As a single mother from Ethiopia, I have seen the difference between a good education and a bad one. A school that teaches discipline and respect and one that does not. A child who knows their God and one who is still searching.
As a working mom in America, I know how important it is to send my children to a school I trust and to leave them in the care of people I can call family. This is why I chose a Catholic school for my children. After the many challenges of the past six months, I know God blessed that decision.
Immaculate Conception Catholic School in Columbia Heights is not a school as much as it is a second home. In my tradition, those you welcome into your home are your family. And my family, my Immaculate family, has helped me raise my children.
Because of their Catholic school, my children, I am grateful to say, know right from wrong. They know their God. They know their Bible. When my friends from my Orthodox Church ask how my children can answer all the questions on Sundays, I am proud to say, “Because they go to Catholic school.”
When the pandemic began, my Immaculate family made sure the students didn’t stop learning. Because of the small class sizes, when we switched to distance learning, my children saw their teacher every day. They saw their principal every day. They were able to have one-on-one conversations and have all their questions answered. The school also made sure all the students had necessary supplies and meals.
Like so many parents, my life and my children’s lives have changed so much since the pandemic began. I find myself saying “I used to” more often than ever before.
I used to work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for the county. I now work from home at all hours in between meeting the needs of my three, also at-home children, doing dishes and laundry, and taking care of my sick mom who lives with us.
I used to spend my evenings working concession stands at Target Field and U.S. Bank Stadium. I used to, but that work has gone away, and now my oldest son and I have found evening jobs at FedEx to make sure he can go back to DeLaSalle this fall.
Even though I say “I used to” more than before, I give thanks to God that I do not have to say that I used to send my children to Catholic school. Through the many challenges I have faced since moving to this country both before and after the pandemic began, so many people have been generous and have made sacrifices to give my children the gift of their Catholic school. Thank you to Immaculate Conception for my financial aid. Thank you to the many donors of the Aim Higher Foundation who make my daughters’ tuition-assistance scholarships possible.
With all of their help, my children can go to Catholic school. My children have the opportunity to be successful. They will get to know their God better. And as they return to in-person classes this fall, I know they will be able to continue to experience everything America has to offer when they are older.
Agamso is a parent of Catholic school students. The Local Church is an occasional column featuring guest writers.
