My name is Salsa Lane, I’m from Indonesia, and I am a senior at Saint Joseph Academy. I moved here during the middle of my junior year from Washington State. Before that, I lived in Suriname, a small country located in South America. My family moves around a lot because of my dad’s job so the whole process is very familiar to me; nonetheless, moving never gets any less scary or easier no matter how many times I do it.

I had no idea what to expect from moving to Brownsville, but the one thing that my parents always made sure to do was put me in a good school. My dad spent weeks searching for schools even before we got here, yet when we arrived, I still had no idea where I would be going. The only source we had that somewhat helped us decide on a school was the internet; but I knew that I wanted to get to know a school for more than what they promoted on their websites before attending it. So, we decided to schedule some appointments for me to visit some schools.

The first school I was scheduled to tour was Saint Joe, and then Veterans. Funny enough, Saint Joe ended up being the only school I toured. I visited Saint Joe without any plan of attending. My family is not Catholic, so my mom did not want me to attend a religious-affiliated school. When I arrived for my tour, I was immediately greeted into the beautiful campus with smiles and welcoming words. It was the first campus tour I went to where I didn't feel overwhelmed. I got to meet some staff and students who were all so kind. Most campus tours I go to have always made me feel like their intent was only to enroll me into their school, but at Saint Joe it felt as if the people here cared about more than increasing their student population. They genuinely care about your well-being and making you feel included in the Bloodhound family; and of course, your faith.

Even though I’m not Christian, being surrounded by people with different beliefs than mine has only made me a more open-minded person. Here we are all equal no matter our faith or what country we come from, and our differences never limits us from any opportunities. Now I’m not saying that Saint Joe is perfect, because having attended three different high schools, I’ve come to realize that no school truly is. It’s the people here, the classes, and the fun traditions that somehow manage to get me out of bed in the morning and make my days here special. This school has given me so many opportunities that encourage me to be a better student every day, both academically and personally. Teachers care about how far you go in life and your ability to be the best version of yourself, just as much as they care about your grades.

My transition to living in Brownsville was nowhere near perfect, but I am so grateful to be able to attend a school that has welcomed me into a community that I am proud to be a part of.