“Esse Quam Videri.” “To be rather than to seem.” Us Academy girls know this saying as the motto for our school. We hear this saying all the time, but what does this saying actually mean? How do we live out this motto in our everyday lives?
This slogan reflects the community that Academy wants for its students, which is to be authentic to themselves and to not appear to be someone they are not. Being yourself is one of the most important things in life, especially with people telling you to be someone you are not. It is important that the faculty at Academy continues to tell their students what it means to be “Esse Quam Videri” so that we can grow into young women who are authentic in all aspects of life.
“To me, ‘Esse Quam Videri’ means that one doesn’t act to find acceptance, but rather to reflect one’s values and character in general. I felt very honored when I won because it showed me that the values that my parents instilled in me shaped a good character in me. My message for Academy is, don’t compromise your values or personality just to find acceptance, whether in-school or in the real world, for in the end, acting true to yourself will benefit you for life,” said Valeria Taguja-Catano (’28).
Here at Academy, every quarter we have an “Esse Quam Videri” contest. In this contest, the teachers vote on three Freshmen and one Sophomore who they believe best represents this motto. At the end of the voting selection, the winners are announced and receive a ribbon for best embodying this saying.
Freshman Ava Clarke, a winner of the most recent contest, said, “to me, ‘Esse Quam Videri’ means not just wearing the uniform and symbol of the Academy, but embodying what that means in everything I do. I am not simply an Academy girl because I go to this school, I am an Academy girl because of how I live my life, and my values of helping others and striving to be my best self. I will continue to live my life in service to God and my sisters. I will help others who are in need and live my life according to the values and principles held dear by the Sisters of the Holy Names. I felt overjoyed and happy that I was recognized for my work and commitment to the school this first semester.”
Especially for teenage girls, negative peer pressure is something that drives people away from who they are. Nemours Teen Health said, “People may feel pressure to conform so they fit in or are accepted, or so they don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable.” Peer pressure is something that happens everyday to teens all over the world, which is why it’s important to always be reminded about our motto, “Esse Quam Videri,” because it reminds us that staying true to yourself is the greatest thing you can do.
“The message I would send out is that being an Academy girl means more than just going to this school, it means acting in a way that is right and kind to ourselves and everyone around us. It is making ourselves really understand the message and purpose God has set for us, and living it out to the fullest extent,” said Clarke (’29).
As we grow and continue to develop into young women, we can take this motto to help us in our lives. It’s an important lesson, and one we can share with others around us in everything we do.
