Goodbye Euclid, Farewell Flannery

It’s hard to believe that the 2021 California High School Summer Program is quickly drawing to a close! After an incredibly full evening Thursday, students woke up refreshed and ready to give themselves completely to the day’s closing events. The morning started as usual with early Mass and breakfast, and then it was off to one final Euclid class. A large majority of attendees have had the opportunity to present at least one geometrical prop for their peers in the last few days, and they all feel that they have benefitted greatly from the experience. 

Midday Mass followed, and then came lunch in St. Joseph’s Commons. As the students were finishing up their shrimp and pasta, prefects came out with two cakes, and the whole room sang “Happy Birthday” to Vivian B., who turns 16 today, and Nathaniel S., who turns 17 tomorrow. The celebration was bittersweet, as students looked back joyfully on the friendships they’ve formed these last two weeks, and wistfully ahead to their departures tomorrow.

At the afternoon class the programmers received some goodbye presents — a Thomas Aquinas College messenger bag, a framed picture of this year’s students, a photo of their class section, a wrapped copy of C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, and a TAC water bottle. The last class of the program centered around Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge.” The story — a Southern drama set in the 1960s — raises many questions about humanity’s fallen and sinful nature. 

“I’ve done seminars in the past and I always liked them, but I never had an actual class where the whole thing is just discussion,” remarked Joe F. of Potomac, Maryland, about his experience in the classroom during these last weeks. “I really enjoyed it because I really like the Socratic Method, where you talk until you find the truth. I also like the fact that a lot of the times we don’t actually end up agreeing, but disagreeing is OK, because everyone is learning, and you also learn how to listen to other people.”

This evening features a closing banquet and dance. Be sure to check in tomorrow morning for a full report and pictures!