5 minute read
On the Way to Becoming President
Divine Savior Holy Angels High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory high school for young women that excels at developing the whole person.
Sponsored by the Sisters of the Divine Savior and grounded in their mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus Christ, we develop our students into capable young women of faith, heart, and intellect who accept the gospel call to live lives that will make a difference.
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Since Jenkins' arrival sophomore year, she found immense value in participating in regular service, bonded with others different than her as a peer mentor in DSHA's Marian Scholars Program, expanded her mind in rigorous courses, and interacted with those with similar interests in co-curricular groups. Her experiences helped her develop all aspects of her life. The confidence she places in her whole person will support her as she chases her biggest dreams.
On the Way to Becoming President
After my freshman year at a co-ed high school, I transferred to DSHA. I was ready for the academic rigor, but as I walked into my first class at DSHA my sophomore year, I was incredibly intimidated.
I was more than a little nervous about meeting my classmates for the next three years. Would they be nice? Would they like me? Was transferring even worth it?
It turns out transferring was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My first few months at DSHA were all I could have wished for. Our class showed our school spirit by playing obnoxiously loud music during our 60’s themed Dash-A-Thon. We cheered hard for our classmates at Airband. We were filled with joy and school spirit.
The best part about going to an all-girls school is the casual comfort that lets me feel confident in myself, regardless of what I look like. I would just wake up, put on my skirt, pick what color polo I wanted to wear, and show up. Even better, I love that DSHA is a safe space, and a fun and supportive environment.
And for me personally, a supportive environment is one that encourages me to constantly push myself.
BEYOND ACADEMICS
I fit right in at DSHA as a student passionate about succeeding academically. DSHA is a competitive school in the idea that we have good, strong academics, but not in the idea that girls are fighting for the top rank or top spot at the expense of other students. All of us genuinely want each other to succeed, and we are committed to working together.
Being in the all-girls environment at DSHA
has improved my confidence in trying new things, because I do not have to worry about anyone judging me, shutting me down for saying something new, or trying to answer a question that I may not know the answer to. I heard stories from some of my female friends who went to co-ed schools about not wanting to answer a question that was on the board in their calculus class. Calculus is so hard, but there was never a time where I felt that the girls in my class were going to put me down for not knowing the answer.
While DSHA prepared me to be confident in the classroom, it prepared me for my future studies and plans in so many other ways. I think the most important aspect of DSHA is the wholeperson education that we are committed to as a school. It is something different from other high schools that, yes, DSHA is preparing girls to be thinkers and to do well in the classroom and succeed academically, but it is also looking to build girls in every other aspect of their lives. I truly know I would not have been as well-rounded of a person if I did not attend DSHA.
A PEER-SON FOR OTHERS
On my journey to become more well-rounded, I became involved in DSHA’s Marian Scholars Program. The Marian Scholars Program makes a DSHA education possible for girls with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I became a peer mentor and a friend to Mia Ruge, DSHA ’24. I accompanied her to class during a free period of mine, giving her support and helping her engage in class.
Having the Marian Scholars in class gives students a more realistic glimpse of what the world looks like. It gives them the experience they need to interact with other people in the real world outside of DSHA.
Interacting with Mia has been the greatest joy of my high school career. It helped me learn too. Being one of her peer mentors has helped me become more patient. I know I am impatient with myself, but I cannot be impatient with her. In addition, I learned how to advocate for other people. Last semester, I worked with Mia’s art teacher to readjust the projects to be more attainable for Mia. All in all, the Marian
Ava Jenkins, DSHA ‘22
Whole-Person Education
Scholars Program helped me learn skills beyond the classroom that I will need in my future.
FUTURE MADAM PRESIDENT
I will be attending Yale University to study political science and history this fall, and the DSHA community has been a big support system in my journey to get there. The faculty and staff at DSHA never tell you that your dreams are too big. I think I probably would have shut myself down and the dream to go to Yale a long time ago if I did not come to DSHA. I had told people at school that I wanted to go to Yale, and their response was “Absolutely, you can do that.” They believed in me and helped me believe in myself. And now I am a thousand miles away living out one of my biggest dreams.
Beyond Yale, my next dream is to become president. The election in 2040 will be the election that I can run in for the first time. DSHA and my plethora of high school opportunities have helped me become more well-rounded and have shown me that I possess the skill set to make that happen. Becoming president is quite a large dream to have, but no one at DSHA has made me feel like I was silly. No one sat me down and gently encouraged me to shoot lower. In fact, they did the opposite. Teachers and classmates promised me their support and vote 20 years down the line.
Politics right now is so dominated by men. Women are finally breaking into positions that only men have ever held.
So when I think about running for president in 2040, I know DSHA, and its focus on the whole person, will help me realize this dream. I'm not going to wonder if I'm fit for the position as a woman.
Because that's the silliest thing I could ever ask.