Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

St. Genevieve’s High Schoolserves families in the San Fernando Valley, providing affordable, culturally sensitive, value-based, and academically challenging education. One of the programs which sets the school apart is its Character Development Program. The program gives students structured opportunities to examine and assess their personal values, ethics and behavior and to learn how to make thoughtful decisions. In 2003, the “Valiants” received the designation of National School of Character.

At a recent Character Formation Day activity, a senior shared with the entire student body her sentiments about her experience at St. Genevieve’s. She had spent her freshman year at a 3000+ student public school, where she felt lost and insignificant. She was deeply depressed and lost her faith in God. She entered a very unhealthy dating relationship, which ended bitterly. Near a break-down, her parents helped her choose a different school. From the staff who took her on a tour of St. Genevieve’s to the students she met that same day, this student felt welcomed. She was touched by the kindness and sincerity of those she met.

“So, I signed up to go to St. Genevieve, and I ended up trying out for cheer. I remember walking up to the gym on the first day of try-outs and Merria, who didn’t even know me, ran up to me, threw her arms around me and gave me perhaps the single most meaningful hug of my life. In that instant, I was accepted. It was the first of a chain of acceptance from this school…Character is a word I never thought about before St. Genevieve… Who needs character? It doesn’t do you any good. Or so I thought. I listened at the character formation days, and I let the words change me. I did things my freshman year I’m not proud about. Things I’ll never be proud about. But thanks to this school, I know I will never be that person again. I have character. And I know you need character in life. It is impossible to be happy without it… Trust and faith in God is something this school taught me also. It was on junior retreat, after a speech given by a faculty member that I was able to finally see God in my life, and finally realize that he was always there for me. I had just neglected to see it. Faith in God can save a person. It can change a person. I can say, with all certainty, that this school saved my life... I thrive here… I found God through this school. I found character in this school. I found the best friends a girl could ever have… in this school. To this day, I can walk down the halls and people I don’t know too well will smile at me and wave. Even at cheer practice, we’re all so different. So many different interests and personalities… but we still manage to just goof off and have the best times together… Life is great…”