A Not-So-Frightening Fish Week

What does a baby bottle, a giant beehive and boatloads of Kit Kats have in common?

They're all part of St. Agnes Academy’s Fish Week.
 
Fish Week is a St. Agnes tradition where all the freshmen are paired with a senior to be their "big sister." Throughout the week, each senior anonymously assigns their "little sister" dares and extravagant costumes. At the end of the week, the freshmen meet their "big sister" and attend the Neon Dance with them on Saturday.

As a freshman starting at a new school, I was feeling both excited but also nervous at the start of Fish Week. The suspense of not knowing what my costume would be, what my dares were and who my "big sister" was, was starting to weigh down on me, as I walked to my advisory class on Tuesday morning. I kept reassuring myself that everything was going to be great, and it would be an experience to remember. And as it turns out, I was completely right!
 
On Tuesday, we were dressed as babies. I was handed a box which held my costume for the day; I wore a baby bib, a children's towel and used a baby bottle. All of the freshmen girls were laughing and ridiculing their outfits. Along with the costume, the box held a list of dares for me to complete. I read them quickly imagining how embarrassing they would be, but I was up for the challenge. My first dare was to do jumping jacks in the middle of the commons at school. It was embarrassing, but yet so fun, as I found people to join me. I continued to do my dares and by the end of the day, I could already tell that the week ahead would be one to remember.
 
The next morning, I received my second box, with another costume. But, there was a slight change. It was beach day. I slid on my hula skirt, bucket hat and pineapple sunglasses, ready for another entertaining day of challenges. I went along with my day, casually asking "Who else likes fried pickles?" in my theology class, while continuing to fulfill my dares. Before I knew it, the day of adventure had passed me by. I couldn't wait to find out who the senior was that had planned all of this.
 
As the time approached for my big sister to pick me up on Thursday morning, I was jumpy and eager to meet her.  After what felt like a long wait, my big sister walked in and called out my name. I hurried over to meet her, and we immediately started conversing. I couldn't believe how similar we were and how nice she was. We went to the prayer service together and then had breakfast. We continued to talk about random topics like our favorite shows and songs we listen to. She was everything and even more than I expected her to be. 
 
On Friday, we gathered at the school with our groups of big sisters and little sisters, for the last costume day of the week. My big sister chose a beehive costume for me to wear, and others in our group were dressed as beehives for bees as well. Other little sisters were dressed as polar bears, eggs, leprechauns and more. The groups paraded through the school, flaunting the crazy costumes and dancing to loud music that filled the hallways.
 
To conclude Fish Week, my big sister took me to the neon dance Saturday night at St. Agnes with our group. We had dinner together, then went to school wearing our matching group shirts. Our shirts had our team name, the queen bees and all of our names listed. I danced with my friends and talked to new people. After all the excitement, we went to IHop for a midnight snack.

Overall, I would give Fish Week a 10/10. I met new people at my school and formed friendships that will last throughout high school. Fish week also helped me adjust to my new school and understand what St. Agnes is all about. St. Agnes is truly a big community that emphasizes a sense of sisterhood through high school and beyond!