“People are a mosaic of every person they have ever met.” Out of all things I’ve read throughout my life, this is one thing that has stuck. 

      Our relationships with those around us are what set us apart. They are what tend to define us as a person. Who we choose to associate ourselves with and how we treat those people, are what make us who we are. We are all born the same, but simply under different circumstances. Children are not inherently born “good” or “bad”, but instead are shaped by those they interact with. No matter how small the relationship, each has its impact and leaves its mark on the person. As christians, we are called to leave a positive impact. We are called to live out charity, a fruit of the holy spirit. This means we are called to love others, our friends and our enemies alike. We are called to spread God’s love in each connection we make (each person we encounter). I have been shaped by many people. I was blessed enough to be raised in a “complete” household for most of my life, going to mass and to Catholic schools. I’ve met many people, each person leaving their own unique mark. My dad taught me hard work; my grandparents, to put God first; my mom, that it's ok to fall sometimes; and my friends, that it's ok to have fun. Each one of these people, and many more, made me who I am today. They each put a tile in my mosaic, just as I have put a tile in theirs. We are each called to “insert” a little piece of God’s love into our neighbor’s “mosaic”​.

-- Lauren Souza, October 2023

Trinity High School Class of 2026