It is with great pleasure that I share my testimony as a former student of the Sainte Jeanne Antide school in Alessandria, which I attended from second grade until graduation, 35 years ago.
When I was first contacted to share my testimony and what I experienced during those years, a series of unforgettable memories came flooding back. These are memories that I relive very often, stories that I share today with my two children, which make me smile and take me back to what I call “the good old days.”
My education during those years made me the woman I am today: a sister, a mother, a daughter, a friend, and a fellow believer who strives every day to live and practice the life lessons I had the pleasure of learning during my educational and spiritual journey.
My education would not have been the same without the incredible nuns who worked at the school. Among them was Sister Pauline, whom I will always carry in my heart and with whom I am still in contact today. I will always consider her a perfect example of discipline, love, respect, generosity, and passion. She taught us the importance of small details: ironing our uniforms, respecting other religions, being punctual for class, good manners, and faith in God.
As a member of several extracurricular activities, I participated in the Guides, the Feux Nouveaux, and the various camps of Sainte Jeanne Antide whenever I had the opportunity. It was in these places that I first became interested in cooking, photography, singing, and the French language. It was also there that I learned to be independent, to overcome difficult obstacles in life, and to meet other girls my age who had completely different life experiences from mine. I began to understand that we were all created on earth to share unconditional love and spread the peace that comes from God.
During that period of my life, I also came into contact with the suffering of others for the first time, thanks to our many visits to lepers, nursing homes for the elderly and disabled children, and Indian nuns. These visits inspired me to help others, and Sister Pauline was there to represent compassion, love, and empathy. Having witnessed all this, I felt my faith deepen, as did my faith in God and His power to heal, transform lives, and perform miracles.
I would like to thank all the sisters of Saint Jeanne Antide, and especially Sister Pauline, who will always be a role model for me and someone who has touched my life in a way that words can never describe.
Best regards,
Rita Younan, PROMOTION 1990
