SHC in One Word

Story by Ilana Avrutin ’27

The green banners scattered throughout the City billow in the setting fog, sharing the longstanding vocation of Sacred Heart Cathedral that may have caught your eye. SHC’s mission, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” is one of deep importance and the foundation, not only to the core academics of the institution, but also to the heart of the community. While SHC’s mission statement has a clear purpose, you may wonder: How exactly does SHC provide an environment in which students can thrive in their learning and prepare students for the outside world in serving the greater community? To elaborate on the multitude of rationales behind this question, here is some student insight encapsulated in just one word, from students spanning all four years of high school at SHC.

Jayden Lam ’29, who not long ago went through the process of choosing SHC as his high school of choice, gave a fresh perspective. When asked to provide one word to describe the reason he applied to SHC, Jayden chose to use the word variety. According to Jayden, he believes that “There is a place for everyone at SHC, no matter what your interests are”. Not only does SHC have a variety of interesting classes, from Speculative Fiction to Music Appreciation and everything in between, but it also has a community for each individual student to find their home away from home. Whether you are interested in calling for change in the world through the Advocacy in Action Club, ready to sing your heart out with the Karaoke Club or learning about athletic injuries and care with the Sports Medicine Club, SHC has a place for everyone, no matter how broad or niche your interests may be. With the variety of options, whether classes, clubs, sports or engaging opportunities, you are sure to find your place, your family at SHC. 

As frosh students transition into their sophomore year, the academic load, along with their extracurricular responsibilities, typically grows; however, while one may assume that this takes away from the joyful experiences of high school, it is quite the opposite. For sophomore Dana Sunga ’28, the reason she applied to SHC is because of its ability to preserve fun. In her sophomore year, Dana claims that “I feel this word is important because despite the homework, studying and need to get good grades, I can still have fun with my friends and myself.” SHC employs a large emphasis and focus on academics, extracurriculars and service, but even so, students are still able to balance their daily responsibilities with their social life. With help from the SHC counselors, students can plan out their day without overloading their plates and still be able to maintain the time necessary to be with family and friends. 

When watching movies that depict the typical high school lifestyle, you are likely to see cliques and small groups converse amongst themselves and avoid interactions with other groups. One may think that by junior year, friend groups are cemented and students rarely make new friends; however, SHC’s community is the contrary. The initial reason that junior Simone Cohen ’27 applied to SHC was that it fostered connections. In her third year of high school, Simone asserts that “The second I stepped into SHC, I felt like there were so many relationships to be made and that no one was afraid to get to know each other. All of the amazing connections I’ve made at SHC these past two and a half years have made it like my second home.” While friend groups naturally form, SHC’s students are constantly interacting with one another and making new friends outside of those who sit at their daily lunch table. If you are ever in need of directions to your next class or hope to receive advice on how to study for your next test, anyone in the community will be willing to lend a helping hand. A simple “hello” can result in a lasting friendship at SHC. 

Seniors hold the most understanding as to the value and ability of SHC to transform an individual, both in learning and serving. Senior Sara Hwang ’26 said the reason she chose to apply to SHC was the community. She believes that the “SHC community is what makes it so different [from] other schools. People can have different interests, do different activities and still have a strong friend group.” From sharing laughs in the cafeteria during lunch to cheering in the student section at a football game, SHC allows for a community that is not only vibrant and constantly radiating positivity, but also one that is united, whether it be in the smaller communities that form within the whole or the schoolwide community that each member of SHC belongs to. SHC is unique in the sense that no matter whether you are in varied clubs, separate classes or even different grades, there is no limit to who can become your friends. Each member of the community is so welcoming, considerate and friendly that it is easy to come to SHC and see all the puzzle pieces fall into place. Whether you are looking for smaller, tight-knit communities where you can share your interests or a large family that supports one another at all times, SHC’s community truly makes it a special place to be. 

Want to be a part of the SHC community? Visit the SHC Admissions page.