“Writer Swap” is a collaboration with other Holy Cross high school newspapers. We will work with editors from Holy Cross High School of San Antonio, Texas and San Juan Diego Catholic High School of Austin, Texas to hear stories and traditions from their schools and see the differences in various Holy Cross institutions.

This summer, I was given the honor of being on the Holy Cross Immersion and spending a week in San Jose, California. In this experience, I was introduced to the kindest girl—your very own Lancer, Katherine Winton (’25). Through the week-long process, I was able to bond and create a true friendship with her, even though I live more than 1000 miles away. Although we go to sister schools, we both noticed differences in our upbringings and atmospheres. However, even states apart, our schools still share some similarities. In this article, I hope to pay tribute to the cultural differences between us while also embracing the memories we created together and the connections between high school students.

I’ve always wondered what Texans seemed like to the rest of America, so I had a huge awakening when I visited California. The moment we immersed ourselves at Saint Francis, I was asked what it was like to live in Texas. I was questioned constantly, being asked if we were all cowboys and how conservative we were. I was mostly surprised to hear that “y’all” was not normal in Californian vocabulary; I had never noticed how location could affect the cultures of our schools in such different ways.

At my school, Holy Cross of San Antonio (HCOSA), we are located in southern Texas, what I would call the heart of Texas. In this part of Texas, the Mexican influence is prominent. This is the first difference I noticed from Saint Francis. The richness of our Tejano culture has to be my favorite part of our school. This culture goes further than just language; it’s truly a way of life. It’s in the food served in our cafeteria, the way we are treated as family, the discipline in our coaches, and the free-spirited attitude of our students at every turn of the school. It’s very important for us to embrace this, and it manifests itself in many aspects of our school. Our student section is section ñ. Beloved teacher Mr. Eddie Vega shares the importance of this letter: “The strength in our community is our uniqueness in culture. A culture that has been deprived of its own nature and has stood proud throughout it all. Ñ is the rowdiest letter in the alphabet, showing the spirit in our crowds that’s laid into the heart of every Mexican in our community.”

Another thing that allows HCOSA to keep its authenticity is its smaller size in comparison to most private schools. Our total student population is around 300, middle school and high school combined. The intimacy and tightness is incomparable. Whereas at any other school you might just be a number, at Holy Cross you are truly known and cherished on a personal level. I could probably name every person I see in our hallways and greet them with a warm smile. Each teacher knows their students as more than just another face in the classroom or a surface-level connection. On an average day at HCOSA, I find myself greeted at every corner in a true family-like atmosphere.

We uphold our principles of strength with unwavering devotion and hold dear the traditions of family and alumni engagement. At our games, you’ll see students from graduating classes spanning from the 1980s to the most recent class of 2024. The bond we share with our alumni is unparalleled, stemming from the deep connections formed within our school community—connections that transcend time and circumstance. We have programs like the 426 Program, in which any alumni member donates $426 a month to our school. The importance of the number 426 comes from our address, 426 N San Felipe Ave. This program highlights the generosity of our alumni, as they give back to the school that raised them. Yet, it also gives pride to our address, demonstrating the love we have for our community. To our community, 426 will always be more than a number.

Holy Cross of San Antonio will forever be an extension of God’s love into a humble home on the west side. A school that was never in the most expensive area but is luxurious in the richness of humility and grace, it is the first school in which I ever felt like I mattered. Holy Cross will be my forever home, and I hope I have given you a glimpse into our community. If you are reading this, I invite you to be a part of our family, and once you are Knight, you are always a Knight.