Photo Taken from @rosaryroyals

So many Rosary graduates have gone on to do amazing things!

As past Royals have said goodbye to Rosary Academy, they have also welcomed so many new experiences in college and beyond. I recently interviewed three Rosary alumnae to see how Rosary has shaped their lives today. Keep reading to learn about how our graduated sisters are doing now.

Colleen Schmitt ’23 is currently a sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Colleen is majoring in Agricultural Business and minoring in Agricultural Systems Technology. She has most enjoyed “getting involved with the Newman Center at UNL which is the Catholic Church on campus. It has allowed me to meet my best friends and form faith filled relationships. It is a great place to escape the craziness, and my faith life has definitely benefited from it.”

Q: What was your favorite memory at Rosary?

A: My favorite memory at Rosary was going to dances like Winter Formal and Prom. I loved getting all dressed up with my friends and just having a really fun night. I encourage everyone to at least go to one dance because you could have a lot more fun than you expect.

Q: What has been the biggest change from high school to college?

A: The biggest change when coming to college was how much free time I have. I feel like in high school, I left the house at 6:30 a.m. and did not come back until 6:30 p.m. In college, it is so nice to pick your class schedule and completely plan out your day. It does require me to be more disciplined and be productive, but I love it.

Q: What is some advice you would give to current Royals?

A: Some advice I would give some current Royals is to enjoy these high school days and do not be afraid to try something new. My freshman year, I played three sports just to keep myself busy, try new things and meet new people. I also encourage those thinking about applying to colleges to apply everywhere you are thinking. You never know what God has planned for you, and I definitely did not think I would end up in Nebraska, but here I am. I will say, it is hard being away from family, but it just makes it that much sweeter when I get to go home.

In 2022, Riley Hassett ’18 graduated from Gonzaga University where she majored in nursing. She is now a nurse at Providence Holy Family Hospital in Spokane, Washington; she works in an ICU step down unit where she gets to see a little bit of everything.

Q: How has Rosary prepared you for what you are doing now?

A: Rosary gave me a great foundation for many aspects of life that’s prepared me for college and my current career. This foundation has helped guide me; Rosary helped me to form a foundation of faith and compassion. It instilled in me a passion in “serving our dear neighbor” that led me to becoming a nurse. I also was prepared academically through my teachers for a challenging college course load.

Q: Do you still keep in touch with your friends from Rosary?

A: Yes! I still keep in touch with my friends. It’s so exciting to see the different paths that everyone is taking and celebrate milestones together.

Q: What is some advice that you would give to current Royals?

A: The advice I would give to our current Royals is to step outside of your comfort zone and try new things you normally wouldn’t. Nine times out of 10, you will enjoy it! The faster you get comfortable being uncomfortable, the more fun life will be!

At Thomas Aquinas College, Elena Walz ’22 is a junior majoring in liberal arts. Elena had a great time “on the triathlon team racing alongside Elizabeth Harita ’22 and Kate Simmons ’22” when she was at Rosary.

Q: What has been the biggest challenge that you’ve experienced in college?

A: My biggest challenge has been balancing my heavy course load with my job and all the activities/sports I love participating in.

Q: What experiences at Rosary have helped shaped you into the person you are today?

A: The way Rosary encourages girls to be well-rounded and pursue all their interests has really helped me live a full life in college. I think the temptation is to dive fully into one thing since this is the first opportunity most people have to design their own schedules, so having a lot of well-structured time in high school is totally paying off!

Q: What is some advice you would give to current Royals?

A: My biggest piece of advice is to start building a prayer life NOW. Learning to trust in God’s providence will help you make the right decision on where to attend college and make life so much more joyful while you’re there!

This is just a little peek into what our amazing alumnae are up to today. Lots of Rosary alumnae have accomplished great things and continue to live out what it means to be a Royal. Next thing you know, you’ll be out in the world making memories, experiencing new things and reaching your goals. When you’re off doing exciting things, never forget your time at Rosary. Once a Royal, always a Royal.