Voices Ringing Blog /

Julian Correa Quiroz ‘24, Charity House and Our Lady of the Rosary School Alumnus, with Mr. Erik Ramsey ’93 and Mr. Chris Sorrell '83

Julian Correa-Quiroz is a translator-extraordinaire' for families who have lots of questions about Carroll and are still learning English.  His patience and attentiveness to those parents and children are as impressive as it gets.

-Mr. Chris Sorrell '83

Favorite Restaurant:

Giordano's

Favorite Movie:

Tokyo Drift

Who would you like to play in a movie?

Pedro Paschal

Place you'd love to travel:

Tokyo, Japan

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The people here are so open with each other and families grow together daily.

What should school “do” for you?

I feel like school should be a safe and relaxing place for all people.  Even though it can cause a lot of stress, it could lead to something nice. Also, I feel like it should have the best interest in us as a community and have a well-rounded mindset for kids that need help with personal or educational growth.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Never give up on your hopes and dreams because if God challenges you with something, it only means he has something better for you at the end.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To be successful and make my parents proud of all my accomplishments.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time hanging out around friends and family.  If I'm not with them, then I'm doing something active, like going to the gym.

Competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics calls for long hours in practice and study groups, but Julia Quinn ‘21 is preparing for an even bigger task to support her fellow student-athletes at Florida Atlantic University this weekend as the men’s basketball team heads to the Final Four.

After she swims her final lap of practice at the FAU Aquatic Center on Friday, March 31, Julia Quinn ‘21 will start a 16 hour car ride from Boca Raton, Florida to Houston to watch her friends and fellow student-athletes play in the Final Four.

“We all know someone [on the team] through being in the athletics program,” Quinn said.  “I’ve had classes with some.  We all share the same training room, so I see them in and out of the training room all the time.”

Knowing and managing the demands of competing at the Division I level helps create a strong bond between Quinn, her teammates on the swim team, and the Owls who compete in other sports.  During the season, practice alone fills 20 hours each week on top of other team events, and some student-athletes work part time jobs on top of the demands of sports and school.  Quinn says even her friends on the cheerleading team are dealing with an unprecedented amount of obligations due to spending so much time away from campus.

Some student-athletes like Quinn carry a packed course load throughout their time in college in order to begin work on their graduate degree while still on scholarship.  Thanks in part to Carroll’s College Credit Plus program and earning six credit hours in high school, Quinn says she expects to finish her finance and business analytics degree a year early and start work on her MBA while exploring a career in sports management.

Watching the Owls’ historic season unfold in front of her has made the extra challenges worthwhile, Quinn said.  She and her friends could walk into home games minutes before tip off at the start of the season.  As the wins started piling up, tickets became required for entry, and students and fans would have to line up for the best seats.  After the brackets were revealed, Quinn expected the team to win their first round matchup against the Memphis Tigers.  She admits that she wasn’t as confident for a second round win against their expected next opponent, the Purdue Boilermakers.  After the team defeated tournament darlings Fairleigh Dickinson, Quinn and the rest of the FAU fans started believing that a run to the Final Four was possible in the Owls’ first NCAA tournament appearance.

Now, thanks to a little luck in the ticket lottery, Quinn along with her roommate and teammate, will witness the end of the Owls’ season in person from court level at NRG Stadium.  Small moments like a road trip with her best friend and major events like being part of the crowd at the Final Four all add up to an outstanding college experience for Quinn.

“That’s why I love FAU – we’re close with the people who play other sports.  We know when the other teams are playing, and we all support each other and want FAU to do well as a whole.”
 

Anh Le '24, Charity House, with Mrs. Nicole Druck

Ahn Le is in her first year here from Vietnam and has tackled the challenge coming to a new school.  Anh has made an amazing effort to make new friends and be engaged, and she works very hard in her classes while also learning what life is like being an "American teen".  Anh has also shared traditions from Vietnam such as how her family celebrated their Vietnamese New Year.

-Mrs. Nicole Druck

What activities do you participate in?

I am involved in the International Club and the Spanish Club. I really enjoyed the time doing activities with friends in the clubs. Besides, the field trips of the International Club give me chances to make new friends and enjoy the time with them. The activity I like the most is skating with the International Club.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

As a student at Carroll, I feel very happy to participate in many activities which are organized by the school. My favorite activities are House Events because they help me to connect with other friends in my House. House Events help me develop skills to work with other friends and bring us closer to each other.

What should school “do” for you?

School is great now because because it is meeting all my needs. The other students are friendly and nice to me. My teachers help me a lot with any assignments, and they always answer my questions about anything.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

A lesson I learned when I overcame a difficult obstacle was that I can rest when I feel too tired to do something, but I must not stop completely.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life is to work a job I like, have a happy life, and have more time to take care of my parents.

Pamela Olivas ‘22 (left) and Kelly Dong ’22 with Mrs. Linda Edwards

They are both our Yearbook Editors this year and have done an amazing job with our book and their role as leaders in the Yearbook class.  I'm very impressed with both of them.

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

Kelly Dong, Gonzaga House

What activities do you participate in?

I am an Editor in Yearbook Club, President of National Honor Society, and an Officer for Spanish club. Additionally, I am involved in Ohio Math League, Spanish Honor Society, and I’m a research intern at Wright Patterson Air Force Base under mentor Dr. John Harrell.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The teachers are my favorite part about being at Carroll. Shoutout to Mrs. Edwards, Mrs. Ollier, Dr. O’Malley, Ms. Caserta, Mrs. Fuhr, Mr. Ochs, Mayor Williams, and so many others. 

What should school “do” for you?

School should give you a little of an idea of what you want to do in life. Whether that be traveling, entering into a trade school, taking a break, or entering into college, school should support and inspire you to take your next few steps.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Although I was born in the US, I lived in China for the first four years of my life with my grandparents. When I came to the US, I barely knew any English going into preschool. Because of the language barrier, I was scared of talking. Therefore, through this, I have learned to ask the questions you have and to talk to the people you’ve always wanted to talk to; after all, there’s no guarantee that you’ll ever see anyone from your high school ever again.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream in life has always been to become an oncologist (a cancer doctor) and to get a dog. Part of my dream is coming true because my family is getting a toy poodle in a few weeks!

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time, I like to read, cook, and bake. Currently, I’ve baked a dozen different chocolate chip cookie recipes in search of the perfect cookie.

Pamela Olivas, Charity House

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of the marching band, Chamber Strings, Drama club, and I am a yearbook editor.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love getting involved with various activities at Carroll and spending time with friends.

What should school “do” for you?

I believe school should teach us to be responsible and good people before we go out into the world.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I learned that sometimes it is okay when things don’t go the way you planned, it is better to learn from it and adapt.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I would love working to make my community better and helping as many people as I can. 

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend my free time playing my viola and hanging out with friends.

Robert Betts '22, Charity House, with Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

Robert is a dedicated and hardworking student in my computer science classes. He is willing to help others, actively participates in class, and has also helped fill a void in Charity House leadership.

-Mrs. Diane (McNelly) Keller '83

What activities do you participate in?

I am in Marching Band and Symphonic Band.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part of being a student at Carroll is the learning environment as well as all the activities we do here, such as the House competitions.

What should school “do” for you?

Teach me about important things like academics and real world problems.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

One difficult obstacle that I have faced was online learning. I overcame this by studying more and paying hard attention to what was being taught, as well as self-teaching.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

One of my biggest dreams in life is to turn my fish keeping hobby into a business.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to spend my free time by tending to my fish keeping hobby and hanging out with friends.

Sam Zidar '23, Charity House, with Mrs. Nicole Druck

Sam transferred this year and has been an amazing addition to our Family Room and Carroll High School.  She is kind, always positive, and an awesome student.  She has fit into the Carroll community seamlessly and completely embraces what a Patriot student should be.

-Mrs. Nicole Druck

What activities do you participate in?

I had the opportunity to help out on the makeup crew for the fall play in addition to participating in Spanish Club and lacrosse.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love the atmosphere of community and how connected everyone is.

What should school “do” for you?

School should be a place that enables students to grow in both academic and social spheres, while also preparing them for the future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Being the youngest of seven, I have always been surrounded by my siblings. When they started leaving for college, one-by-one, it was hard for me to adjust to the new environment. Through this difficult transition, I learned the importance of enjoying the present moment and the time you have with people.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My biggest dream is to attend medical school and have a career that allows me to work with children and those in need.

How do you like spending your free time?

I spend a majority of my time with my friends and family, finding new coffee shops to try, reading, and running.

Chase Hunt '24, Charity House with Mrs. Beth Branum

Chase is extremely kind.  He recognizes the needs of others and diligently gives his gifts and talents to fill those needs.  I miss teaching him this year.

-Mrs. Beth Branum

What activities do you participate in?

I'm a member of the basketball team.

What's your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

The great teachers and great environment. Everyone is very welcoming.

What should school “do” for you?

School should provide a great education that involves me learning great life skills to use in the future.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

Make sure you understand the whole situation before acting.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

I want to give back to my parents.

How do you like spending your free time?

I like to play basketball, go fishing, and play with my dog.

Julia Quinn '21, Charity House, with Mrs. Linda Edwards

Julia has been such a reliable yearbook worker for all four of her years at Carroll.  Her creativity is refreshing, and her leadership skills as this year’s editor have been so helpful to all the club members.  I appreciate Julia’s contributions, and she has a great smile!

-Mrs. Linda Edwards

What activities do you participate in?

I am part of the swim team, band, yearbook editor, Harry Potter Club, and a Captain for Charity House.

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

My favorite part about being a student at Carroll is all the students, teachers, and families that make up such a great community.

What should school “do” for you?

Schools should be a second home. Everyone should feel welcomed and loved because we are family.

What’s a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I have learned to adapt, be flexible, and make the most out of a bad situation. Through this, I now appreciate everyday we have together because it can easily be taken away.

What’s your biggest dream in life?

My dream in life is to find a career that I love and travel to experience different cultures.

How do you like spending your free time?

In my free time I enjoy hammocking, going to Dunkin´ Donuts, and making and watching TikToks with my friends.

David McLoughlin '24, Charity House with Mrs. Abby (Wiles) Merkle '11

David shares his exceptional computer skills with a humble attitude.   I know so many college students and even adults who struggle with coding, and he does it for fun.  He blows me away with his talent, and I am amazed at his humility.

-Mrs. Abby (Wiles) Merkle '11

What activities do you participate in?

Cross Country, Indoor Track, Boy Scouts

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll?

I love the community as well as the people here.

What should school "do" for you?

School should help prepare you for the future challenges you may face and should make sure that you can become successful through education.

What's a lesson you learned when you overcame a difficult obstacle?

I’ve learned that if you stay determined and work hard, you can overcome any obstacles and achieve your goals.

What's your biggest dream in life?

My dream is to become successful and life and live with a happy family while also maintaining the relationships that I have with my friends and family.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I like spending my free time hanging out with my friends and family, watching TV shows, and sometimes working on programming projects.

Nadia Severt '23, Charity House with Ms. Mary Kate Caserta

Nadia frequently displays leadership qualities in Spanish and English, she is always concerned about her fellow peers who are struggling, and overall she is a cheerful student.

-Ms. Mary Kate Caserta

What activities do you participate in? 

Volleyball, Spanish Club, Student Council

What is your favorite part of being a student at Carroll

Being able to build wonderful relationships with the faculty and my classmates

What should school “do” for you?

School should prepare you for life academically and socially

What's a lesson you learned by overcoming a difficult obstacle?

Family will help you get through anything

What’s your biggest dream in life?

To reach my fullest potential in everything I do.

How do you like spending your free time?

Playing volleyball and spending time with my family and friends

The second semester has begun, and students are buckling down. Winter sports teams are headed into the tournament and are prepared for the seedings.  Looking into the future, Carroll’s St. Pats Fest is coming up soon.  Students are asked to sign up for a shift

in order to fulfill the 80% goal to receive a day off.  Also, each House is putting together a basket for the Silent Auction.  Each basket has a theme which will be announced by House deans.  This month is also full of school dances with Turnabout on February 22, Father-Daughter on February 28, and Mother-Son on February 29.  Finally, it is important to check calendars for the listed upcoming days off in February. 

In Family Rooms, students are busy taking in every moment as time is winding down.  This coming Friday, Houses will participate in the third Quarter House Event, a game show presented by Gonzaga and Mercy Houses.  Also, Charity captains are busy planning events for Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.  In Room 307, Jackson Stanard '20 has been planning fun events like Pictionary, Hangman, and TikToks!  One of our very own Charity mentors, Mr. Ben Joplin, knows PUBLIC, the band whose song inspired one of the most popular TikTok trends.  The band said if Family Rooms make a TikTok to “Make You Mine,” the best video would be featured on their page.  In Room 307, I asked Morgan Sanko '20 a few questions about starting her final semester of high school.

“Family Room has brought me closer to people who I never thought I would be friends with,” Morgan says.  "We all know each other very well and respect each other.  We have fun and play lots of games just to bond.  I am going to miss our celebrations the most.”

Everyone can see the importance of community that the House System has instilled.  Each student is comfortable with their peers they spend time with every day. There are different purposes for having the House System, but one is definitely to create a family sensation in the school environment for every student. 

As the first quarter wraps up, Carroll is onto the next quarter and new events. The fall sports are ready for tournament time, winter sport tryouts are just around the corner, and the Marching Patriots are preparing for their  regional and national championship competitions coming up in November. Looking a little deeper into the House System, Family Rooms are busy with a number of activities. This week I talked with Trent Fox '20, captain of Family Room 202. Let’s take a look at how they are spending their time throughout the week.

Second Quarter House Event: Lip Sync

With a competition coming up in the next few months and the kick off of the second quarter, these students are busy. When I asked Trent what he would be doing with his Family Room this week, he gave me a run down.  “On Monday, I showed my room our theme song for the Lip Sync competition," Fox said.  "Then, I asked if anyone in my room would like to play major roles”. With this discussion, ideas for our dance began to light up in students' heads.  “On Thursday, the entire Charity House will head to the gym to begin organizing our plans for the Lip Sync. There are a number of roles and groups that students will pick to be in or be a part of!”

Academic Time

Although Tuesdays are dedicated solely to academics, students’ studies and classwork is often discussed throughout the week. With the end of quarter one approaching, these students focused on their studies and completing assignments for their courses.

Food Fight!

On Friday, Trent’s Family Room is playing Food March Madness. Trent described the game by saying, “In this game, rather than there being teams competing, food will be competing. Whichever food ends up in the Champion spot, I will bring in later next week.”

The importance of family is greatly emphasized throughout Carroll. “I see Family Room as a time where you can get closer to other people in all grade levels. You build a relationship with people you probably would not have talked to otherwise,” Fox said. Every student feels a sense of comfort with the bonds built in their Family Rooms. That is the goal of the House System and magic of Family Room! 

At the beginning of the new year, we try to focus on acclimating the freshmen to their new school and making them feel as welcome as possible. But, Family Room is for all grades. We hone in on helping each other out with various subjects, issues and becoming a small family.  I asked Sean McKitrick '23 about his favorite part of in Family Room so far.  

“My favorite thing was playing the games and activities," McKitrick said. "They were fun, and I got the opportunity to learn more about my fellow classmates.”

For this second week of school, my Family Room has been preparing for the first House Event of the year: a cheer competition. On Monday, the captains taught the students our Charity House cheers in Family Rooms. On Tuesday, the entire House met in the Auxiliary Gym and practiced as a whole. I assigned specific tasks like making signs, finding noise makers, gathering head gear, and painting to each Family Room to accomplish by Friday. Thursday, my Family Room brought together our ideas about how we want to decorate our poster signs. On Friday, a couple of students went outside to begin spray painting while the other students stayed inside to practice cheers.

I would say we are feeling pretty confident about our cheers! Next week, we plan on wrapping up our signs and final touches to our cheers. Before we know it, all the Houses will be taking the field for the competition.