Callah Barnes ~ My Senior Story
I remember feeling impressed by how friendly Trinity felt when I first shadowed, and the same sentiment has stayed with me all four years. I walked in as the girl with the kazoo and the dinosaur hair clips, and I’m surprised by how much has changed since then - especially by how many of those unfamiliar faces from my first days I’m now grateful to call close friends. TAD and Inksters have helped me uncover a love of graphic design and writing I’d never known I had, and IB Art and Spanish have challenged me to discover my potential and grow in ways I’d never expected. I’ve seen myself grow and thrive at Trinity because it’s been such a warm environment. The love I felt at our Junior Ring Mass and Kairos felt unreal, and I think the amount of community I’ve seen in my class when we’re all together is unmatched - it’s been amazing seeing how much spirit we’ve put into cheering each other on and bedazzling the shopping cart for a memorable Just Because Games torch run. I’m grateful to know everyone I do at Trinity, and I’m sad that my time here is ending so soon, even though I’m excited to see what comes next in my adventure. :)
Trinity is special to me because everyone here sees me and its students as human - it expects excellence and effort but doesn't put pressure on perfection. My teachers have been very encouraging and have shown such care for us students, and I've felt comfortable being open with so many of my peers here. I'm impressed by how thoughtful everyone is, especially by how the front office even has water bottles on hand for students who forget them. Trinity's felt like such a welcoming environment to me, and I'm grateful for that!
My favorite Trinity tradition, aside from our two spirit weeks, is the IB Art showcase. That was a huge highlight of my senior year because I loved seeing our community (not just our peers, but also our families and friends) coming together to celebrate everyone's creativity. Seeing my classmates' art helped me feel like I got to know everyone more deeply, and I loved seeing everyone's unique views of the world.
My advice for future Trinity Blazers is to let yourself be human and be present - take the time to enjoy your connections with teachers and classmates, even if it just means a five-minute conversation before class! Some of those little exchanges have completely turned around hard days or just reminded me that I'm never alone here - I think there's always someone looking out for you here.
I'm excited to attend Dominican because my time at Trinity taught me that I love tight-knit communities and small classes full of engaging conversations. I hope to stay connected to my Trinity family since I'll be just down the street from it.
Dominican University, River Forest ~ Majoring in either International Relations or International Business, Grace Lutheran School, River Forest
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Trinity is special to me because everyone here sees me and its students as human - it expects excellence and effort but doesn't put pressure on perfection. My teachers have been very encouraging and have shown such care for us students, and I've felt comfortable being open with so many of my peers here. I'm impressed by how thoughtful everyone is, especially by how the front office even has water bottles on hand for students who forget them. Trinity's felt like such a welcoming environment to me, and I'm grateful for that!
My favorite Trinity tradition, aside from our two spirit weeks, is the IB Art showcase. That was a huge highlight of my senior year because I loved seeing our community (not just our peers, but also our families and friends) coming together to celebrate everyone's creativity. Seeing my classmates' art helped me feel like I got to know everyone more deeply, and I loved seeing everyone's unique views of the world.
My advice for future Trinity Blazers is to let yourself be human and be present - take the time to enjoy your connections with teachers and classmates, even if it just means a five-minute conversation before class! Some of those little exchanges have completely turned around hard days or just reminded me that I'm never alone here - I think there's always someone looking out for you here.
I'm excited to attend Dominican because my time at Trinity taught me that I love tight-knit communities and small classes full of engaging conversations. I hope to stay connected to my Trinity family since I'll be just down the street from it.
Dominican University, River Forest ~ Majoring in either International Relations or International Business, Grace Lutheran School, River Forest
