Believe and Achieve By: Laura Rosas `11 Norman Vincent Peale

Believe and Achieve
By: Laura Rosas ‘11
Norman Vincent Peale once said, “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your
abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be
successful or happy.” St. Agnes delivers this message daily. In speech class, I learned to
effectively communicate my ideas to others. During my sophomore retreat, I learned the
true meaning of giving back to the community. In the simple act of planting flowers in
Galveston after Hurricane Ike I learned the impact one person can have on the
community. In Catholicism, I have the opportunity to renew my faith every day.
Everyday St. Agnes broadens my perspective on the academic world and on the
real world. I have found that ‘life lessons’ are just as important as academic ones. I have
learned that success and happiness come from working hard, giving back, and knowing
that God is right beside me even if things do not go according to my plan.
St. Agnes challenges me to be my best every day and I anticipate that the skills
I’ve learned will help me to meet life-challenges long after graduation. With the
communication skills I have learned, I feel confident in my ability to speak in a
professional, respectful manner. I now know that my community needs me as much as I
need it. And, with a better understanding of my faith, I feel prepared to gracefully share
and defend my beliefs with others. I know that today’s achievements at St. Agnes will
last me a lifetime.