What Being a Curley Knight Means To Me.

This morning, the Archdiocese of Miami announced that my alma mater, Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame will be closing its doors after this school year. This news is very upsetting for many reasons. First, I attended ACND from 1999-2003, my brother, my mother and her 6 siblings graduated from ACND, my grandmother worked there, my mother taught there and my uncle is the current principal.

Secondly, ACND is a very special place. High school is a difficult time, a time of self discovery and growth. I am endlessly grateful to ACND for the lessons it taught me both in and out of the classroom. The socio-economic and racial diversity I experienced while a student has had a lasting impact on my life. The friendships I forged with people of all backgrounds, racial identities and classes is invaluable. It especially important to me as I navigate an America that is grappling with race, poverty and inequality. I learned the value of human life and dignity in high school. I don't just believe in activism towards racial justice, I live it because of my fellow Knights. 

There is no other school in the Archdiocese like ACND. 

This morning, after hearing the news, I thought of Dr. Guthro's memorial service shortly after he died unexpectedly. I thought of how we made the sound of the rain on the stage, using our hands in a great cacophony. All of us, different. All of us, together. 

I wish there were something we could do to save ACND but I think we all know that this decision was a long time coming. The Archdiocese is a business and one that, with this decision, is not honoring their commitment to the ideals of Catholic education. But, the choice has been made. What we can do, as Knights, is look inside our hearts for the lessons we learned at ACND: to treat all people with love and respect, to honor our brothers and sisters and to do work out in the world that makes it a better place for all people and to find those lessons and live them loudly and proudly. 

I am so heartbroken that future generations of students won't get to walk those noisy halls, eat in that cafetorium or sweat their asses off in that gym. I am deeply grateful to the staff, teachers and current and former student body for creating the magic that is ACND.

I remember being taught that the church is not a building, the church is the community of people who work for justice. ACND is not the campus, WE are ACND. We will always have each other.