Making the Big Decision

Hey everyone! It’s been a while because college applications basically took over my life for a time, but they are all out now (!!!!!) so I'll catch you up on recent events.

One of the things an ambassador does during the school year is visit grammar schools with Mr. Luciano and give the 8th graders a student’s perspective of UC. Yesterday afternoon I went to Our Lady of Peace with Mr. Luciano and hopefully did just that. Mr. Luciano talked about all the technical things like transportation and applying to UC, and I talked about life at UC and how going here has helped me. My first topic was laptops; I told the student of OLP how in freshman biology I used my laptop to dissect a frog without the mess (or smell), and how UC is just as advanced, at times more advanced in some areas, as all the colleges I’m looking at applying to which will help me transition smoothly, and how having all my work in one place has kept me organized and on top of my studies. My second topic was time management, and how I get all my work done and am still able to be as involved in the building as I am. They had a couple questions that I was able to answer and I was glad about that. If I was able to make them even a little more familiar with UC and life here, then my trip there was a success.

I remember being an 8th grader and being torn between two high schools – I actually ended up registering somewhere else. Up until about May of my 8th grade year, I was fine with being registered at this other high school. I had gone for freshman for a day and it had gone smoothly. I don’t remember anything significant or exciting about my visit, but I also don’t remember anything bad. There was just something about the school that didn’t sit right with me, but I pushed it under the rug because my parents really wanted me to go there. However, I couldn’t get out of my head the open house I’d attended at Union Catholic. I loved the energy and the general homey feeling I’d gotten from it. When I went to a UC baseball game in the spring of my 8th grade year, I knew before the game was even over that this was the school I needed to go to. The supportive fans and the all-around feeling the school gave me was exactly what I was looking for. Obviously, we know that I ended up switching and coming to UC, but it was definitely a struggle and a whole lot of paper work. It was more than worth it though.
That is why I encourage EVERYONE to come for freshman for a day here. I can tell you from personal experience that you will know right away whether or not it’s a fit for you. Becoming familiar with the high school you think you want to go with can and will only be beneficial.
Freshman for a day is open to 8th graders and runs throughout most of the year. The students come in before our homeroom starts and are taken to room 111, which is my homeroom. The other ambassadors and I sit with them and chat until they are on their way to be matched up with their freshman. From there, they go to every class with the individual they are matched up with and really get the feel for this school. They sit in the lunch room and get to try the lunch food, see gym class, and walk the halls here. Their day ends after 5th period which is around 1:20pm, but they walk away with a better knowledge of this school and what it means to be a student here.

The best advice I can give to anyone who will be in high school next year is to spend a day at the schools they are looking at. It’s the best way to make a decision as to which high school to attend. We look forward to the visitors :]

- Camille

My Life as a Student Ambassador

Hi, My name is Tejah, and I'm a Junior at Union Catholic. I am involved in Track, Big Brother Big Sister, Ambassador, Step Squad, UCTV, and Gospel Choir. UC is a very good school and I have enjoyed my 3 years here.

As an ambassador I have to represent the school all the time. I go to different grammar schools and let the students know about Union Catholic and why they should attend. Ambassador's also work the Open House and give tours to family's who would like their child to go to UC. First impressions are very important, so I try to look presentable at all times because I know there are people watching me because they too would like to be an Ambassador.

On October 2, 2008, my school had an Open House that Ambassadors had to work. I was nervous about giving my first tour and people asking me questions about the school. After my first tour, it was so easy talking about the school and telling parents that UC is the school for their child. Being an Ambassador is really fun. I enjoy it a lot and can not wait to do more events. =]

Nice to meet you!

Hey everyone! I'm one of the new UC bloggers, so my first blog will be an introduction: My name is Camille, and I'm a senior at Union Catholic this year. I am very involved in the building and really enjoy all the activities I take part in. I’m a lacrosse player, member of the Executive Board for SMAC (Student Movement against Cancer), Big Sister and Student Ambassador. I’m a social person and being in so many clubs at school has been a great experience for me because there are all different kinds of people whose paths cross mine as a result. I know that I have been so content at UC because I was able to take advantage of the opportunities to get involved.

Although I could write pages and pages about all the experiences I’ve had with lacrosse and SMAC, I will be blogging mostly about being a Big Sister and Student Ambassador. For those who don’t know what a big sister or ambassador does, I’ll explain. To become a Big Brother/Sister, students apply at the end of their sophomore year. If they are chosen to be in the program, the student is assigned an incoming freshman to watch out for and help get used to high school. We write them letters in the summer, give them a phone call, and meet them on orientation day. On that day, we take our little brother or sister to all their classes and give them a little insider knowledge on some of the teachers they’re going to be having for the year. Our job is to make sure our little brother or sister walks to their first high school class with eased nerves and a new friend.

Being an Ambassador is similar to being a Big Sister, but there is more involved. Ambassadors are automatically part of the Big Brother/Sister program, but they do more events. The selection process is the same – you have to apply and see whether or not you are accepted. Once accepted, an Ambassador becomes very involved with the recruitment aspect of UC. We go to Middle Schools and talk to the 7th/8th graders about UC so they know more about what it’s like to be a student here, work the acceptance dance, lock-in, open houses, freshman for a day program, and a whole lot more. Basically, if there’s an event going on at UC, there will be Ambassadors there to help Mr. Luciano and Mrs. Thornton keep the gears turning and make sure everything runs smoothly.

For me, being an ambassador has been the best part of my high school experience. It gave me the opportunity to come out of my shell and meet friends who have so much in common with me. It’s also made a big difference when it comes to knowing the underclassmen at school. Most seniors recognize the faces of the freshman from seeing them in the hallways but I’m able to say that I know most of their names because I’ve met them so many times whether I visited their school or chatted with them at the acceptance dance due to being an ambassador. I like walking in the hallways being able to ask one of my little brothers, Charles, if he ended up liking his English class (since he wasn’t a fan of English in 8th grade), or wave to the boy who recognized me because I walked him to his homeroom when he came for freshman for a day.

That’s what it means to be an ambassador, and that’s what I’ll be blogging about this year. I’ll keep you posted :]

- Camille