s voice in my head, I thank her for suggesting that we start completing our hours early! Sabrina Perez ’15
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Sierra Williams ’15
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Contagious Compassion A year and a half ago, my brother Christopher was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. At the time I knew very little about leukemia and the effect it would have not only on my brother’s life, but on my family’s life. That night I watched with anticipation as my parents packed their bags and drove my only brother to New York University Langone Medical Center. Three days later he was taken to surgery to have a venous access device (a Medi-Port) implanted, a bone marrow aspiration and the start of his chemotherapy treatment. I walked into the hospital and it was like a whirlwind of nurses, doctors and patient care technicians all surrounding my brother. I couldn’t help but turn my attention to the many nurses who were always ready to exchange a smile and put my family and me at ease in a time of great worry. A memory that stands out in my mind is when my brother’s attending nurse came into the room and checked on the status of my brother’s treatment. She recognized that he was uncomfortable and worried, so she fixed his pillow and blanket while making thoughtful conversation about the positive path ahead of him. She connected with him on an emotional level like a mother would connect with her son. At first, I was very sad to see my brother in the hospital, but then I was relieved to know that he was going to be O.K. Since then, Christopher has been to the hospital and the clinic many times and I’ve grown to love the nurses and what they do. Not only must they concentrate on a patient’s physical health, but they also focus on a patient’s mental health by showing compassion and giving encouragement. The nurses in my brother’s hospital have been able to keep my brother comfortable during his many challenging treatments. He is in remission now and feeling alot better. Although he will continue his treatment for another two years, I know he is in good hands. I’ve seen that a nurse’s compassion is contagious — it gets passed on to other nurses and the families who benefit from their great work. These nurses’ legacy of compassion has inspired me to consider nursing as a profession. It would be an honor. Gianna Gemelli ’17
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Elena Jones ’17
The Legacy Left Behind As I tread down this beach Leaving a footprint everywhere I step, There is something unique about each of these footprints. It feels as if I’m leaving a part of me behind But I am not the only one with footprints in the sand. I notice footprints not my own, Footprints made by others Who left their mark on the world. Each of these footprints is a part of us. They are what we leave behind That impact others and change lives. As I look over my shoulder, I see someone else Making footprints of their own in the sand. Making an impact. And I would like to think that with every step I take And with every footprint I make Someone is impacted by The legacy I leave behind.
Rianne Pyle ’17
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Aliana Wolf ’18
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Chloe’s Legacy — My Legacy A popular catchphrase that people like to use is “Everything in life happens for a reason.” I recently learned that everyone happens for a reason, too. The people we meet along the way help shape who we become and what we leave behind. Many events and people have touched my life in a span of 17 years, but no one has touched my life like Chloe. Chloe is a 3-year-old girl with Down Syndrome whom I met at the pediatric genetics outpatient clinic this summer while doing a medical internship in the Philippines. The conditions of our meeting were not ideal. It was well over 90 degrees in a stuffy, overcrowded room. I was hot and grumpy. Then, Chloe changed everything for me. This child was a ball of life with a personality all her own. Although disabled, Chloe had a carefree attitude, boundless energy and a radiant smile. She could brighten up any curmudgeon’s day. My most vivid memory of the day was Chloe pointing out animals in her book so my friend and I could imitate the sounds they make. We laughed so much when we got to the goat and we could not figure out how to imitate it. We all laughed till tears were streaming down our faces. We spent about three hours with Chloe that day, and I would have gladly spent many more. When it was finally time to leave, I did not want to let Chloe out of my arms. She even tried leaving with us by not letting go of my hand. My interaction with Chloe changed my outlook on life. This little girl doesn’t know the word “legacy.” She won’t become a famous doctor who cures a disease once thought incurable. She won’t be a professor at a university, teaching students about Shakespeare. But she has her own lessons to offer. Chloe taught me to live every day with excitement and joy. She taught me to not sweat the little things. Chloe’s legacy has changed my life. Hopefully, I can pay tribute to that 3-year-old girl in the Philippines with the legacy that I leave at Notre Dame and in my journey through life. Sabrina Limchayseng ’15
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Artistic Legacy
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Siobhan Brennan ’17
Thanks, Hazel Grace Legacy. The letters were scrawled across the paper in bold black letters. I read the prompt “What is your legacy as of right now?” and stared back at my paper with confusion. Legacy. Le-ga-cy. The word sounded familiar; I hear it all the time, but for some reason I was drawing a blank. I heard the loud murmurs coming from the hallway that signal class is over, so I quietly put away my folder with the assignment inside. The assignment isn’t due for another two weeks, I told myself. That’s more than enough time to figure out what my legacy is. Well, a week passed by and I realized that the deadline for the assignment was rapidly approaching and that, more importantly, I still had no idea what I wanted to write about. I just couldn’t wrap my head around the idea — legacy. Whenever I thought of the word, I kept picturing people like Angelina Jolie or Malala Yousafzai — people who had accomplished great things in their lifetimes and were famous for it. I knew that I was not one of them, which made the assignment extremely difficult for me. It was the night of Notre Dame’s first ever movie night and the feature film was The Fault in Our Stars. I was daydreaming and ignoring the movie, when something the main character said caught my attention. “This is your life, O.K.? This is all you get. You get me, and you get your family, and you get this world and that’s it.” Hazel, the protagonist, was talking to Augustus, a young cancer patient obsessed with leaving a legacy behind. She told him that she would remember him and that was legacy enough. What Hazel said about legacy stuck with me. I realized that I may not be Angelina or Malala, but that doesn’t mean I have no legacy. All of us leave a legacy. The love I have for my family, the times I’ve cried from laughing so hard with my friends, the nights I’ve spent studying, the rainy days when I play Monopoly with the children I babysit, the long talks that I have with my sister Maria…these are parts of my legacy — one I hope to continue in the future. Kauribel Javier ’15
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Keti Skoda ’18
Legacy Through Poetry Legacy is something you leave ND girls who wear blue, white and green Walking on the High Line admiring the trees Is this all for me? What is my legacy? What will I leave? Four years to create something to leave But it’s a reality, it’s not a dream! Everyone is alive and watching Hard work and perseverance No time to start being careless The time is now to make our legacy Make it memorable. Make it fun. Make it inspire everyone. To be the best that you can be While being at ND Help a Chez Nous sister out. Tell a freshman all the rules On how to survive in high school. Lend a book to someone in need. Always give in Tag Day money. Tell the seniors goodbye and the juniors good luck. Your year will always be tough. Volunteer in your free time. Don’t make your name last on the line. Forty hours isn’t enough. So you better hurry up. But also have a good time. No matter how many years you have left at ND. Shine your hardest To make your legacy Something that will live on and on As a memory. Like my lines in poetry Can this be a start to my legacy? If it’s in Conversatio Then it just might be The legacy of my poetry. Courtney Gordon ’16
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Dominique Trucchio ’18
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Our Legacy Online Throughout history, artists have left their mark on the world by writing novels and making films. Great artists, in some sense, have become “immortal.” As we continue to watch their films and read their books, they live on. This is a great cultural legacy. Today in our technological age, with online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and YouTube, all of the things we post become “immortal” and are left as our legacy. Online writing and video will remain forever. If a person posts negative comments online, that person is leaving a negative legacy for future generations. Our online legacy provides a template for future generations to follow — it is our duty to start a positive cycle online. The English philosopher Herbert Spencer wrote that “The wise man must remember that while he is a descendant of the past, he is a parent of the future.” Right now, we are the parents of this new online world. Today, we are more connected than ever before in history. People may tweet or post hateful things without much thought because they aren’t face to face, but the truth is, online is real life. Every person online is a real person, which makes whatever happens online part of our real world. Therefore, when online, we must keep Spencer’s words in mind and remember that we are parents of the future. It is our responsibility to leave a positive legacy for generations to come. Princess Gordon ’15
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Cultural Legacy
Montana Schelchere ’17
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Julia Hunt ’18
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The Pluck of the Irish Across the ocean they came, A people thin and starving. Never once did they complain, Although they had been dying. Driven from their land by famine, They came to a new land: New York. Their spirits never did dampen, Even when they couldn’t get work. “Irish need not apply!” Most of the bosses said. My people were denied. No money, they lived off bread. Despite being treated cruelly They were able to find jobs. Even though the pay was lowly They didn’t cry or sob. They built the Empire State Building, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, too. We are still hard working In everything we do. Met with bigotry, they triumphed And built the Irish destiny. Through hard work and determination, We Irish made this city great.
Deirdre O’Donnell ’17
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Emilia Muga ’17
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#BuiltByGirls “I’m designing a game that shows kids how computers work,” explains Barbie in her book I Can Be a Computer Engineer. The title sounds so encouraging, doesn’t it? She tells the reader, “You can make a robot puppy do cute tricks!” But then adds, “I’m only creating the design ideas, though. I’ll need Steven and Brian’s help to actually make the game!” Barbie, one of the most popular toys on the planet, a celebrity in the wondrous, fantastic world of imagination, and my favorite doll when I was younger, is telling girls that they can’t do computer science without the help of boys. Less than 1% of girls actually pursue computer science as a major in college, and only about 27% of the technology workforce is female. There are many deterrents, both subtle and overt, that cause girls to grow up believing that they can’t be successful in STEM careers (science technology engineering and math). Especially computer science. Part of my legacy is to educate young women to believe in themselves and pursue STEM careers, even if they are discouraged from doing so. Notre Dame has equipped me with many tools that give me the confidence to make a difference in my school and my community. In the four years that I have been at Notre Dame, there was never a day that I was not taught how to act as a leader. The teachers and administrators encourage me to prove to Barbie and the rest of the world that girls can create innovative projects through computer science. Ayah Bdeir, 32, became founder and CEO of LittleBits Electronics, which allows anyone from kids to adults to design their own prototypes for new products. At age 31, Rachel Hoat became the chief digital officer and deputy secretary for technology in New York State. Not only is she planning to expand free wi-fi throughout New York City, but she is also increasing the number of technology jobs that are offered to women in New York. There is even a girl as young as 17 who improved the design of an algorithm to detect false positives in breast cancer screenings. Not only can girls learn computer science, but they are also exceptionally talented in creating organizations and businesses that improve the world. I hope that part of my legacy will be to inspire girls to show Barbie that we can code and build anything we can imagine — with or without the help of “Steven and Brian.” Maria Javier ’15
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Julia Pesola ’17
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Legacy of the Fishes Every year my family and I have a huge Christmas Eve dinner that celebrates the Italian tradition known as the seven fishes. In my family, this tradition was handed down from my great-greatgrandmother to my grandmother, Anna Garibaldi, who passed it on to my family. On Christmas Eve, seven different types of fish are served along with pasta and salad — but no meat. We start the fish sauce in a large pot with olive oil and fresh garlic. We then add blue claw crab, wich is the main flavoring ingredient in the sauce. As the sauce continues to cook we add clams, mussels, shrimp, king crab, lobster and octopus. The number of fish we prepare typically represents the seven sacraments. The shrimp and the clams are the most popular and the first to go. Christmas Eve dinner is a mixture of my aunts and uncles from both sides of my family and lots of cousins and friends. My nanny, my dad’s mom, taught me and my sister this culinary tradition and how to properly cook and serve the feast. Now that she has passed away, my dad and my sister and I keep the ritual alive by cooking the seven fishes each year. In addition to the legacy of the fishes, my family also plays “scram” every year. Scram is a card came that can be played with lots of people. After dinner is finished, my whole family sits down with some pumpkin pie and starts the game. We laugh, reminisce over old stories and enjoy our time together. I have very clear memories of beating my nanny one year, and she was not very happy about it. My nanny’s legacy lives on through the food we cook every Christmas, the card game we play, Nanny’s children and grandchildren, and the fond memories of family that we always carry with us.
Kelly Doyle ’17
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Brooklyn Wigilia On April 5th, 2001, my parents and uncle moved from Kolnica, Augustów, Poland to Brooklyn, New York. Traveling across the world, they made it a point to bring a bit of Polish culture with them. In this way, they would feel at home and could raise their children in the manner in which they were raised. These traditions have shaped me as a person and I’ve always been eager to stay close to my Polish heritage, no matter how far away my family has been from our homeland. My parents were raised in Communist Poland and they still tell stories about how life was for them at the time. A trip to the grocery store would include standing in a line to buy items even though there was no guarantee that item would still be available when they got to the front of the line. Basic necessities like food were given in limited portions per month. For my parents, and now for me, the most important Polish traditions center around Christmas. On Christmas Eve, my family always waits for the first star to appear in the sky, which symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem. Only then do we sit down to the table for dinner. Now that we are here in the United States, the table is filled with more friends than family because most of our family still lives in Poland. The most important day of the holiday season for us is Christmas Eve, which we call Wigilia. This is the day that the children dress the Christmas tree. After that work is done, my mom makes the traditional twelve Polish dishes for dinner. It’s a lot of food, but it’s bad luck if you don’t try a little bit of everything. Then we get to the important work of opening the gifts under the Christmas tree! Last year my mom decided to try something different and instead of having the traditional star on the top of the tree, she bought a different decoration. My brother and I were not very happy with this sudden change in tradition. As he was decorating the tree, my brother “accidentally” broke the new decoration, forcing my mom to give us the old star to put on the top. I guess embracing tradition runs in the family! Although much has changed since my parents were children, we still hold onto these Polish traditions in our hearts and minds. Thanks to my parents, I speak their language very well. Thanks to my parents, I know the traditions. I hope that in the future, I will have children and they will give thanks to me for passing on the Polish language and these great holiday traditions as well. Martyna Mroziewska ’16
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Amelia Balik ’18
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3/12/15 3:20 PM
Notre Dame School of Manhattan
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