“I’m worth it!”

This phrase has been used by many companies to sell everything from hair dye and makeup to automobiles and so called luxury items. The notion is a good one, suggesting that each of us has an intrinsic worth or value that not only entitles us to the best that life has to offer but also requires that we receive the very best.

My thoughts today are primarily directed at the members of the senior class, the class of 2009, a group of wonderful young ladies who will soon begin the adventure of life beyond high school! This group has been in my thoughts quite often in recent weeks and although this identifies only a portion of the school population, I hope that my comments will have a relevance for the students in the other grades as each of them moves closer to that date of graduation.

This idea of worth and how one defines personal worth has undergone some alteration in recent years. It seems that consciously or inadvertently, many have come to believe that external entities, forces and institutions outside ourselves, really define that worth for us. They would have us believe that we neither control nor understand our own value.

Why is this on my mind and why my special thoughts about the seniors?In recent weeks and months, each senior has likely sent out a number of applications, requesting consideration for admission to colleges and universities across the state and around the country.Most students have received at least some responses but schools have until May 1^st to notify prospective applicants and thus a number of seniors are still playing the waiting game.

Each year, I am reminded about what a difficult and, at times, heartbreaking process this is, and each year I am saddened by the pain and anxiety that is caused.Students go through a horrendous process trying to capture all the details that define them, complete these often lengthy forms, send them off to faceless and nameless admissions personnel and then wait to be chosen.Herein lies my own discontent.

For years, I have heard over and over again the verbalized angst expressed by our seniors as they wait and hope and pray for a response. “I have to get into __________.”(Fill in the college of your choice.) “I’ll die if I am not accepted at ___________.” “I’ve planned on attending ____________ since I was little.” “They have to take me, or I don’t know what I’ll do.”

When did the power shift occur?When did students give away the control to any personnel on any college campus to tell them whether or not they were good enough, smart enough, worthy enough to join the ranks at their university? I don’t know when the shift occurred but I can tell you that for years I have worked to unseat this perception with our students.

Here is what I believe.Each student has to change the internal message she hears and create a new message.Each student needs to take back her power and her power begins and ends with a new thought: I will be an amazing asset on the campus that is lucky enough to count me in its population.My choice of place, not theirs of me, will open doors of opportunity and my contributions will be important and significant. I believe teenagers, and certainly the girls here in the Mercy community, have so much untapped talent and potential.I see proof of it every day in their thoughts and actions. I believe, I truly believe, that Mercy graduates do make a difference and because that difference is so profound, I want each girl to recognize her worth, her value, and believe that she chooses her next stop. The college doesn’t choose her.

Simply put, circumstances beyond our control should never have the power to control who we think we are, what we think we’ll be able to do, and what we hope to work to become.Whatever the outcomes of your college search, come away with this belief: the colleges that offered you an opportunity to attend gave themselves a gift. You choose the location for your higher education! You are worth it! They just better be ready to handle you and all the good that you will bring.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Carolyn Witte, Principal

Mercy Moment of the Month

SWEEPSTAKES, SWEEPSTAKES, SWEEPSTAKES

THANKS to all Mercy students, staff, and parents for raising over $101,000 so far in this year's Sweepstakes Drive. Only5 turn in days left until the drive ends April 30and we are still shy about $39,000 of our $140,000 goal. The students put on a star-studdedspirited sweepstakes assembly pitting each class in a reality TV race to sell the most tickets. It'll be a race to the sweepstakes finish. Ready, set, go SELL!

Mothers Club

ALL MERCY MOMS are invited to join us for our LASTgatheringof the year (no June meeting) on Monday,May 4at 6:30pmin the Media Center.

We need you, MOMS!Visit Mercy Moms web pageto complete your volunteer opportunity form for next school year. Current chairpersons please remember to close out and file your financials. Senior All Night Partyis right around the corner and donations and helping hands are still needed so please contact Judy Smith at jaschornack-smith@jacquesadmiralty.com.

DadsClub

Peace Building and Poli Sci

The AP American Government class was riveted by accomplished Alumna guest speakerNadia Bazzy '03 who discussed international relations on April 20. Nadia graduated from University of Michigan with a political science degree and just recently from Eastern Mennonite University with an M.A. in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding. She most recently worked for the Peacebuilding Initiative which is housed at the Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research (HPCR) at Harvard and in partnership with the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office where she supported the development of an online encyclopedia of Peacebuilding in the Psycho-social recovery subsection at Georgetown University.

This past year Nadia has consulted for 3-D security which aims to foster dialogue between civil society leaders in crisis regions, the U.S. military, and Washington policymakers. In addition Nadia lectures and consults on the Arab world and Islam.She credits Mercy for igniting her passion for building peace and seeking justice. Students were intrigued with the many layers ofconflict resolution, democracy, peace building, and international societiesin our world governments. Thank you, Nadia!

Admissions Anecdotes

Habitat for Humanity by Judi Griggs-Dennis Service Learning Coordinator

SPRING BREAK! The time when many take off for some rest and relaxation in the tropical sun. Spring Break meant something totally different to 22 women. It meant putting on overalls, work gloves and boots. It meant work, hard work, tedious work in the cold, wind, rain, and mud on a mountain ridge in rural eastern Kentucky.

19 Mercy seniors Brittany Barclae, Alanna Bator, Sarah Berger, Alea Brown, Francesca Chiejina, Carson Cueter, Adetola Egbeleye, Dana Ford, Egan Franks, Chelsea Kassa, Jenny Long, Maura Malone, Erica Parkinson, Hannah Redigan, Vanessa Rychlinski, Nicole Spencer, Mary Walle, Jackie Winterbottom and Mei Yano, along with me and my daughter, Sara Dennis-Festerman (chaperone), and Mercy Guidance Counselor Ms. Blaise Wooten (chaperone) headed for Beattyville, Kentucky for 7 days to help the needy of that area. We worked with their local Habitat for Humanity organizer Pastor Herman Newton and his son Isaac. Yes, his son is Isaac Newton! We spent our days doing chores to get the Habitat facility ready for the summer work season, we removed vinyl siding from one house and put vinyl siding on another. We built a tool shed for one resident and did repair work and painted a different house inside and out.

Pastor Herman and the Habitat Committee of the area cooked us an appreciation pot luck dinner for the crew at the local church during our stay. You certainly can’t beat southern home cooking! This was the 12^th year Mercy has headed for Beattyville over Spring Break. Pastor Herman says, “I love my Mercy Girls! We appreciate them so much, they work so hard.”

A special THANK YOU to Mercy Student Council and the Mercy Dads Club for their support of our trip, we couldn’t have made such a difference to the people of Beattyville, Kentucky without you!

STUDENT SUCCESSES . . . APPLAUSE!! APPLAUSE!!

That's Write - Mercy students continue to showcase their excellence in writing winning many prestigious poetry and fiction awards.

• Farmington Community Libraries Poetry Contest: Sophie Juncaj '09 first place; Jackie Winterbottom '09 second place; Haley Bissonette'10 third place; Andrea Conover '09, China Robinson '10, and Emily Dolan '09 Honorable Mentions. Farmington Community Libraries Fiction Contest: Kira Boneff's '10 short story was given the second place grant. All of these girls will be honoredand read their work as part of the Festival of the Arts sponsored by thecities of Farmington and Farmington Hills.

• Samantha Horsell '09, Jessica Murray'11, Kaitlynn Wargo '11, and Laura Bridges '09 have been named semi-finalists in the LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE Contest sponsored by the Library of Michigan. This special recognition is for their writing skills and insight into literature.

• Mercy seniors captured all three prizes in the Poetry Writing Contest sponsored by Lawrence Technological University. Winners were chosen by the faculty of the Humanities Department. Angela Haddad first place, Hannah Redigan second place, Felicia Flowers third place.

Michelle McCarthy '10 and Christina Basso '09 competed with the Mech Warriors RoboticsTeam at the National Robotics Competition held in Atlanta April 15 - 19. Their team took 16th place in their division from a field of 87 teams from across the country. They won five of their seven competition heats!

Ashley Kijek '11 (digital photo) and Tara Ellis '10 (self-portrait collage)won honorable mentions in the Farmington Area Arts Commission Student Art Competition. Their winning pieces will be on display at the Farmington Community Library in May.

Seventeen members of the Forensics Teamhave advanced to the Grand National Catholic Tournament over Memorial Day weekend in Albany, NY.The nationaltournament involves over 3,000 students from 58 dioceses throughout the country.Winners include:

Rainbow Recognition

Outstanding seniors Laura Lavender and Toni Rose Arceno were honored at the 14th Annual Rainbow Recognition Awards held last month sponsored by the Multiracial/Multicultural Community Council. The awards are presented to individuals in the community and schools in Farmington/Farmington Hills who through their work and involvementhelp support the ongoing development of a healthy diverse environment. Each honoree is recognized as someone who actively promotes racial, cultural, and religious understanding.

AWESOME A R T

Here's a sneak peek of some of thepieces to be on display at the2009 Mercy Student Art Exhibit held Thursday, May 7, 8am to 8pm and Friday, May 8, 8am - 6pm. Take a stroll through the Mercy gym and be awed by all the breathtaking artwork from approximately 280 students. Media featured will include drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, fiber arts, digital photography and computer graphics. CLICK HERE for more showinformation.

Tara Ellis '10	Stephanie O'Neil '11	Michaelene Sartori '10

Give Me a M, Give Me an E, Give Me a R, Give Me a C, Give Me a Y!

Mercy Bowlers are the best! Seniors Katherine Dougan and Samantha Horsell were honored at the bowling coaches banquet in Lansing for being named to the All-State Academic Team. Samantha was also chosen as the top student athlete bowler in Division I and awarded a $500 scholarship. And more post season awards . . .Observer & Eccentric All-Area Honorable Mention: Shannon King '09 and Erin Fitzpatrick '10; 3rd Team All-Area: Katherine Dougan '09 and Samantha Horsell '09; 2nd Team All-Area: Jenny Long '09.

More NLI! Carly Sevald signed her National Letter of Intent to dive at Wayne State University and Maura Malone signed her National Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at La Salle University.

Ice Hockey is smooth! As a team, Mercy received the Academic All-State Award having the highest team average GPA of 3.55 and were Division 2 Co-Champions. Senior Brittany Barclae was awarded the first annual Henrik Zetterberg $1,500 college scholarship based on GPA, application, essay, community service, and letter of recommendation. Only one boy and one girl were chosen!

Did you know the Frosh Soccer team is undefeated and hasn't even been scored on as of last week? And they won a JV Tournament. Way to kick it, frosh! Check out studentandathlete.com for plenty of Marlin sports coverage and Mercy In The News web page for articles.Spring sports are in action.CLICK HERE to view the Athletics Calendar and even get driving directions.

Snapshot of Mercy

Sassy Science

The Science Olympiad team is always ready to compete! Congrats to Katie Conely '10 and Rachel Zalupski '10 who took second place in the Junkyard Challenge last month. If you have a snapshot of Mercy, please send to jhearle@mhsmi.org.

Mercy Month Ahead

THANK YOU for taking the time to read the MERCY MEMO. The purpose of this parent newsletter is to inform, enlighten, and entertain.TheMAY MEMO will be delivered to your inbox May 21.If you have any questions or want to submit information contactjhearle@mhsmi.org.

Want even more?Click the school year calendarand the Mercy web site. And don't miss all of the latest Mercy In The News articles.Check outthe current announcements, view past issues of the MEMO newsletter, andbrowse the home page yellow boxtolink towhat's happening today @ Mercy.