What Belen is to me

Paul Hao-Ren Yan '22 | Middle School Vincam Editor
It feels like yesterday was my first day at Belen Jesuit. I remember being so nervous about going to a new school and not knowing what to expect. I had only attended one other school in my whole life before Belen. Throughout the last three years, I have made many memories. From riding the Ferris wheel at Tombola, to eating lunch with my friends, middle school has been an unforgettable experience.
 
I treasure every Belen memory. Some of my favorites have been Mrs. Guerrero’s class, lunch with my friends, the You’re Amazing presentations and hearing the presentation by Ernest Green, one of the students from the Little Rock Nine. All of these and other events have inspired me and made me want to become a better person.
 
Belen provides an outstanding education. One of my favorite classes was seventh grade English taught by Mrs. Morera. I enjoyed every book we read last year, and the projects were very interesting. I’ve also enjoyed science in middle school. Belen is more than just studies; there are a lot of clubs to join. For instance, I was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and joined the Photography Club. The NJHS club gave me many community service opportunities that I could do with my classmates. The Photography Club taught me about cameras and how to work them. I encourage students that aren’t involved in clubs to check them out.
 
One of the many highlights of being in the middle school is that we share the campus with the high school. Students are able to eat lunch in the Dining Hall and in the courtyard as well. We can also choose electives. The Chinese program in Belen makes me very happy because it gives students a chance to learn an important language, and it shows that Belen is becoming diverse. I also love the Hispanic Heritage night because it gives me a taste of all the different cultures we share in my school. Tombola is a very fun festival. I bump into some of my friends who don’t come to the school and we have time to catch up. Another thing I like is the Academic Awards because it motivates me to get better grades, and it also makes me feel proud of my achievements.
 
Belen has made its way into my heart. At first, I was always caught up in wanting to go back to my old school. After a while, I realized that Belen has much more to offer, and I slowly warmed up to the school. If I were to give you advice for middle school, it is to not stress too much. Another piece of advice is to use these middle school years to find out what you enjoy by joining different clubs, electives, and sports. You should also be getting involved with the school activities because you can make friends through different events.
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BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: webmaster@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba by Queen Isabel II of Spain.  The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline.  In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the School property and expelled the Jesuit faculty.  The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow.  Today, Belen Jesuit sits on a 30-acre site in western Dade County, only minutes away from downtown Miami.