Alliance for Catholic Education
This summer, I had the chance to fly to Notre Dame to take part in the ACE Early Commit Institute, a gathering for incoming ACE Interns and Ambassadors. At breakfast one morning, I found myself chatting with Emily Markley, a program director at ACE who works closely with Frassati interns. As we talked, I mentioned that I participated in both of ACE’s summer internships—PATH and Frassati—and was now preparing for a third internship during my senior year. We joked about how I was collecting the ‘infinity stones’ of ACE, and that once I earned my M.Ed., I should return to complete another ACE program. As exciting as it is to imagine what my professional future holds in store, I’ve also been reflecting deeply on the most recent ‘ACE stone’ I’ve collected: the Frassati Internship.
As part of the Frassati internship, I spent seven weeks living in St. Paul, Minnesota and working with the Aim Higher Foundation. Whether it be exploring the state’s many lakes on my own, or indulging in local pizza and ice cream with my housemates, my time in Minnesota was nothing short of eventful. Nevertheless, the most meaningful part of my
experience, unsurprisingly, was the work I did with Aim Higher.
At Aim Higher, I served as the Data and Operations intern, and my project primarily focused on updating the alumni database and tracking the high school choices of the graduating 8th-grade scholars. The information gained from this work offered meaningful insights into the impact Aim Higher has on the lives of students. On the topic of meaningful insights, my time at Aim Higher also provided me with an opportunity to further discern what I may be looking for and not looking for in my future career.
One of my most important takeaways from my internship experience was how much I value being part of an organization with a clear mission. From day one, Ricky Austin, the President of Aim Higher and a proud ACE graduate, emphasized that everything the Aim Higher Foundation does centers on a single goal: helping more families afford Catholic education through scholarships. I loved how that objective shaped every conversation, decision, and project throughout the summer.
Furthermore, I found it motivating to be surrounded by co-workers who are mission-driven. Every single person who worked at the Aim Higher Foundation had an undeniably strong commitment to and belief in Catholic Education: their passion for their work and the mission of Aim Higher was extremely inspirational. Throughout the summer, Claire, Camille, Mike, Laura, and Ricky shared their enthusiasm for Catholic education (and their love for the state of Minnesota) with us. I am beyond grateful for their guidance and generosity.
At the same time, this internship helped me recognize what I’m not looking for in a future profession. While I enjoyed my projects, spending most of the day indoors at my computer made me realize I’m drawn to work that’s more interactive and people-centered. I also missed the daily energy of working with students, something I cherished during my time with PATH, where my Rising 6th-graders brought so much life and joy to each day, reaffirming how much I love being in a classroom environment. I’m especially excited to return to teaching after graduation as a full-time teacher as I pursue my M.Ed. through ACE.
Overall, while this new ACE stone I acquired through the Frassati internship did not grant me any superpowers like they might for Thanos, it did give me something even better: greater clarity about the kind of work that energizes me and the kind of communities I want to be a part of. My experiences with the people I lived and worked with in Minnesota will stay with me for years to come, and I am grateful for all that I learned by living and working with such amazing people.
