Members of the Class of 2025 offer advice to incoming freshmen
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No place is it truer than in high school.
Who you know matters a lot.
“If you have a close relationship with God, it’s kind of crazy how easily he places people, things, events and opportunities into your life,” said Iris Morrisey, who graduated this spring from Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City.
She spoke from experience, having overcome freshman anxiety and found unexpected friendships while setting out to know, love and serve the Lord.
“I found the overwhelming joy that comes with going on a retreat or a mission trip,” she stated. “So, be open to any of those opportunities in the faith and stay close to God. He will bring you the best people ever.”
Iris was one of several members of the Class of 2025 who in interviews this past May offered sage advice to incoming freshman.
“Take advantage of every opportunity, and don’t be embarrassed,” said Mariana Keegan-Caro, who graduated from Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia.
“I feel like when you’re a freshman, you’re kind of scared in a new environment, and you’re intimidated by all these other people,” she stated.
That’s when it’s all-too-easy to think, “I really want to do this, but what are these other people going to think of me?”
“Just let that go and be open to new experiences and opportunities, and just have fun,” Mariana suggested.
Paige Diller graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Sedalia.
“I would tell incoming freshmen to stay on top of their school work, invest in healthy friendships, and spend time with their family, because high school goes by fast,” she said.
Matthew Liebsch, a Helias Catholic graduate, urged incoming freshmen to stay close to people who believe in them and want to help them succeed.
“Early on, find those people who value you, and always be appreciative to them,” he said. “There are so many more good people who want to see you succeed and help you than those who don’t.
“And don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself when you know something is not going well,” he added.
Helias Catholic graduate Catie Meystrik encouraged new freshmen to let Jesus be a part of their high school experience.
“My freshman year, I was so anxious about everything,” she said. “Everything just stressed me out.”
As time went on, she grew closer to God and learned to let him become much more central in her life.
“It was every single small moment that I started to invite him in,” she said. “Every test I had, I was praying, ‘Holy Spirit, be with me on this.’ Every tennis match, whether I won or lost, it was, ‘Thank you, Jesus, for this volley, for this play, for letting me be on this court.’”
In response to those prayers, she received courage and conviction to try new things, work through challenges and do her best through the stress.
“So, just let Jesus be part of everything you do in high school,” she said.
Fellow Helias Catholic grad Richard Mosha Jr. advised practicing radical openness.
“I think if you’re open to every opportunity, you’ll have the greatest time in high school,” he said.
He suggested putting that openness to work right away as a freshman, “because that will give you more time to grow and more time to become better at those activities you were open to.”
He said also to muster the necessary courage when doubts sneak in.
“The biggest regret you’re going to have in high school is that ‘I didn’t do this activity,’ that ‘I didn’t ask this person out,’ that ‘I didn’t go to this dance,’” said Richard.
“And that’s because you weren’t really open to taking that risk, and maybe it made you uncomfortable,” he said.
The same thing applies to trying out for sports teams and especially to following Christ.
“If I hadn’t been open to faith and being a member of the discipleship group, I wouldn’t have this terrific bond with the people who are closest to me, and it would have been because I decided, ‘I don’t want to be uncomfortable,’” said Richard.
Tolton Catholic grad Isaac Royal seconded that motion.
“There are a lot of things that God’s going to be leading you to do, and if your heart is cold and your mind is closed, you’re not going to see those things,” Isaac stated.
God used Isaac’s talent for playing the guitar to draw him into being an accompanist at school Masses.
“I wouldn’t be doing that if it weren’t for God saying, ‘Hey, there’s this thing I want you to do. Go do it for me,’” said Isaac. “So, be open in your faith, and keep listening.”
Fellow Tolton Catholic graduate Jake Hart said he said “no” too many times during his freshman and sophomore years when he should have said “yes.”
He regrets not taking his faith seriously until his junior year.
“So, I would encourage new freshmen to be open and embrace the opportunities and the gifts that God has given you, and use those gifts to further his work in this world,” he said.
“You’re not going to regret it,” he stated. “It’s going to be very rewarding.”
