Senior Reflections

"During my time at Saint Francis I have learned the importance of brotherhood and humility. Everywhere on campus I see all of the Franciscan virtues being demonstrated by the students and teachers. It was a warm environment where I felt at home. For future St. Francis students I advise that you guys put yourself out there and be yourself. I promise you. You will make some friendships that will last a lifetime."

"Cherish your time with the boys because it will be over before you can say “Sko Knights."

"St. Francis taught me leadership. Playing on the varsity baseball team as an underclassman, I saw how the senior leaders led the group, which greatly influenced how I led the team as a senior. Having experienced different leadership styles from Coach Dorlarque and Coach Durfee, which includes their values, honesty, dependability, and, in Coach Durf’s case, a lot of welcomed humor and sarcasm. I tried to the best of my ability to follow their unique and valuable teachings. My advice for incoming students… Do your homework, do not procrastinate, and use your teachers, they are always there and willing to help. Do not take anything for granted; you must cherish and make the most of every opportunity because you do not know when it will be taken away from you. Make the most of the people that you meet and the relationships that you make. Lastly, play freshman football. It is a lot of fun, hard work, and you will have a core group of friends, best friends, that will carry through all four years of high school."

"St. Francis has taught me how to be a better person spiritually and maturely. I have learned to respect everyone around me through various retreats, and feel that I have become a better man through the practice of the 16 Franciscan Virtues. In addition to all of this, St. Francis has challenged me mentally in the classroom, where I have learned how to work independently and with others, and how to better manage my time. St. Francis has taught me more than words can explain, and has blessed me with many great memories. My advice for future SF students is to think of school as more of a blessing than you think it a daily chore. Because of the current pandemic, all of us have seen how much we have taken things for granted. Be grateful for the time you have at St. Francis because you never know what circumstances may stop your daily activities. Spend time with your friends, work hard, and have fun. Cherish every day that you have at Saint Francis."

"Throughout my time at St. Francis I faced a lot of adversity. The administration has helped me grow and they never gave up on me. They gave me a new way of thinking and helped me become a solid young man. They've set me up for my future to be successful as a man, husband, and father. St. Francis has truly put me in the best position for college and for the rest of my life. Advice that I give to my underclassmen. If you're having issues take care of them in the most responsible and respectful way because administration is there to help you grow and not to tear you down. It took me a long time to realize that but they taught me that I need to handle all of my issues appropriately. If you do this you will succeed at St. Francis and you won't have to worry about your future because you know that they did a great job molding you into a man."

"At my time at St. Francis I’ve learned how to develop into a man. Being surrounded by my teachers and friends has shaped me into the young man I am today. I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to attend St. Francis, it has been the best four years of my life so far and I’ve made countless friendships and memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Some advice for the future golden knights is to go to every event there is, meet new people, make as many friendships on campus, be authentic, and show your true self, because no matter what, we always have open arms at SF. Once a golden knight, always a golden knight!"

"I came to St. Francis in search of brotherhood, community, and academics. I feel very prepared for life because of my time at St. Francis. I learned that it is important to establish communication with teachers and coaches as they have valuable advice and input to help students to succeed. I have also learned valuable lessons such as not procrastinating, learning to manage my time as a student athlete to keep me from getting overwhelmed, and I have also learned it is very important to put yourself out there and take a risk; become a leader that you would want to be lead by."

"The importance of time management. From early on freshman year, I learned how important it is to get ahead of schoolwork. Also, I learned how important it is to be a good person. One can be talented at everything they do, but if they are not a good person, they will not get very far in life. The people that make it the farthest in life are the ones with the best morals and best values. For future St. Francis students I would say make sure they get ahead of their schoolwork anytime they can, and to make sure they put great emphasis on following the Franciscan Values."

"I’ve learned how to become a man at my time at St. Francis, the teachers and guys on campus helped me develop into the person I am today and I’m extremely blessed and thankful to have gone to St. Francis. It’s been the best four years of my life so far. For the future golden knights, go to every event there is, make as many friends as possible, be yourself, and be authentic. Doing these things will make your experience at St. Francis one to remember for the rest of your life. Once a golden knight, always a golden knight!"

"Saint Francis has helped me learn how to be true to myself. I am an artist and musician so, at first, going to a Catholic high school took me out of my comfort zone. Yet, I found Saint Francis created an environment where I could be myself and be supported by my friends even if they never truly understood my thoughts. The Saint Francis community is not only strongly bonded, but allows for people to truly find who they want to be. My advice would be to be yourself. You will be accepted."

"During my time at Saint Francis I have learned the importance of brotherhood and humility in life. Everywhere I would go on campus and every teacher and student I came across expressed these Saint Francis virtues to full extent. This place will forever be part of me and is my second home. To future students: my advice to you guys is just to put yourself out there and be yourself. I promise you. Everyone will have your back and you will make some friendships that will last a lifetime."

"Cherish the time you have with your friends, do not be afraid to be yourself, and do not take insults personally. Bring a water bottle and pack a lunch to avoid spending money at the cafeteria because it will bankrupt you. Treat teachers and students with respect and always apologize when you are in the wrong. Try to avoid doing things for validation. Spread out work over the week and keep a schedule. Find a club or sport you are passionate about and commit part of your life to it."

"My advice for future St. Francis students is to take the most challenging classes available, and get deeply involved with some extracurricular activities. Taking challenging classes is important in order to show colleges how serious you are as a student, as well as getting the most from your Saint Francis education. Getting involved in extracurriculars is essential to making a solid group of friends on campus, and it doesn't hurt to put on your resumé."

"From my time at St. Francis, I learned that you should never let an opportunity leave your reach without even considering it. Therefore, my advice for future St. Francis students is to fully take advantage of the educational and extracurricular opportunities offered by the school as early as your first quarter in your freshman year. Although it may not immediately seem like it, your demonstrated enthusiasm will only benefit you in the years to come."

"My best advice for new students is to find a group of friends that will support you. This might be who you sit with at lunch, your PE classmates, or even members of clubs and activities you are in. Good friends will support you and help you to be the best version of you that you can."

"During my time at St. Francis, I have learned the numerous skills needed to succeed at the next level and in life. They range from good study habits to managing time efficiently due to the course load. My advice is to future students is challenge yourself in every facet because then you are expanding your horizon and truly getting the SF experience. Also start off your freshman year strong because those grades can come back to haunt you."

"The biggest lesson that St. Francis has taught me is to be myself and love others. A few days ago, Father Tony facetimed me to see how I was doing and it meant a lot. This taught me that the little things you do for people matter and you can make a big difference in someone's life by caring and reaching out. Some advice that I would give an incoming St. Francis student is to be open to new things and be yourself."

"From St. Francis I have learned that you don't need to act like someone else in order to make friends. Real friends will like you and respect you for who you really are if you give them the chance to know you. If I had any advice it would be that it is more important to be authentic and find your real friends than it is to act like someone else and have superficial friends who do not know the real you."

"From St. Francis I have learned that you don't need to act like someone else in order to make friends. Real friends will like you and respect you for who you really are if you give them the chance to know you. If I had any advice it would be that it is more important to be authentic and find your real friends than it is to act like someone else and have superficial friends who do not know the real you."

"Throughout my four high school years, St. Francis taught me that it is important to have integrity and to be compassionate towards others through the virtues. I will carry these virtues with me throughout my life as I start a new phase in college. My advice to future Golden Knights is to give it your all starting freshman year so you have a chance of getting into your dream college."

"Beyond academics, St. Francis has taught me what it means to be a man and a brother. Some advice I would offer to future students is to step out of your comfort zone, try new things, and don’t be afraid of what others think of you. Also, form true friendships with your classmates because by the end of your four years, you will have made friends for life."

"Being a student of St Francis has taught me how to develop into a young man, it’s given me self discipline, the importance of character, brotherhood, accountability, to lead by example, and always walk in faith. My advice to future students .... Get involved , stay on top of your schoolwork, always give 100%, don’t be afraid to ask for help."

"I have learned the importance of time management through participation in multiple organizations on campus. The advice I would give would be to try out different activities or sports to find what you enjoy the most. It is also important to not spread yourself too thin and participate in too many things. Find what you enjoy and stick with it!"

"While at St. Francis I learned to enjoy every minute of high school because it goes by quickly. Advice that I have for future St. Francis students is to be yourself and make the most out of academics, sports, and clubs. You get the most satisfaction out of high school if you push yourself to take advantage of all activities."

"I learned how to be myself, how to enjoy life and laugh at myself, how to be independent. The best advice I can give is to enjoy your time at SF, hang out with friends, study, do what makes you happy before it’s gone... could be gone sooner than you think it will be, ours was gone without warning and in the blink of an eye."

"The lessons I’ve learned at Saint Francis go far beyond the classroom. I’ve learned what it means to be a man and how to treat others with the same respect I expect. I’ve definitely matured a lot over my four years. I want future students to live in the moment and appreciate the time they have here."

"I have learned to give your best effort all the time whether that was through my coaches on the field or my teachers in the classroom. Some advice for future St. Francis students would be to embrace the brotherhood of our school as it made my four years so much more enjoyable."

"I've learned how to be a leader and how to be a hardworking individual. Some advice I would give a future St. Francis student would be no matter how hard it gets and no matter what life throws at you, always keep going because it will always turn out good in the end."

"St. Francis was a place I could grow. It's a place with wonderful people that helped me become who I am. I am grateful for every one of the faculty and staff for their tireless work. My advice is to just work hard and know that the staff and faculty are on your side."

"I’ve learned about how to follow what I believe in and trust my gut. Not having to change who I am because it’s what others are doing. I would tell future SF students to be open-minded to meeting new people, because they can always learn from a new friend."

"With a sudden end to a great four years - I learned that life isn't always going to go as planned. You have to learn to adapt and keep moving forward; and to be grateful for what you are given. I am thankful for my time with my brothers at St Francis."

"To new students, my advice would be simple: don't overload yourself. It is easy to look at a list of available AP/Honors classes and want it all, but you will find that such decisions are often not conducive to mental wellbeing and a good GPA."

"I’ve learned that the four years in high school passes by really fast so my advice to future students is to really enjoy your time at St Francis, get involved into many different activities and don’t take your time at St Francis for granted."

"I have learned that doing the work on time and not procrastinating is the only way to be successful in Saint Francis. There is a reason why block schedules work out because you have time to prepare, do your work, study for a test, and etc."

"I have learned to work hard and be there for others and put myself third. I advice other St. Francis students to not take the school for granted, to savor every moment they have there and to trust in their brothers."

"I learned to be proactive as there is no time to procrastinate. My advice for future St. Francis students is to make the best out of every possible moment. 'Don't leave for tomorrow, what you can do today.'"

"Through my time at St. Francis I have learned to appreciate others through the Franciscan Virtues. My advice to future St. Francis is to cherish the moments you have with your classmates because time flies."

"The one thing I have learned during my time at St. Francis is that every teacher wants to see you succeed, and that you will get out as much as you put in, whether that is through athletics or academics."

"I have learned to become a man of virtue, integrity, and hard work ethics. The only advice I have for the future students of St. Francis is Stay true to yourself and enjoy your moments in high school."

"From my at St. Francis, I have learned that I cannot be too concerned with what others think or believe about me. Life is too great to care about the things or opinions that don’t really matter."

"I learned to always stay on top of my work. My advice to future St. Francis students is to try and enjoy hanging out with your friends daily because high school goes by like a blink of an eye."

"I have learned the importance of balancing a social life and schoolwork. My advice for future students is to enjoy your time at St. Francis because before you know it you will be graduating."

"Get involved as soon as you can, I was only able to part of the LIFE team for one year, and I wish I had been for two. You won’t know if you will like something until you try it, so do what you can early, so that if you like it, you can do as much of it as possible.

"I learned to always hold yourself accountable and never lose sight of your goals in life. To future students, I recommend to keep an open mind and do not procrastinate on service hours."

"St. Francis was a place I could grow. It's a place with wonderful people that helped me become who I am. I am grateful for every one of the faculty and staff for their tireless work."

"I have learned how to balance getting good grades and hanging out with friends. My advice for future SF students is to enjoy the 4 years at Saint Francis because they go by fast."

"I learned that brotherhood with the people around you is everything, if you have people there for you and supporting you through challenging times, you can accomplish anything."

"Some advice I would give to students is to aim for the stars and never look back, take high school seriously, but have fun, make new connections, and enjoy every moment of it!"

"It (usually) does not hurt to try out new activities or join new groups. Future students should try to become involved in as many extracurricular activities as they can."

"During my time at St. Francis I have learned the meaningfulness of friendships and brotherhood. My advice for future students stay focused and determined on your goals!"

"I’ve learned that brotherhood is real. It doesn’t matter what crowd you’re in because we’re all a family at the end of the day and we’re all Golden Knights for life."

"St. Francis is the place where I learned how to genuinely apply the 16 virtues to my life and the lives of others. It has really made me a better person."

"I’ve learned that brotherhood is real. No matter what crowd we are in, at the end of the day, we’re here for each other and we’re all Golden Knights."

"To make the most of their senior year. Because our senior was cut short, I would like all the future seniors to make the most of their senior year."

"High School goes very fast and the friends and relationships form who you will become in life and it is important to forge strong bonds for life."

"You are never alone at St. Francis, there is always an opportunity for support in all directions from fellow students, teachers, counselors, etc."

"Don't be afraid to ask smart questions at inopportune times. Not only are you learning from it, you're also buying time for your classmates."

"Do anything and everything, hang out with your friends, go to the football games and theater productions. It goes by quicker than you think."

"I learned about brotherhood. Advice I’d have for future students is play freshman football because you meet a lot of new people that way."

"I have learned the tremendous importance of compassion through the form of brotherhood and kindness to strangers throughout the world."

"Take advantage of every moment and opportunity presented to you. It may not be relevant at the time, but it could be important later."

"Appreciate the time you get to spend here with your brothers. It's really something special that not many schools have. Go Knights!"

"I’ve learned how to be responsible and manage my time. My advice is to be resourceful and use your teachers and the internet."

"I have learned that you should value the time you have at high school and enjoy every moment of it. Make a memory every day."

"I’ve learned integrity, loyalty and respect. It has also taught me how to be a great friend and an even better man in life."

"Respect for myself and others. Advice to new students - participate in clubs, sports and new opportunities."

"Step out of your comfort zone, try new things and don’t be afraid to ask for help."

"My advice to future students would be to join a sport or club your freshman year."

"Don’t procrastinate and take advantage of the time and opportunities you have."

"Brotherhood is everything. Enjoy your time at St. Francis....it goes so fast."

"Cherish every moment you have because you never know when it will all end."

"Take advantage of the Brotherhood and embrace the spirituality."

"Get involved and make the most of your high school experience."

"There are no teachers to be scared of...they all want you to do well and succeed."

"Be so Good they can't Ignore You!"

"Value your time on the retreats."

"Take advantage of every opportunity you get."

"Saint Francis has taught me the qualities of being a leader throughout things like kairos and the golf team. I am very thankful for my time here at Saint Francis. I expanded my faith and learned so much about life while being a golden knight. My advice for future students is to find something your passionate about and work hard at it. Life is hard no matter who you are. Never limit yourself or give in to any limits that are set on you."

"BROTHERHOOD."