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Journey to Notre Dame

By Kevin McKenna, age 18 | May 24, 2021

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LUCK OF THE IRISH Kevin McKenna, a newly graduated senior from Strake Jesuit, meets Pro Football Hall of Famer and Fighting Irish legend Jerome Bettis before Notre Dame’s 2018 playoff game against Clemson at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

I’ll always remember visiting Notre Dame with my family as a third grader. On the day before the football game, we were lucky enough to go inside the stadium, walk on the field, and tour the locker room. That night, I told my parents, “This is where I want to go to college.” The campus was magical to me, highlighted by the golden dome of its main building and the statues of championship-winning coaches sculpted by my grandfather.

While I loved it all, I could not begin to understand how challenging a goal I had set for myself. I realized years later how difficult it would be to achieve it, which motivated me to do my best in academics and extracurriculars. My main reason for going to Strake Jesuit was because I felt it would best prepare me for Notre Dame, if the college accepted me. Logging onto the Notre Dame application portal last December and seeing the “Congratulations. Welcome Home” image is absolutely one of the happiest moments of my life.

Notre Dame has always been an extremely positive part of my life. My parents graduated from there and got married on campus. I was baptized in its Log Chapel by the school’s Father Joyce. Despite growing up in Texas, we made countless trips for football games, basketball camps, and family volunteer camps. I’ve met some of my favorite Fighting Irish athletes, including Jerome Bettis, Bonzie Colson, and Will Fuller. Like Strake Jesuit, I believe Notre Dame will help me to further develop my mind, body, and spirit. The university’s Mendoza College of Business has the motto “Grow the Good in Business,” which speaks to what I hope to accomplish in my career.

Ultimately, I could not picture myself attending college anywhere else, so I am very grateful for what comes next. I look forward to enjoying football Saturdays and calling this special place my home for the next four years. Whether or not it tops the college rankings or the football polls, Notre Dame is truly No. 1 in my heart.

Editor's note: See Class of 2021: Where are they headed? to see where Buzz-area grads, including Kevin, are heading to college plus advice they'd give to their kindergarten selves if they could.

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