Emma:  I attended St. Michael School in Wheaton. At St. Francis I was involved in Soccer, Tennis, Student Ministry Team, National Honor Society, Student Ambassador Leadership Team, Eucharistic Minister, Intramurals, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Leadership Team, and Kairos. At Honors Night, I received the American Legion Good Citizen Award, Wheaton Good Citizen Award, Illinois State Scholar, SFHS Business Department Award, Athlete of the Year, Principal's Award, and I graduated with Honors.

Adam: I attended Bower Elementary and then Hubble Middle School in Warrenville before beginning my time at St. Francis. At St. Francis, I was involved in Golf, Swimming, Math Team, Engineering Club, Student Ambassador Leadership Team, National Honor Society, and Men's Spirituality Club.  At Honors Night, I received the IHSA All-State Academic Team Honorable Mention, American Legion Good Citizen Award Honorable Mention, Prudential Spirit of Community Award, AP Scholar, Illinois State Scholar, Religion Department Award, and I graduated with Honors with Distinction.

 

2. What is your favorite memory during your time at SFHS?

Emma: My favorite memory was winning the 2018 2A State Soccer Championship with my team. And Kairos (Senior Retreat), of course!!
Adam: My favorite memory during my tenure at Francis is competing in the state finals for Golf. Having the opportunity to take a bus down with the team, stay in a hotel, and compete against some of the best in the state was an incredible experience. Just hanging with the team and coaches was so much fun and created so many great memories. The State walkout through the school with the drum line beforehand is also a memory I will never forget. 

 

3. Describe your relationships with faculty/staff. How did they help you in your high school journey to be the best version of yourself?

Emma: I share a very strong relationship with many members of the faculty and staff at St. Francis. In many cases, I see them more as friends than I do as teachers. I can honestly say that every member of the faculty/staff that I have come in contact with has impacted my life in a positive way. I would not be where I am today without them. I would often find myself staying after class, after school, or even after a sporting/extracurricular event to talk to one of the members of the faculty. They genuinely cared about my life and how I was doing, and they made me feel so welcome wherever I was. The best part of the faculty and staff at Francis is that they genuinely care about your future. My teachers took the time to get to know me and, in turn, pushed me to be the absolute best I could be. They challenged me to ask questions and make decisions and adapt to new situations. If it were not for them, I would still be trying to figure out a college major, I would not have the amount of confidence in myself as I do today, and my life would not be the same. I am so beyond blessed to have these relationships and be a part of this family.
Adam: My experience with the teachers at St. Francis was awesome. The teachers always worked with us students to help us be at our best but also fostered personal relationships with us. I have so many memories from high school where there would be something funny going on that even the teacher was laughing along with us. After graduating St. Francis, I really would call my past instructors friends instead of teachers. 

 

4. Describe how prepared you feel for the next level of education. What particular classes or resources have allowed you to feel confident to go to college?

Emma: Because of St. Francis, I feel incredibly well prepared for the next level of education. The classes here pushed me to think harder, to look at things from a different perspective, and even to approach a problem in a way I never thought I could. I took many different classes at St. Francis but the classes such as Economics, Speech, and Business Communications showed me what life was like in the real world. They taught me skills that wouldn't just help me succeed in an academic setting but in society and life after college. In addition to these, the abundance of AP classes available showed me what college level courses may look like and pushed me to go the extra mile and work a little harder. These classes, among countless others, taught me that it is possible to excel if I put in the work. These classes intermixed with teachers that want to see us succeed truly prepared me for college and have created an incredibly strong foundation for me to build my future upon.  
Adam: I feel very prepared to tackle college this fall. St. Francis has provided me with a challenging workload and the resources to be successful in that challenge. I think most importantly in high school I have learned how to effectively manage my time, and I think that will be very beneficial for college. In addition, the use of technology is heavily prevalent at St. Francis, and that is very reassuring to me because I feel comfortable with that aspect for the future.

 

5. What college will you be attending in the fall? Why are you proud to be an SFHS alum? What one word would you use to describe your felling toward St. Francis?

Emma: In the fall I will be attending Marquette University, majoring in Marketing. I am proud to be an SFHS Alum for many reasons. A significant amount of my family walked through these same halls in high school, and to be a part of that history has made me incredibly proud. In addition to this, SFHS is a home. It is a home filled with people with the biggest hearts and the kindest smiles. A home filled with a competitive energy and a desire to excel and be the best that we can be. A home that wants to help people who are not as fortunate as we are and give them a life they deserve. A home that sees potential and won't stop until it is attained. A home that loves, a home that shares, a home that is authentic and genuine and humble. A home that I am proud to be a part of.  Because of my time at St. Francis, I would describe myself as "FULFILLED." This school has shown me so much love, filled me with so much joy, and given me more than I could have ever asked for. If I asked my freshman self if she pictured herself where I am today, I would guarantee she wouldn't have any clue. But I am here, and I am proud to have St. Francis be a part of my heart forever because it has shown me what true community is. It has filled me with so much love, so much joy, and given me relationships that will last a lifetime. Because of St. Francis, I go on with hope for a bright future.
Adam:  I plan to study Data Science at Purdue University.  I am proud to be a St. Francis alum because I feel so much love and support towards the school, and I am thankful I was a part of it. I feel like I was able to find my voice and really excel as a student and a person because of St. Francis, and that really makes me proud. I would use the word "MIRACULOUS" to describe my feeling towards St. Francis. Nearing the end of middle school, I really found St. Francis by accident. I decided to pursue the school not really knowing what to expect, and I am so incredibly thankful that I did. It has made me into a person I am proud to be today. That is why I would call St. Francis miraculous, because it truly has been in my life.