November 20, 2014
St. Thomas Aquinas High School senior Kyra Sarazen announced her decision to attend the University of Notre Dame next year on an athletic scholarship. A highly skilled swimmer who competes for Dover’s Seacoast Swimming Association, Kyra has made a splash not only for her strong strokes but also for her outstanding academic achievement. While we have been blessed to have Kyra as part of our St. Thomas Aquinas community for the past four years, it is clear that the Notre Dame Irish are soon to be the blessed beneficiaries of this remarkable young lady who shines from the inside out.
Initially joining a swim team at the age of seven, Kyra quickly took to participating as part of a group. Despite her ability and aptitude for swimming, Kyra admits that it wasn’t until her 13th year that everything seemed to “click” and she realized she had a true talent for the sport. Qualifying for the Olympic Trials soon thereafter confirmed her status as a standout swimmer.
Success isn’t born in a day, however, and no one knows this better than parents. At some point or other during the “growing up” years, every child balks at long practices and rigorous training. “Tug ‘o War” stops being a children’s game and gradually becomes a metaphorical relationship for teenagers- friends pull one direction and responsibility and commitment pull another. Kyra feels she was no exception to this and credits her parents for helping her to swim upstream against a potential rip current of fatigue and pressure. She was able to maintain her focus and her self-vision which in turn allowed her to pursue her dream.
Finding an appropriate balance between her academics and her swimming has been challenging at times. Both require diligent mental training and both require time and commitment. Allotting the appropriate attention to succeed in both is a valuable skill that Kyra plans to carry with her to Notre Dame. “I have come to rely on an intensity with my swimming,” Kyra states. “I know that I need focus, determination and a desire to do well in order to achieve my personal and long-term goals.”
Preparing for the college journey can often take young people along a path punctuated with ruts and divots. Kyra, a young woman who exemplifies strength in all ways, reflects that her own path was made much smoother because she traveled through St. Thomas Aquinas High School. “I know for a fact that attending St. Thomas Aquinas helped me get where I am today,” she said. “It allowed me to aim high and be the very best version of myself. I know that swimming won’t last forever and, at STA, I was able to grow and succeed in a variety of other areas like in physics and biology.”
On a clear dark night, one can see beautiful bright stars- stars that have traveled light-years through space to reach our eyes. Fortunately for our St. Thomas Aquinas community, we have been harboring our own brilliant star for four years. Thank you, Kyra, for radiating your light and for reminding us all of the far-reaching magnitude of energy and endurance. Blessed indeed is Notre Dame.
Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, stretched spiritually and supported to achieve educational excellence. St. Thomas Aquinas serves families from over sixty communities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. For more information, visit us during our upcoming Open Houses on November 23, 1pm or Monday, December 8 at 7pm, or learn more at www.stalux.org.
Initially joining a swim team at the age of seven, Kyra quickly took to participating as part of a group. Despite her ability and aptitude for swimming, Kyra admits that it wasn’t until her 13th year that everything seemed to “click” and she realized she had a true talent for the sport. Qualifying for the Olympic Trials soon thereafter confirmed her status as a standout swimmer.
Success isn’t born in a day, however, and no one knows this better than parents. At some point or other during the “growing up” years, every child balks at long practices and rigorous training. “Tug ‘o War” stops being a children’s game and gradually becomes a metaphorical relationship for teenagers- friends pull one direction and responsibility and commitment pull another. Kyra feels she was no exception to this and credits her parents for helping her to swim upstream against a potential rip current of fatigue and pressure. She was able to maintain her focus and her self-vision which in turn allowed her to pursue her dream.
Finding an appropriate balance between her academics and her swimming has been challenging at times. Both require diligent mental training and both require time and commitment. Allotting the appropriate attention to succeed in both is a valuable skill that Kyra plans to carry with her to Notre Dame. “I have come to rely on an intensity with my swimming,” Kyra states. “I know that I need focus, determination and a desire to do well in order to achieve my personal and long-term goals.”
Preparing for the college journey can often take young people along a path punctuated with ruts and divots. Kyra, a young woman who exemplifies strength in all ways, reflects that her own path was made much smoother because she traveled through St. Thomas Aquinas High School. “I know for a fact that attending St. Thomas Aquinas helped me get where I am today,” she said. “It allowed me to aim high and be the very best version of myself. I know that swimming won’t last forever and, at STA, I was able to grow and succeed in a variety of other areas like in physics and biology.”
On a clear dark night, one can see beautiful bright stars- stars that have traveled light-years through space to reach our eyes. Fortunately for our St. Thomas Aquinas community, we have been harboring our own brilliant star for four years. Thank you, Kyra, for radiating your light and for reminding us all of the far-reaching magnitude of energy and endurance. Blessed indeed is Notre Dame.
Located in Dover, NH, St. Thomas Aquinas High School is a coeducational, Catholic high school community where young people are called to be challenged academically, stretched spiritually and supported to achieve educational excellence. St. Thomas Aquinas serves families from over sixty communities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. For more information, visit us during our upcoming Open Houses on November 23, 1pm or Monday, December 8 at 7pm, or learn more at www.stalux.org.
Contact:
Kevin Collins, Principal
kcollins@stalux.org, (603) 742-3206
