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When asked to share a defining memory from their time at St. Catherine’s, each panelist spoke about travel: cross-country peace trips, senior journeys to Greece and Italy, and student-designed experiences shaped by personal research and inquiry. Their memories illuminated formative experiences that demanded planning, collaboration, adaptability, and reflection.
As the conversation continued, the panelists spoke about how those experiences translated directly into their college lives—navigating unfamiliar environments, managing logistics, communicating clearly, and responding calmly when plans changed. The skills developed through these trips, they noted, have continued to surface in everyday contexts, from family travel to independent decision-making.
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Trips to Washington, D.C. (2016), Puerto Rico (2021), and Italy (2025) were at the top of the list of pivotal experiences for our alumnae.
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Confidence Built Through Practice
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A recurring theme throughout the evening was confidence—earned through sustained practice rather than single assignments. All three alumnae reflected on how seminar-style classes, frequent presentations, and writing-intensive coursework shaped their ability to articulate ideas, engage in discussion, and communicate with adults.
In college classrooms—whether large lecture halls or small seminars—this foundation has proven essential. The panelists described feeling comfortable contributing to class discussions, preparing engaging slide decks, and approaching professors with questions or concerns. Several noted that skills they once took for granted are areas where peers often struggle, such as professional emailing, synthesizing complex topics, or giving presentations without reading from notes. The consistent norms of sharing information and public speaking at St. Catherine's developed an essential skillset that prepared them far beyond the norms of conventional education.
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| Caroline and her grandfather, David Haberman, in the Infant Community on Grandparents and Special Friends Day in 2009. |
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Isabella and mom, Ana, attend the last Spring Fling at "the Castle" campus before joining the Infant Community on Timberside in 2006. |
Finding Direction Through Experience
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Internships, capstone projects, current events seminars, and interdisciplinary studies surfaced repeatedly as moments of clarity. Our alumnae reflected on ways these experiences elevated their self-awareness, either by confirming an interest in a particular field or providing early insight into paths they chose not to pursue.
The panelists spoke openly about changing majors, refining interests, and continuing research from their high school study into college coursework and internships. A sense of preparedness united their experiences—they had learned a degree of comfort in the unknown, how to ask good questions, seek feedback, and adapt when interests evolved.
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In the final moments of the panel, the conversation turned to identity. The alumnae reflected on how St. Catherine’s shaped them as people: building confidence, resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with the world thoughtfully.
They expressed appreciation for opportunities to speak up, to take intellectual risks, to receive and use feedback, and to trust their ability to navigate unfamiliar challenges. Each alumna described St. Catherine’s as a place where they felt known, supported, and encouraged to grow into themselves.
Throughout the evening, one message remained clear: the journey beyond St. Catherine’s looks different for every graduate, but the habits of mind and heart formed here continue to guide them—well beyond the classroom.
This story first appeared in the January 2026 issue of Alumni News.
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