School newspaper of Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa

Credit: Vanessa Alvarez/Achona Online

Taking pictures at Academy for senior prom is a cherished tradition.

Open Letter to Academy

April 24, 2017

Dear Academy,

Four years ago 119 nervous girls walked into the Brady Center completely unaware of the journey they were about to embark on. Many girls were eager to follow in their sister’s footsteps while others were forced to attend. Now the 119 nervous girls has dwindled to 110 women who are ready to face the next chapter of their life, college. It did not take us long to realize how truly blessed we were to have the chance to get to know such driven girls. After we shocked the teachers by coordinating Halloween outfits in 2013 and sang in unison to High School Musical’s “Breaking Free,” it was evident that this was a special group.

Credit: Vanessa Alvarez/Achona Online
At freshmen retreat the class spontaneously broke out into “Highschool Musical” song “Breaking Free.”

Thank you for providing us with an environment that fosters growth and healthy competition. At Academy, we learned what it means to have an army of sisters supporting your every endeavor. While we have each other’s backs, we also push each other to be the best we can be.  It is never just one person’s problem, it is everyone’s. The community that we have found at Academy is bound to follow us wherever we go.


Thank you for giving us the courage to be ourselves. Thank you for Donezo, Rachel Tata’s singing voice, and the rat lady. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to use our voices to stand up for each other #istandwiththebeachballthrower. Thank you for our lounge jams to “Shots” with and without Mrs. Chase. Thank you for giving us the courage to be ourselves no matter how quirky we might be. In this environment, we have learned to be unapologetically ourselves so when we get out into the real world we will be prepared. 

Thank you for forcing us to manage our time. In the moment, there were tears and nights without sleep but we have become better because of it. If we can deal with four AP classes in one day we are more than prepared for college.

Thank you for molding us into the leaders we are today. This school has shown us all what it means to be powerful women. We will forever be rather than seem and remember our roots here on Bayshore.

Thank you for the fun and the memories, we will miss you.

Love,

The Class of 2017

Every year the seniors have a sleepover the night before all school orientation.
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