The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced countless changes since March. Absent of a vaccine, and with the start of the school year just weeks away, parents everywhere are wrestling with the fact that the return to the classroom is going to look very different this fall.

On March 6, 2020, the last day of classes, I vividly remember running to my car as soon as classes were dismissed. I was in a rush to an appointment after school that I could not miss, and I did not give my friends or teachers a last goodbye. In my head, I figured we would be back in school. Now, 10 weeks later, it is my biggest regret that I did not give my teachers or friends one last hug. 

Whether it be in the classroom, on the field or at home, everyone is most likely familiar with the “winning isn’t everything” phrase. If winning isn’t everything, however, how do most people generally feel about losing? 

The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, February 2, 2020. But it's not all about hot wings, cheese platters and face painting. There are at least three crucial life lessons that can be learned by paying attention to the events on and off the field that should be shared with students and beyond.

As parents and educators, our focus is to protect children, to shield them from distress and to create environments that foster their growth and development. While we usually manage to navigate the day-to-day situations and stressors that children face without too much difficulty, we are often at loss when faced with having to talk to children about death. How much do we tell them? Will they be able to understand? Will they get too upset? What if they show no emotion? When do we seek outside support?

The U.S. Department of Justice recently charged several people around the country in an alleged scheme to bribe their way into some of the nation’s most selective colleges. This case has captured the attention of many – especially college-bound students and their parents. In the past two weeks, I have been asked numerous times if I am surprised by the cheating and bribery that has been uncovered in this case. I am sorry to say, I am not surprised.

There are so many things to look forward to at the start of fall – pumpkin spice-everything, sweatshirts, candy corn (if you’re into that), apple cider doughnuts, apple picking and so much more. But one thing no one looks forward to is sneezing, coughing, sore throats and fevers. That's right – the start of fall is also the unfortunate start of flu season. 

Balancing school and sports is not always easy, but being a scholar athlete at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has been one of the most formative and rewarding experiences of my life. A normal night in-season usually consists of me, scrambling to finish what feels like endless homework and studying for my tests and quizzes the next day, after a 2 ½-hour practice at our field complex in Chatham, New Jersey. By the time it reaches midnight, I’m setting an alarm for 6:30 a.m. to do it all again the next day.

Campus Ministry is the faith in action arm of a student’s spiritual journey at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. It’s where students in grades 7-12 come together with faculty members to pray, serve the greater community, attend special retreats and develop a more meaningful relationship with God. While every member of Oak Knoll School will participate in various Campus Ministry activities throughout the year, it’s important to get involved in some of those extra activities that provide meaningful experiences throughout the year.

Let’s be honest, high school can be a stressful place. With tests, quizzes and homework every week, it can be difficult to manage your stress, along with the high academic workload. And most of us have extracurricular activities outside the normal school day ⸺ like clubs, sports or jobs ⸺ that it’s hard to balance our responsibilities without feeling some level of anxiety. As a senior, my stress level surrounding my college decision and the thought of “the next step” has been on high a number of times this year. Luckily, I’ve had a lot of support along the way.