Dear Ursuline Families,

As I began this year in a new role as the Community and Inclusion Coordinator, I was repeatedly drawn to two lines in our Statement on Community and Inclusion, “We desire for each student to feel that she is known and fixed in our hearts,” and “We, all members of the Ursuline Academy of Dallas community…are responsible for the ongoing advancement of our inclusive community.” What a beautiful place to start. In my time at Ursuline, I have found that these are not only words on a page, but truly a living embodiment of why we are here and a vibrant expression of our Catholic identity. Every student within our community today belongs on our campus, and, more importantly, we all have a responsibility to each other.

In September, I had the opportunity to meet with the Class of 2029 in their freshman seminar classes. I asked if they noticed the individual graduate portraits that hang on our walls. Many students see familiar faces of mothers, aunts, cousins, and grandmothers, while others will be the first in their families to graduate from Ursuline. Our community makes it a point to highlight the face of every graduate because each student’s unique story, collectively with all the graduates who have walked our halls, has formed and shaped the Ursuline that we know today.

It is from this central belief that we created this week’s Community and Inclusion all-school activity. In our advisories, we asked students to create their own “Where I’m From” poem, inspired by the same poem by writer George Lyon. The purpose of the poem was to give students an opportunity to explore and reflect on their own personal stories through vivid memories, experiences, and history. The entire poem was open to interpretation and meant to invoke memories or significant aspects of each student’s own life experience and values. 

The second part of our activity gave students a way to share parts of their poem and practice listening with a partner. Members of our Community and Inclusion Student Leadership Team called attention to the fact that as a society, we’re often on our phones, scrolling through everyone’s lives—but how often do we stop and actually pay attention? Social media makes it easy to hear a lot of voices, but not necessarily the right ones. We listen to influencers, trends, and random opinions online, but sometimes we forget to listen to the people right next to us and in our hearts—our friends, our families, and even ourselves. Who are we really listening to? How are we getting to know each other beyond the screens? What are we actually seeking when we open our apps every day—connection, validation, or maybe just a little bit of peace? When our students shared portions of their poem with a partner, they were able to connect face-to-face, listen actively, and not only hear, but also see the person sitting in front of them.

Reflecting on these experiences, I am reminded that true community is built not just through shared spaces but through intentional acts of listening, understanding, and valuing each person’s story. As we continue to foster an environment where every student feels seen and cherished, we must also challenge ourselves to move beyond surface-level interactions and embrace genuine connection. By respecting the diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences within our Ursuline community, we strengthen the bonds that unite us and ensure that our commitment to inclusion remains a living, breathing part of our daily lives. Ultimately, it is through these collective efforts that we are able to honor the guidance of St. Angela, “My last word to you is that you live in harmony, united together, all of one heart and one will.”

Let us each take up the responsibility to pause, listen deeply, and reach out to those around us. I invite every member of our Ursuline community to actively seek opportunities to connect, share, and support one another, so that together we continue to build a place where each student feels truly known and fixed in our hearts. 

Respectfully,
 

Charleen Doan
Community & Inclusion Coordinator