Notre Dame kicked off the second semester with a state of the school assembly building on the theme of CONFIDENCE, which they chose to guide their year. Entering the normally brightly lit gym, students were surprised with dim lights and dramatic music. As the stage curtains opened, student leaders stood confidently on stage wearing capes. Their message: Confidence - “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now,” a reference to the popular Indredibles moves and their iconic leader, Edna. a reference to the popular Indredibles moves and their iconic leader, Edna.

Student body president, Samantha Lee '19, recapped some of the accomplishments and activities of the first semester and also acknowledged that her ND sisters might be feeling overwhelmed, out of breath, anxious, or excited. She encouraged her classmates. "It may seem easier to hang on to our past mistakes, challenges, and failures, but we have to remember Edna’s amazing advice - I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now. While the past is important, we can’t dwell on it and let it define us. Instead just like Edna told Mr. Incredible, we too have to learn from the past and look toward the future as an opportunity to grow into the confident superhero inside every single one of you. On the first day of school we all stood in a power pose and said “I am strong. I am beautiful. I am tenacious. I am brave. I am courageous. I am confident.” In that moment we each put on our invisible superhero capes and walked into this school year as 660 confident superheroes ready to take on the challenges of the school year ahead. And we did. We reached our goal for our Sister Circles supporting future Notre Dame Students and raised money to support students in Yancolo. However, throughout the past few months our confidence capes may have been snagged by a poor grade, a failed risk, or simply falling flat on our face. But, I want you to notice the reason capes did not work out for the superheroes Edna listed - it was because their capes were caught up in the little things. No matter the challenges life may throw our way, we can’t let our superhero capes be caught up in the little things of the past because it only distracts from the opportunity we have every day to be a super friend, super daughter, super student, and super person."

Samantha finished by telling students that although being confident in yourself sounds simple, in times of stress it can easily be forgotten. While her message was directed at her ND sisters, it was a good reminder for all of us.