More Than a School: Miege Taught Me to Do Small Things with Great Love

“Bishop Miege is not just a school. It’s a miracle, and I know because it saved me. All along the way, it reminded me: the most powerful way to change the world is to do small things with great love, and that’s exactly what this place does each and every single day.”

By: Emilia Buck, Class of 2025

I came to Bishop Miege after a really hard eighth-grade year. I lost someone very close to me, Aiden Riley. He was more than a friend; he was like family. While I was grieving that loss, I was also struggling in another way. I was bullied for how I looked, people didn’t see my heart, only my appearance. And to be honest, I wanted nothing more than to follow those same girls to an all-girls’ high school. I thought if I wasn’t accepted by them, I wouldn’t be accepted by anyone. I was quiet. I stayed to myself. I didn’t have the strength to make new friends, and I was scared to try.

Trusting in a new beginning

But God had a different plan. My parents told me I would be going to Bishop Miege, and I didn’t realize it then, but they were giving me a gift far greater than I could understand. It was hard at first. I felt alone, and more than anything, I felt distant from God. I blamed Him for what I’d been through. I walked into Miege, hurting and guarded.

But something started to change. Slowly. Gently. This place began to feel like home. No one here cared about popularity, or what you wore, or where you lived. People saw me for who I truly was, my heart. And for the first time in a long time, I felt safe enough to let that heart be seen.

A space to grow and be seen

I’ll be honest, school wasn’t always my thing. I think I get that from my dad, but despite those early struggles, Miege gave me a space where I could thrive, where I wasn’t just another student, I was someone who could grow, learn, and find my place.

But just when I started to settle in, junior year brought more challenges. I began to lose faith in myself, in my friends, and even in God. But even when I felt like giving up, Miege didn’t give up on me.

That’s where Herd made all the difference. It’s more than just a program, it’s a family, inside of a family. It’s a community that welcomes you, supports you, and pushes you to be the best version of yourself. Through Herd, I realized that no matter what I went through, I wasn’t alone. There was always someone there, rooting for me, guiding me, and lifting me up when I needed it most. It’s where you truly feel like you belong, where you’re seen for who you are and accepted without question. It’s a place that reminds you — you are part of something bigger than yourself.

A quiet follower turned bold leader because of small things with great love

Junior year, I took a leap of faith and ran for Herd Executive. A year earlier, I never would have imagined being a leader, I always saw myself as a follower. But something pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and trust in the people who believed in me. I’m so glad I did, because that moment changed everything.

Being elected was one of the greatest honors of my life. It pushed me, challenged me, and helped me find passions I didn’t even know I had. I got to lead, to serve, to speak, and to walk alongside others in their own journeys. Most importantly, I got to share my faith. I had the chance to live out the phrase I carry with me everywhere: to do small things with great love.

What made this all possible was the incredible support from the teachers here at Miege. They are always there, not just when we succeed, but when we fall. In the hardest moments, when I felt like giving up, they were the ones reminding me of my worth and encouraging me to keep going. They didn’t just teach us subjects, they taught us how to persevere, how to keep faith in ourselves, even when things felt impossible. Their gentle, unwavering support gave me the courage to push forward, to learn from my mistakes, and to grow stronger through every challenge.

A faith that became real

Before Miege, my faith was something in the background. I prayed. I went to church. But it was routine. At Miege, that changed. This school didn’t force faith, it fostered it. Gently. Lovingly. Brick by brick, they built a foundation of Christ under my feet. Through the people around me, students and teachers sharing their testimonies, I learned that faith isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up. It’s about relationships, and it’s one that has changed everything for me.

A lasting impact rooted in love

I have never been stronger in my faith than I am now. Not because I found God, but because this place showed me He had been with me all along.

Bishop Miege has given me memories I will carry for the rest of my life, and though I’m graduating soon, I’m not really leaving, because Miege is part of who I am. It shaped my heart. It taught me how to see people for who they are on the inside. It gave me strength, joy, and confidence rooted in Christ. Because Bishop Miege isn’t just a good school.

It’s a place where the lost are found, where the quiet are heard, and where broken hearts are gently made whole. It’s where faith is not just taught, it’s lived. It’s where I became who I was always meant to be. And if you let it, this school will become that for your child too.

Bishop Miege is not just a school. It’s a miracle, and I know because it saved me.

All along the way, it reminded me: the most powerful way to change the world is to do small things with great love, and that’s exactly what this place does each and every single day.