Sproul Road, Villanova, PA 19085
LetterFromtheEditors
DearReaders,
Wecanhardlybelievethatweareinthefinalstretchoftheschoolyear.Emotionsarerunninghighasthe schoolyearcomestoaclose;whetherthatbeanticipationforsummer,sadnessthatthischapteriscoming toaclose,oranxietyforupcomingAPsandfinals.Atthistime,wewouldliketothankeveryonewhohas participatedandcontributedtothenewspaperthisyear.Yourhardworkanddedicationhelpmakethis newspaperwhatitis.
Thisissuefeaturesawiderangeofarticles,includingareflectiononthePhilliesseason,areflectiononthe SpringSportsbanquet,acrosswordpuzzle(onwheresomeofourseniorswillattendcollege!),anda collectionofoccasionalpapers.Occasionalpapersareinformalessaysthatreflectonaspecificmoment throughoutthesemester.Thesemomentscanbesmallandseeminglyinsignificant,orabigdeal,suchas aneighteenthbirthday.Thepurposeistoreflectonthismoment,andtohopefullyacquireanewfound understandingofwhatthemomentmeanttoyou.Itfeelsfittingastheyearwindstoaclosetoinclude someofthesepapers,whichreflectonmeaningfuleventsthroughouttheseniors’lastsemester.
ThankyoufortakingthetimetoreadthisthirdissueofTheGates!
WithGratitude
CalleighNewbertandMeredithRinaldi
ReflectiononNewChapters
ByEllaBidez‘26
ImadeapactwithmyselfthatIwouldnʼtbesadatallduringsenioryear.Iwouldnʼtcryatspiritdayor mother-daughter–Iwouldn'tletmyselfmournayearthatwasbarelyevenstarting.
Yet,Ifindmyselfsadthatonethinginmylifeis“endingˮ.
IʼveneverreallyfeltanykinshiporclosenesswithprettymuchanythingatND.Ifoundmyself researchingcountrystancesormakingoverlycomplexGoogleSheetsaboutthealliesoftheRepublic ofSloveniainsteadofdoingthingswithfriends.Winterbreakswerespentpreppingforeventswith overlycomplexacronymslikeILMUNCorHMUN.
Ifyoucouldnʼtguess,thethingthatIfoundmyselfmissingthemostisModelUN.Unsurprisingly,Ifind myselfmissingtheclubwherestudentsforgotheirweekendsinordertospendtimeinaconference roomdebatingtheintricaciesofnucleardisarmamentinspaceorCOVID19vaccinedistribution.MUN isoneofthereasonsIʼmevenhereatND.
AfterIgotmyfirsttasteofMUNatthe2023editionofHMUN,Iwashooked.ThatsameyearItriedto signupforanyandeveryconferencethatwasoffered,evenifitmeantIhadtogotoLaSallewherein thewomen'srestroom,theyhavemanysignsthatsay“Boyswillbeboys,butLaSalleboyswillbe gentlemenˮ.Assoonasthespringofmyfreshmanyearcame,Ihadmyheartsetonbecominga leader.
Thatgoalwasaccomplishedinjunioryear,where,alongsidemyotherjuniorandseniorleaders,Iput onthefirsteditionofNDMUN.Whilethatdaymighthavebeenoneofthemostchaoticdaysofmylife (onlytoppedbyNDMUNII,Ilovedit.Thispastweekendwastheannualcollegiateconference.We ventureduptobalmyNewHaventodebateatYMUN,wheretwentyoddcountrieswererepresented.
TheGates- Staff
EditorsinChief:CalleighNewbert‘26andMeredithRInaldi ‘26
StaffWritersforIssue#3MeredithRinaldi‘26,Calleigh Newbert‘26,EllaBidez‘26,MariaTufaro‘26,Creighton Czajkowski‘27,MiaDeAngelo‘27
NewspaperGamesContributor:EllaBidez‘26
ReflectiononNewChapters,Continued
Theovernightconferencesarestressfulforeverydelegate,butespeciallysofor thetwelveleaders.Somuchso,thatsometimesweoverlooktheexperience thatwearehavingbecausewearetryingsohardtokeeptrackofoursmall groupsorcountlesscommitteesessions.
Thisyear,IdecidedthatIwasgoingtotryandactuallygetthefullovernight MUNexperience.IwasinanamazingcommitteeLobsterWarscrisis committee),agoodroommatesituation(myducklings),andprettygoodfood options.But,asIwasuptherecountingdowntheminutesofeachcommittee sessionbecausetheyseemednever-ending,somethinghitme.
Itwascommitteesession3,andIwassittingthroughanothermoderated caucusonhowweshouldresolvetheongoingcrisis,adisputebetween1 Frenchfishermen,2Brazilianfishermen,and3)sentientAIkillerlobsters.I keepglancingatmywatch,lettingmymindwandertotheothertasksathand. HadIcheckedinwithmysmallgroup?Yes.WhatamIdoingforlunch?Idonʼt know,Bridgetwillprobablyfigureitout.Eventually,Iranoutofmylaundrylistof questionstoaskmyselfandwasthinkingaboutthefuture.Iwasthinkingabout howIdidnʼtwanttodoanotherMUN;Icanalwaysdoonenextyear.
ThatthoughtdidnʼtfullyhitmeuntilthefinalcommitteesessiononSunday.IwassittinginaclassroomintheWilliamL. HarknessHallatYale,dressednotinWBAbutinalobsteronesiewhenIfinallyrealizedthatthisisit.ThisisthelasttimeI willbeadelegate.It'sthelasttimeIwillholdaplacard,motionformoderatedcaucuses,anything.Ifelttearsbegintoprick atthecornersofmyeyes.Thishugepartofmylifewascomingtoanend,ratheranticlimactically.
IwonʼtboreyouwiththedetailsofthecrazywayweleftYMUN52,butitkeptmebusyuntilwewerebackonthebus headingbacktoND.ThefurtherwegotfromNewHaven,thefurtherIfeltmyselfgettingfromthispartofmylifethat consumedmostofmythoughtsfromNovember2022toJanuary2026.Nottosounddramatic,butitfeltlikeaholewas forminginmychestthatcouldonlybefilledwithsomeonehittingagavelagainstadesk,shouting“decorumdelegatesˮin frontofaroomof300hungry,sleep-deprivedteenagerswhohaven'tseenthesunin72hours.
Ihatebreakingpromises,butonSundayIdid.OnSunday,Ifeltsadforthefirsttimeinsenioryear.Imetsomeofmy favoritepeoplebecauseofMUNorbecauseoftheexpansivenetworkMUNhas.MUNgavemeEllieandBridgetandCeci andMayaandAvaandGraceandSoledadandsomanymorepeopleandexperiencesthatIneverwouldhavehadbefore. WithoutMUN,Iwouldnʼtknowhowtodealwithborderlinemisogynistic15-year-oldsorhowtonavigateahospitalina foreigncountry.WhilenotallofthosearenormalMUNexperiences,theyweremine.
SoIʼmsorry,pastElla.Iʼmsorryforfeelingsadandmaybelettingsometearsfallaswedrovepastthesnow-coveredtrees ontheConnecticutandNewYorkborder.Iʼmsorryforbreakingmypromisetoyou,butIʼdbreakitathousandtimesoverif itmeantyouwouldhavethesameexperiencesIdid.
PhillySportsandCommunity
ByMiaDeAngelo‘27
Inthecoldermonths, youwillnoticethatweallcometogether fortheSuperBowl(atleastinsomeform).Thisyear,the excitementlevelhasincreasedtoanewlevelasthepossibility ofanotherdeepPhiladelphiaEaglesplayoffrunbecomesmore andmorereal.AlltheKellyGreenhoodiesand“GOBIRDSˮ chantsgetalittlelouderthaninthepreviousyears.
FansofPhiladelphiaEaglesfootballwereentertainedwithmany memorablemomentsduringthe2019NFLseason.Thememory ofallthegreatplaysondefenseandclutchplaysonoffense bringsbackmemoriesofeachweek,displayinghowmuch passionandhearttheEagleshaveshownthroughouttheyear. TheEagleswereabletodemonstratetheirabilitytoovercome toughmatchupsandwinclosegamesbecauseofhowloyal Philadelphiafansareasawhole.EventhoughtheEaglesscare theirfansthemajorityofthetime,Itisaboutsomuchmore thanwinning.ItisaboutthepassionthePhiladelphiaareaand thesurroundingareashavefortheteam.Eventhoughthe seasondidn'tendaswehoped,thePhiladelphiaEaglesunified thecommunity.
TheEaglesprovideanopportunityforcomingtogetherinfamilyandfriendship.Communitiescanenjoy traditionalgamedayfoodssuchaswingsandsnackswhilediscussingwhattheyhaveincommon,the Eagles.Whetherthatistalkingabouthalftimes,commercials,plays,orthenextseason,theyprovidethe abilitytobondandconnectwithoneanother.
Thebigtakeawayformeduringthisfootballseasonwasthesenseofcommunityamongeveryone.At school,peopleweresharingtheiropinionsofhowtheseasoncouldhavegonedifferently.Itisamazinghow muchafootballseasonbecomesapartofyourlife,anditprovidesareasontolookforwardtohaving somethingfuntododuringthelong,coldweeksofwinter.
Sportsarenotjustaboutchampionships.They'reaboutloyaltytoyourteamandcomingbacktowatch weekafterweek.WhiletheEaglesdidn'twinitallthisyear,theirseasonhasgiventheirfansanopportunity toberemindedofwhywecontinuetocheerforthem,regardless!
RoommatesandTinderDating
ByCalleighNewbert‘26
Growingup,myfearsincludedheights,snakes,and aggressivesalesmenatthemall.Thingsthatoccurred naturallyintheworldwelivein,butthatcanbeavoided withcautionandconscientiousness.Nevertheless, becominganadultmeansfacingchallengesthatare moredifficulttorunfrom.Thecollegeapplication processfosteredfearinaninevitableprocessfrom whichIhadonlyheardhorrorstories:findingand choosingadorm-mate.
InherfreshmanyearatDrexel,mymomhadthe misfortuneofsharingaroomwithShannon;Shannon thechronicsmoker,theloudsnorer,andthe incense-burninghomebody.Myolderbrotherhad Jared,whorefusedtoshowerforweeksatatime,left hislaundrystrewnacrosstheroom,andstayedout eachnightuntilearlymorning.FormyfriendMichaela, itwasCarol,forCharlotte,itwasAbby,andforSammy, Erin.
Butthesestoriesbecomeexaggeratedovertime,andI prefersolid,empiricalfacts.AttheUniversityofFlorida, first-yearstudentsinthehonorscollegearerequiredto liveintheHonorsVillagedormsfortheirfirstacademic year.Consideringatargetenrollmentof725freshmen intheprogramandanapproximategenderbreakdown of54.7%femaleto45.3%male,thiscreatesapoolof around396roommatestochoosefrom.Thencomes themoresubjectiveaspectsofroommateselection: whendotheysleep?Whatistheirsociallife?How cleandotheykeeparoom?Whatsortoffirst impressiondotheygiveoffontheirsocialmedia?That eliminatesaboutanother50%ofgirls,leavingatotalof 198girls.Only99pairs.AndbetweenFebruary6thand March15th,mymissionwastofindthe“perfectˮ personforme.
Thinkingaboutit,findingaroommateinthe modernageisnottoodissimilartoonlinedating. Quickjudgmentonappearanceandfirst impression.Somysearchfortheperfectpartner becameagameofswipingrightandleft.First,I curatedmyInstagramtoincludetheperfect pictures,captions,andhumortoenthrallany suitors.PostingtheseonaFloridacommitment page,Icreatedthefacadeoftheideal roommate:sleepingfrom11PMto8AM,outon theweekendandinonweekdays,and adventurousenoughtogetimmersedinallsorts ofcollegehijinks.Thencamethestrategy: compilingalistof50girlsofinterestIcould reachouttowithmyproposal,anddrawthemin withatantalizinghook:“IamCalleighfrom Philadelphia,andIbelievethatyouwouldbethe perfectroommateforme!ˮ
Nextisthejugglingofprospects:jumping betweenartificial,surface-levelconversation, gaugingpersonality,andwhittlingdownmylist toafewtopcontenderswiththeexcusethatI “amcurrentlyseeingotherpeople.ˮWiththe influxofgirlstotalkto,asuddendryspellina conversationorlackofchemistrywouldquickly driveawaymymotivationtostaycommitted, anditsoonseemedthatmylisthadbeen narroweddowntojustthree:Fiona,Allie,and Sydney.
RoommatesandTinderDating,Continued
Finally,Isettledthematterofaroommateoverplannedcallsandcoffeedates,whereIgottoknowthe girlswhobestsuitedmypersonality.WhenSydneybegantoreciprocatemyinterestbyaskingabout potentialdormrentinganddecoration,Ibuiltupthecouragetomakeourtitleofficial.Andwiththe submissionofadormpairingrequestonthehousingportal,SydneyandIwereofficiallyoffthemarket.
Nevertheless,intherapidpursuitofmyperfectperson,IfindmyselfrealizingthatthewayIpresented myselfonlinewasfardifferentthanmyauthenticself.Withthefast-paced,dopamine-drivennatureof theinternet,itfeelsasifmakingconnectionsinthecurrentdaymeanshavingenoughfollowersona socialmediaaccount,prettyphotostoshare,andthepresentationofagirlwhoisbothpopularand personable.Therefore,thepressureoftheroommatesearchbecamelesscontingentonwhetherIwas likedbyothersthanonwhethertheyapprovedofthesuperficialpersonIhadcreatedforthem.Evenin mypersonallife,aheavyemphasisonmaintainingcertainappearancesonsocialmediaseemstohinder theauthenticityofrelationshipsintherealworld.
Now,asmyfriendshipdevelopswithSydney,itfeelsasifwehavebothbeguntopeelbackour preconceivednotionsofoneanothertofindarealconnection.Inajokingmoment,Iconfessedtoher thatIhadgrownupinaStarWars-obsessedfamily,andsheopeneduptomeaboutherownsecret passionforthefranchise.Webothwishwecouldrunamarathon,butstrugglewiththedisciplinetodo so.Webothpreferaquietnightathome,butfeelobligatedtoconstantlybebusyduetothe environmentaroundusdoingthesame.Throughthosemomentsofvulnerability,Ihaveonlycometo appreciatehermore.
Inthefaceofadultchallenges,Istillfeeltheurgetorunfromtheinevitable.Yetbyrunningfromourreal selves,wefacethegreaterriskofputtingourselvesinsituationsofdishonestyanddiscomfort.I recognizemyluckinmeetingsomeonewhosegenuineselfclickswellwithmypersonality;however,my experiencesreflecthowmanyfreshmandorm-matehorrorstoriesmaystemfromtheinabilityofpeople tobeauthenticwhensteppingintoanewchapteroftheirlives.Itisimpossibletoreshapeourselvesto fitamoldofperfectionwithoutlosingsomeaspectofourindividuality.Perhapsintheselasttwomonths ofschool,wecanlearntousechangenotasameansofreinventingourselves,buttoembracethe authenticitythatbringsusclosertotruefulfillment.
ReturningtoLittleWomen
ByMariaTufaro‘26
Overthepast4months,Ihavereadfivebooks,plays,and collectionsofpoetry:ARoomWithAView,Hamlet, RosencrantzandGuildensternareDead,AnAmerican Sunrise,andLittleWomen.Well,sortof.
LittleWomenismyfavoritenovel;whenIreaditfirstasa fourthgrader,Iimmediatelyfellinlovewiththequainthome, sisterlybonds,andsweet,thoughtragic,story.Thisstoryhas grownwithmeforthepast8years,andIhavegainedaccess tonewperspectiveseachtimeIhavegonebacktoreadit.
10-year-oldmedidnotpickupontheconflictofsocialstatus,financialburden,orfamilyloyalty.AllIknew thefirsttimeIreadthiswasthatitmademefeelgood.ItremindedmeofmyownfamilyinwaysIcouldnot express,anditmademefeelmatureinawaythatwasbeyondwhatlipglossoraStarbuckscupcoulddo.
Ihavespentmyentirelifebeinganavidreader.ThiswastaughttomebymyolderbrotherasIracedtokeep upwithhisever-growingbookshelfandstacksofcheck-outsfromthelibrary.Wegrewupexchanging novels,andwouldsitnexttoeachotherinthelivingroomforhourseachnight,tearingthroughthestoriesin frontofus.WhenweweregiftedKindles,ourtastesinreadingdivergedaswecouldaccessnearlyanybook thatwehopedfor.IwasnolongerlimitedtotheendlessWheelofTimesaga,andheneveragainpickedup oneofmyhistoricalfictionsfeaturingafieryheroine.Instead,IbegantoreadwhatIknewas“theclassicsˮ. Thesewerenotjustthestandard,longstandingworksofliteraturethatyouwouldusuallythinkof.Tome, classicswerethebooksthatmyparentsknewandloved.Theykeptabookshelfintheirownroom;ifIfound atitleonthisshelf,Iknewthatitwassomethingworthreading.Lookingback,itwasnosurprisethatthefirst oneIchosetodownloadonmyKindlewasLittleWomen,consideringthecovetedplaceittookonthetop shelfclosesttomyMomʼsreach.Thoughsubtle,Iknewthiswasthebestindicatorofabookʼssignificance, andIwasright.
FastforwardtoDecemberof2025.16daysbeforemyfirstcollegedecisionwouldbereleased,Iwas panicking.WhatifIhadchosenthewrongschooltoapplytointheearlyactionround?Whatifthiswasthe beginningofalongseasonofoutrightrejection?WhatifIforgottosubmitsomething?Therewasno momentwhenmymindwascompletelyatpeace,soIdecidedtofocusonthingsthatwouldbringmeevena fragmentofcomfort.IswamasmanytimesasIcouldeachweek,studiedtomybreakingpointonevery test,and,mostimportantly,putLittleWomenonmybedsidetabletoreread.Throughouthighschool,Ihave hadlessandlesstimetoread,andthetimeIhavereadingformyownpleasurehasdwindledtothelast minutesbeforebedeachnight.IʼvefoundthatthereisastrategytochoosingwhatIfillthistimewithto makefallingasleepaneasyprocess,andinthisperiodofuncertaintyandanxiety,IknewthatwhatIread neededtobesomethingfamiliarandsoothing.LittleWomenseemedlikethemostappropriatechoice-not onlyhadIwrittenasupplementalessayforNotreDameonthisbook,butIalsoneededtherefugeofthe Marchsʼsimplehome.However,thisiswheremyplanfelloff.
ReturningtoLittleWomen,Continued
AsIsaidbefore,findingtimetoreadhasbeenincreasinglydifficultthroughouthighschool,andthisyear theproblemhasbecomeexponentiallyworse.Iamstillreadingalot,butmybookofchoice,comfort,and friendshiphasslippedoutofreachaseachdayhasbecomemoreconsumedbythedemandsofschool. WhenIgotintoNotreDame,Ithoughtthatmyanxietyaboutschoolwouldfadeaway.UntilIsatdownin mybedlastweekandrealizedithadbeenfourmonths,andLittleWomenwasstillsittingonmybedside tableunfinished,IwasunawareofhowwrongIcouldbe.Ithoughtthat,asasecond-semestersenior,I haditallundercontrol.Myapplicationswerein,mygradesweregood,andIwasfinallygivingmyselfthe “freedomˮthatIhadseensomanyofmyclassmatestakesincefreshmanyear.Ineverallowedmyselfa leveloffreedomthattookawaymyguiltforhangingoutwithfriendswhenanessaywasduethenext week,orkeptmecalmenoughtowatchTVonaweeknight.Thistimelastmonth,Iwouldhavetoldyou thatIhadcompletelyletgoofthosefeelingsandinsteadembracedenjoyingtheendofhighschool.But whenIsawthisbooksittingonmynightstand,thebookmarkstilllessthanhalfwaythroughthepages,I knewthatIwaswrong.
Ithitmesuddenly.AshardasImighttry,Iamstillobsessedwithschool-doingwell,beingthebest, makingitlookeffortless.ItisjustwhoIam,andintryingtotakeawaythestressofschool,Iactuallymade itworseformyself.Itmayhavefeltlikefreedomtoletmyselfgotoahockeygamewithfriendsona randomThursdaynight,butIdidnʼtreadLittleWomenthatnightwhenIwasfinishingmypresentationfor sciencefair.ItmayhavefeltlikefreedomwhenIdidnʼtstudyforhoursbeforeaphysicstest,butIdidnʼt readLittleWomenthatnightasIsatinbedthinkingabouthowIhadfailedmyself.Itmayhavefeltlike freedomwhenIletmyselfsayyestoeverythingIwasinvitedto,butIdidnʼtreadLittleWomenthatnight becausetheexhaustionpulledmeinbeforeIhadevenreachedmypillow.
So,Iammakingapromisetomyselffortheendofsenioryear.Iwanttoactuallyenjoythefreedomthat theendofsenioryearhastooffer,notthefalsesenseoffreedomthatIthoughtIhad.Forthepast4years, IhaveworkedhardtogetmyselftowhereIam.Thathardworkhaspaidoff,butthatdoesnʼtmeanthatI canstopmeetingmyexpectations.WhenItriedtoletthosestandardsformyselfgo,IfoundthatIhadless freedom.Instead,Iamgoingtokeeppushingmyself.Assignmentsturnedinontime(dramaticirony), gradesreflectingtheworkIputin,andcaringaboutdoingwelljustformyownsake.Iwillstillhavefun,as Ialwayshave,andtheremaystillbedaysthatarenotasfocusedastheywouldhavebeentwoyearsago. However,IamgoingtoprioritizebeingabletoreadLittleWomen,becausethatiswhoIam.
cnewbert@ndapa.org or mrinaldi@ndapa.org
2026
WinterSportsCeremony
ByCreightonCzajkowski‘27
OnFebruary12th2026,NotreDamecelebratedits winterathletes,recognizingnotonlytheirtalentbut alsotheirresilience,leadership,andunwavering sisterhoodthroughouttheseason.Theceremony highlightednotonlystatisticsandrecords,butalso therelationshipsanddedicationthatshapedthe season.Allofthegirlswhowereapartofthese winterteamshadastrongimpactoneachotherand reflectedmanyofNotreDameʼscorevalueswhile engagingintheseason'sactivities.Theteams mentionedincluded:IndoorTrackandField,Upper SchoolBasketballandIrishSwimandDive.
TheIndoorTrackseasonthisyearwasverydifficult duetotheweather,butthatneverpreventedthe teamfromtryingtheirbest.Everyoneshowed resiliencethatneverwaveredwhilealsomaintaining anincrediblejoyforthesportandteammates. Therewerethreeawardsgivenoutbycoaches JohnLukePileggiandNickVechiktothegirlswho showeddedication,sportsmanshipandpride.The JVAwardwenttoDestenyUruchima.Uruchimawas noticedforherhardworkandherwillingnessto listenwhengivenfeedback.CoachPileggialso mentionedher25%improvementthroughoutthe seasonandhowincrediblethatis,asshehadno runningexperienceinthepast.Thenextawardwas giventoGabbyMekwunyeforMostImproved. Mekwunyewasafirsttimethrowerwhowassaidto beverycommitted,reliable,andexcitedforthe season!Throughouttheseasonherthrowgot progressivelyfartherandshekeptputtinginthe worktogetbetter,andbytheendoftheseasonshe hadgainedtwofeetandsettheindoorfreshman recordforNotreDame.TheCoachesawardwas receivedbyMollyOʼSullivan.
OʼSullivanwasrecognizedforhergrittyand aggressivehardworkonthetrack,whilealso balancingfunandseriousnessatthemost importanttimes.TheIndoorTrackTeamhadan overallgreatseasonwithmanyimprovements thatshowedthesisterhoodatNotreDame.
BuildingonthesuccessoftheIndoorTrack team,theUpperSchoolBasketballteamalso deliveredanoutstandingseasonthatisstillnot over.Allofthemembersofthisteamhaveset thestandardforexcellence.Thisteamhashad arollercoasterofaseasonthattheyhavecome backfromandhavebeendoingamazing.Itis thethirdyeartheyhavebeengiventhetitleof Inter-AcChampions,whichhasnotbeendone in30years.RileyDavisandEmmaAnthony wererecognizedfortheirincredible achievementsthisseason.Davisreached1000 pointsin3seasonsandAnthonyhad100 threepointersin2seasonsatNotreDame. Threegirlswererecognizedfortheirleadership andstrongimpactduringtheseason.TheJV AwardwenttoKieraKaneforherleadership, determination,andworkethic.Kanewasa greatrolemodelfortheteambecauseofher positiveattitudegoingintoeverypracticeand game.EmmaAnthonywaspresentedthe Coachesawardforherconfidence,strong execution,andheroptimisticresponseto adjustments.EmmaRocheleauwasrecognized forherlovingcharacterandheartthatbrings theteamtogether.Rocheleauwasalso acknowledgedforbeingastrongrolemodelon theteamforeveryone.Thisteamwillcontinue toplayintheplayoffswithastrongbondon andoffthecourt.
WinterSportsCeremony,Continued
TheFinalteamacknowledgedwastheSwimandDiveteam.Thisgroupof32athleteshasastrongbond builtondedication,resilience,andprideinandoutofthewater.Thisseasontheygotsecondplacein theInter-AcwhichandthirdplaceintheNationalCatholicMeet,whichmarksomeofthemost significantaccomplishmentsintheprogramʼs26-yearhistory.Onceagain,threestudentswerenoticed fortheirskillandsisterhood.Themostvaluableplayerawardwasgiventotwooftheveryspecial seniorsontheSwimandDiveteam.GabiAbruzzoandKaitlynKolessarwererecognizedfortheir outstandingaccomplishments.Abruzzo,afive-yearvarsityswimmer,earnedAllMainline,AllDelco,All Inter-Ac,andAllAmericanhonors.Shealsoholdsthreeschoolrecordsandremainedundefeatedinthe 100-meterracethisseason.Kolessar,aseven-yearvarsityswimmer,alsohasalsoreceivedthetitlesof AllMainline,AllDelco,AllInter-Ac,andAllAmerican.Shealsoholdstwoschoolrecords.Kolessarand AbruzzowillbecontinuingtheirswimmingcareersattheD1level,andwehopetoseetheirstrong impactcontinue.TheCoachesAwardwasgrantedtoMorganMcCombforherreliabilityandsupportto everyone.TheSwimandDiveteamʼssuccessthisseasonreflectsthededicationeachswimmerhad thatshapedthegreatseason.
Inadditiontoallthesportsteamsbeingrecognizedfortheiroutstandingseasons,ReeseMilonewas celebratedforsigninghercommitmentlettertocontinueheracademicandathleticcareeratPrinceton Universityforfieldhockey!Milonehasworkedhardonandoffthefieldtoaccomplishthisincredible achievement.
Overall,thiswinterseasonshowcasednotonlyathleticexcellencebutalsocharacterandunitythat defineNotreDameathletics.Eachteamdemonstratedresilience,leadership,andpride,settinga standardforseasonstocome.Theimpacteachteammadeoneachotherreflectsjusthowbrightthe futureisforNotreDameʼsathletics.
SuccessOutofND
ByMeredithRInaldi‘26
AttorneyMeredithRinaldi,representingthePlaintiff,BoBridger,inacomparativenegligencecase,where theplaintiffwassuingherdoctor,Dr.JohnColter,forbeingnegligentinhisduties.Thiswasmylastmock trialcompetitionformyhighschoolcareer,whereIwassettocrosstwowitnessesandpresenttheclosing argument.Iwalkedintothecourtroomconfident:Ianticipatedeverypossibleobjectionandhadcrafted wittyrepliestoeachofthem.Ipreparedourwitnesseswell,Ipaintedapictureofanincapacitatedplaintiff whocouldnotevenattendherowntrial,andIdepictedthemedicalpracticeasnegligentbeyonda preponderanceoftheevidence.Nothingcouldrattleme;Iknewthecaseinsideandout,andIhada responseforeverything.
Aftermyclosingstatement,Itookadeepbreath.Iwasconfidentwehadwon;wewerefarsuperiortothe otherteam.Thejury,composedofreallawyers,walkedoutofthecourtroomtoconferontheverdict. Whenthejurycameback,itwastimetohearcommentsaboutourperformance.AnyvictoryIhadfelt previouslywasgone.Inolongerfeltconfidentinmycase,myperformance,orevenmyseemingly unwaveringpassionofbeingalawyer.
EventhoughIlearnedadaylaterthatNotreDamehadwon30againstourcompetitor,atthatmoment, withthosecomments,Ididnotfeelthisvictory.Thejurywouldonlytalkdirectlytoourcompetitors,ateam madeupofalmostentirelymen.Whenthejurywalkedoutofthecourtroomtogoonwiththeirday,the malejurymembersonlyshookthehandsofthelawyersontheothersideandbarelylookedattheNotre Dameteam.Lookingback,ahandshakeisnotabigdeal,anditdoesnotmeananythingaboutmy performanceortheoutcomeofthecase;however,itshookmebacktotherealityofhowlifebeyondNotre Damewillbe.
Thiscase,somethingIhadbeenpreparingforsinceNovember,theminutesofvictoryafterIfinishedmy closingargument,allcrasheddownwhenIquestionedifthisiswhatmylifeasalawyerwouldlooklike.It broughtmebacktoaconversationIhadwithmydadwhenIwasbrainstormingwhatIwantedmyclosing argumenttolooklike.WhatlastingmessageIhopetoleavethejurywith?DidIwanttoprovokeangerwith thejurywithhowthedoctorbreachedthestandardofcare,ordidIwanttoinvokesympathyforthe plaintiffwhowouldneverhaveanordinarylife?Mydadtoldmetowatchreallawyersʼclosingarguments onmedicalmalpracticecasessimilartomine.IshowedhimavideoofaclosingIfound;Iaskedmydadif thiswasagoodone.Hesaidwatchoneamandid.Igotsoangryandimmediatelyquestionedwhy.He saidwomenaremoretimid,andthiswillcausetheirargumenttobeweaker.
SuccessOutofND,Continued
AttendingNotreDamethesepastfour years,IhavebeentaughtthatIcando anything.Thiseducation,andthe all-girlsenvironment,havecausedme toapplyforandbranchoutfor opportunitiesIprobablywouldnothave otherwisedone.Inthecontextof schoolopportunities,Ineverhadto competewithamanforanopportunity orcontest,sothismocktrial competitioncausedmetoreflecton howdifferentmycollegeexperience willbe,goingbackintoaco-ed environment.
OnMarch19,IattendedBeyondtheGates.IwasabletohearfromNotreDamealumnaewho wenttoalldifferentschools,hadalldifferentexperiences,andhadalldifferentcareerpaths. Oneaspectofeachoftheirstorieswasthesame,though.Eachofthepanelistshadan experiencewheretheyweretheonlywomanintheirposition,wereunderestimatedbecause theywerewomen,orweretalkeddownuponbecausetheywerewomen.Again,theirresponse tothesesituationswasthesameacrossthepanel:theyhadallhadthebeliefinstilledinthem thattheycanbetheloudestintheroom,andtheycanshootforwhateverpositionor opportunitytheydesire.Someofthewomenevendiscussedhowtheirstubbornnesstonever backdowncreatedchangeintheirworkplaceenvironment.Allofthewomentracedthislesson backtotheirall-girlseducationatNotreDame.Fromnotfeelingconfidentinmyselfacoupleof weeksagoasIheadintocollege,tonowhearingseveralsuccessfulNotreDamealumnae discusshowtheynavigatethesetoughsituations,IrealizeIwillbejustfine.
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NDCommitsCrossword-EllaBidez‘26
