Notre Dame junior says faith is an important part of a very busy schedule.
Current junior Carl Wacker said Notre Dame just felt right when he first visited.
“Notre Dame has given me a place where I can express my faith in a very safe and loving environment,” this junior from Oxford said. He also said he thinks that nowhere else could he be as well-rounded and prepared for the future as he is at Notre Dame.
That “well-roundedness” also includes the extensive volunteer time he spends as one of the school’s student ambassadors, a special group of high schoolers who advocate for Notre Dame to prospective parents and students, and the abundance of fun he might experience on any given day on campus.
Wacker’s daily grind currently includes four honors classes and two AP classes in addition to extracurricular activities with the swim team, the National Honor Society and numerous stints as a retreat leader for classmates. He managed to find some time recently to discuss in more detail why he came to Notre Dame and why he can’t think of himself anywhere else.
On why he came to Notre Dame in the first place:
It just felt right. I remember telling my parents after my first visit that I could see myself here. God called me to NDP, and it is a decision I feel was made for the best. I do not know where I would be without NDP.
On what he’s learned about Notre Dame since first enrolling:
This is a real community built by very smart and caring people who want to learn and succeed just as much as me.
On why Notre Dame is different from other schools:
Everyone cares and we are a big family. Even in our academic studies we help one another to be the best we can be, and to achieve the goals we want to achieve.
Three words to describe his academic experience at Notre Dame so far:
Challenging, fun, rewarding.
Wacker, right, shows his love for the Class of 2017 during Irish Week in 2014.
On his favorite or most interesting class so far:
AP Psychology, which I’m taking right now. I enjoy learning about how humans think and interact with each other on a daily basis.
On the most fun experience he’s had so far at Notre Dame:
Going to the swim team’s first-ever state meet in Holland during my freshman year. I had a blast! My teammates are like my brothers, and doing my favorite thing with my best friends made for a weekend I will never forget.
On how he balances all of the schoolwork, sports, clubs and activities:
The teachers help us work through our busy schedules. Our coaches also understand that school comes first.
One word to describe the teachers at Notre Dame:
Empowering.
One word to describe the students:
Friends.
One word to describe the opportunities at Notre Dame:
Infinite.
On why Wacker thinks Notre Dame has been a great fit for him:
I feel like I have had the most opportunities that a high school could provide me. Everyone cares about our well-being. They also understand that we are well-rounded kids doing many different things on top of school work. If this were not the case, I do not believe that NDP would be the right school for me.
On how Notre Dame has helped him become a Christian person:
It’s given me a place where I can express my faith in a very safe and loving environment. In other places I do not believe I would be able to express my faith as much as I do at Notre Dame.
On how Notre Dame has helped him become a upright citizen:
By encouraging me to get involved in my community. I have been empowered to go out on my own and seek service opportunities that will benefit people who are in need of help.
On how Notre Dame has helped him become an academic scholar:
By pushing me to do my best always. The teachers and curriculum have pushed me to achieve my fullest potential as a student. I feel like my boundaries are always being stretched.
On where he thinks he’ll be when he graduates from Notre Dame:
Ready for college and the world! Every single day my teachers and other faculty show that they care and want me to reach my potential not only as a student, but also as a young member of society. Leaving Notre Dame will not be a scary experience; I will be confident knowing I have the tools necessary to succeed in college and life.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.