From Houston to Boston: An Alum’s Perspective on High School at SAA

I press a button on my phone, and wait as the phone switches to FaceTime. A smiling, familiar face pops up on the screen, and I see Kelly Thomas (SAA‘19) sitting on the bench in a Boston coffee shop. She sits in a small booth, holding a coffee cup in one hand and a pencil in the other.

Kelly was the School Buzz editor at St. Agnes as a junior and a senior, and the summer in between those years, she interned at The Buzz. (See Kelly's past Buzz articles here.) I reached out to ask her about her college experience so far. 

Where do you go to college, and what are you studying? 

Kelly: I am a freshman at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. I am majoring in journalism with a minor in environmental studies. 

What has been the most exciting thing about college so far?

Kelly: I’ve really loved the newness of college and how it’s allowed me to try new things. My major is pretty flexible, so I’ve had the opportunity to take classes on a wide variety of topics like business, environmental science, architecture, and screenwriting. I’ve also loved being in the heart of the city and getting to explore a new environment. One of my favorite things to do is try out new coffee shops.

Kelly and her friends at a Northeastern hockey game. Pictured are (from left) Kelly (SAA‘19), Kaitlyn Moleti, Isabel Smith (SAA’19) and Hannah Weber (SAA’19).

What do you miss about St. Agnes? 

Kelly: One thing I really miss about St. Agnes is the closeness of the community. Even if you don’t talk to everyone in your grade, you most likely know who they are. So many times at St. Agnes, I saw the community come together to help others or talk about an issue in a way that doesn’t happen in such a big place like college.Though the freedom I have in college is great, I sometimes miss the routine I had at St. Agnes. Seeing the same friends and teachers and knowing what to expect out of my classes all the time made it feel like home.  

What I miss the most, though, is the strong St. Agnes spirit and traditions. Many of my favorite memories are centered around enjoying traditions like VVD [Veritas Vacation Day] with my friends. I will also forever be nostalgic for the St. Agnes song. I think you don’t realize how much you’re going to miss a place until you’re not there anymore. 

As an alum, what advice do you have for students applying to St. Agnes? 

Kelly: I would highly recommend it. You will not only gain such a good foundation of knowledge that will be useful your entire life, but you will also discover a great community of friends, teachers, and faculty who support you. Though my classes at St. Agnes were super demanding, they were definitely worth the hard work. There are times now when I definitely have less work on a daily basis than I did at St. Agnes. I feel like St. Agnes gave me a strong foundation in all subjects, which is important since I’ll likely never take some classes, like math or history, again.

Outside of class, there are so many opportunities to find your passions, be it through sports, theater, debate, or art. I truly cannot imagine having gone anywhere else for high school!I also feel like St. Agnes helped instill a spirit of independence in me. I feel like the wide variety of elective classes at St. Agnes allowed me to try out some of my interests, including writing and photography, in a safe and open space. These are interests that St. Agnes helped me develop and I hope to utilize in my future career.

To current and future students, I could not speak more highly of the college counseling department. They are some of the most supportive and helpful people I’ve ever met, and I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of Mrs. Lindsey Brown, who was my counselor. I wholeheartedly recommend that you take advantage of your counselor and their advice. Don’t be afraid to come to them with any worries or concerns, no matter how small or big they may seem.

As part of her summer internship at The Buzz, Kelly Thomas covered a Houston art installation, Park People, along with several other interns. (Photo: Abby Cohan) 

What is your advice for current SAA Students thinking about college? 

Kelly: First off, I would recommend taking some time to fully evaluate each option. Think about each option and let it sit with you for a while. Think about how you truly feel about it before crossing it off your list. In the end, you may even end up reconsidering some of the colleges you crossed off, which is why it’s important to not rush the process.

Ultimately, your decision might come down to a gut feeling, or it might be based upon a logical evaluation of what the best choice is. There’s no one right way to decide.

For those who have decided on a college, congratulations! 

One of my biggest pieces of advice is to try to enter college with an open mind and not too many expectations of what it’ll be like. Be open to new experiences and stay true to who you are, but don’t be afraid of change either. Don’t strain yourself trying to fulfill others’ expectations, make sure what you’re doing is what you really want to do. Also, don’t be afraid to do the things you love because you’re afraid of failure. Failure is inevitable and the reward that comes with doing something that fulfills you is worth it.

Editor’s Note: Congratulations to the Class of 2020! If you’re a graduating senior and want to be considered for our annual “Where are they headed” story featuring high school seniors heading to college, fill out this survey here.