Letter to the Editor: Acceptance

Letter by Brooke Beers Photo courtesy of Leonard’s

Graduating high school is a rite of passage for the American teenager. It means taking a step into the real world, maturing from a high school senior to an adult. For many Trinity students, we have walked these hallways for the past four years or more. And as much as we might be ready for a change of scenery, I often wonder if the transition to college might be a shocking awakening that the world is not what we have experienced within the confines of Trinity.

As a college preparatory school, Trinity does an excellent job of teaching teenagers to integrate, titrate acid-base solutions, and read novels such as “Americanah” and historical declarations of rebellion (two examples that ironically have given students like me the knowledge and inspiration to write this article). However, Trinity has not exposed us to the type of environment prevalent in colleges, universities, and the workforce. I know the school wants the best for its students of all backgrounds, no matter their gender, race, religion, or sexuality. I write this article because I know Trinity cares enough to listen.

For instance, imagine your “typical” highschool student attending school from sixth through twelfth grade, partaking in clubs, sports, andstudent government. They befriend many other students and are generally considered well-liked and popular.

Then, they enroll in a large university. There, they struggle to communicate with other students who don’t share the same background and beliefs as their own and offend others by accident due to a lack of knowledge of cultural norms. The bubble they grew up in never protected them, it only hindered their ability to understand the world around them. Perhaps they drop out of school, or just struggle without enjoyment for their college years.

This isn’t including the other students of Trinity, those who might have years of confusion and a feeling of not belonging for their seven years at Trinity.

Often, they wish their school would step up and acknowledge this group of students who would love to feel like they can exist as they are, without altering themselves depending on whether they are on or off campus— or perhaps even be able to find their group who will help them be themselves at all, since their off-campus life might not be accepting, either. It would be nice to know my school supports me as I am, they think to themselves.

I am graduating this year and I will never step back onto Trinity’s campus as a student. I hope to leave the school better than I found it, to ensure every student has their “college preparatory” education and experience to succeed after they walk across the stage and flip their tassel to the other side. Trinity Prep always says they have their students’ best interests at heart, and so I believe that we can take this step to ensure every child 6-12th grade can thrive: Trinity needs to make it clear that they support all of their students by allowing student clubs and acknowledging these students they have ignored in the past. We are here, we aren’t going away, and we would like to feel welcome.