With any loss comes a list of “never-agains.” When I received news that the Institute of Notre Dame would close its doors for the final time this June after 173 years of educating young women in Baltimore City, my mind went to that list.
Never again will IND students trudge up the slate stairs as they rush to class, or juniors excitedly count the days until they receive their class rings. The last “Big Game” against Mercy High passed without notice. After this year, there will never be another tearful “Ave Maria” as young women in long, white dresses cradle bouquets of a dozen red roses at graduation.
This is what left my heart sinking the most: Never again would a young woman have the opportunity to have a high school experience like mine.
IND was not the easy or logical choice for my family, a recurring theme among some of my classmates. I live in Severna Park, amid strong public schools and a 35-minute ride to IND. After touring the historic building and learning of its legacy of socially-aware and empowered women, however, my parents and I concluded that the sacrifice necessary to attend IND would be worth it.
We were right. My four years at IND included lessons that extended far beyond textbooks. I went from attending a K-8 school where nearly every other student shared my white, Catholic, middle-class background, to a truly diverse high school where celebrations of culture and exploration of identity were encouraged, where students challenged themselves every day to create a more inclusive environment.
In the wake of the George Floyd tragedy, giving children a chance to live, learn and grow next to people who don’t look like them is more important than ever. My classmates and I formed interracial friendships, learned how to recognize and address biases and micro-aggressions, served the surrounding community, and discovered that the most worthwhile conversations are ones that are the most difficult to have.
IND’s location certainly played a part in its closure, especially as fear of entering Baltimore City grew due to concerns about safety. But the location on the corner of Ashland and Aisquith was a major factor in what made an IND education so special.
It allowed for firsthand learning on the Catholic teaching of social justice, fostering relationships with residents in the Latrobe Homes community. Our beloved “Sister Hildie,” School Sister of Notre Dame Hilda Sutherland, and others made it possible for us to witness how social issues disproportionately affect minority communities and how even small actions can influence larger change.
While we joke that it is difficult to help outsiders understand our high school experience, I know that we will continue to show all that we have learned through our actions. Even though students won’t fill the ancient halls this fall, the spirit of IND will live on.
IND graduates will remain committed to making the world a more fair and equitable place by acting humbly and with love, whether as healthcare workers caring for the most marginalized, lawyers advocating for positive change, journalists exposing corruption and inequality, teachers using their voices and experiences to educate, or politicians who truly represent their constituents.
With all that is going on in the world, saying goodbye to IND, a place of hope and stability, is more difficult. If everyone had a high school experience where differences were both acknowledged and celebrated, the world would look much different today. Yet, I am certain that my IND sisters will continue to use their voices to educate all those they encounter on the virtues of justice, acceptance and love. Our alma mater is closing, but our IND education will continue to influence the world for decades to come.
One Mind, One Heart.
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