A day in a Catholic High School. At a first glance, St. James was nothing more than a school with 800 kids. To think about South, with only 800 students gives me the chills.

With our crowded hallways and the chaotic parking lot, imagining South any other way than the South we know, we be unheard of. South’s community is compiled of hundreds of teenagers trying to find their place, and with a large public school, that can be difficult.

Before exploring this school more, St. James seemed no different than South. Sure, there are fewer students, but what else could really be that different?

The day started off normally. I picked up the Chipotle I ordered for my neighbor and best friend, who attends St. James, and I started to drive down there. I parked and noticed the parking lot was much like ours: crowded, with only a few extra spaces in the back. The exterior of the school is very eye-catching. It is a combination of brick and metal siding, a modern grand South has just begun to use.

So although the outside is similar to South, it is immediately obvious that St. James is smaller than South. As we all know though, looks can be deceiving.

I walked inside to wait in the office, already seeing kids pile into the cafeteria during the second, of four lunches. My back faced the cafeteria, but I continued to look around, quickly finding other differences.

St. James in a Catholic high school and that is very obvious from the moment you walk in. The chapel in front and center when the entrance doors open, and all throughout the office are statues and paintings of Jesus. The inside of the school nicely compliments the outside. There are modern fixtures and new carpet around every corner.

With 50 years of South, we are trying to modernize the exterior appearance of the school. The outside and new entrance highlight new modern design but that doesn’t carry throughout our school. As a school with years and years of tradition, changing the classic look will eventually change the community.

Community is a major key at St. James. While this school is still in its first decade, tradition and community are heavily encouraged. There are actual communities, for example, Annie (my friend I brought lunch) is in the community of Gianna Molla. There are seven total communities: Gianna Molla, Peter, Gregory, Padre Pio, Catherine, Benedict, and John Paul II.

All of these communities serve the same purpose. There is a short break on all A and B days (similar to our Odd and Even days) where communities go to their designated classrooms and talk or discuss with the other students, in a time called ‘house’. This time can function as a quick study hall or a “recess” in some ways. South’s senior mentors fill a similar position to seniors in their community by interacting with their freshman and other new students during seminar each Thursday.

Academic time, community, and expanding arts departments, St. James is a reliable private school. Yes there are difference in how classes function and flow, but big-picture differences are actually similarities.