Special Edition Fall 2022: A Journey Through the Years
The pasts, presents and possible futures through the lenses of St. Kate’s and its students
By M Yeager
College is one of the most pivotal times in our lives. It offers an opportunity to stop and think about how you got here and where you’ll be going. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic. What would little M think of me now? I haven’t continued on the career path she would have liked, but for good reason. What good would a veterinarian be if they were allergic to almost every animal they would treat? Add in the fact that I come from rural Wisconsin, and my future veterinary practice would likely include livestock which brings with it hay. With an allergy to straw, hay and the dust it produces, this was perhaps a bad career choice. Little M always did like telling stories though, and my current career choice as a writer through various forms of media fits nicely.
There’s a whole lot that I can do with my Communications and German degrees. I could be a Public Relations officer for various companies, a journalist either in the U.S. or in a German-speaking country or even a Foreign Service Officer for the United States government. I know college first-year me would be astonished at the fact that I can speak German without too many pauses to think about what to say. Post-graduation, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in mass communication, likely at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A 19-year-old M holding a small water pistol
Students’ Pasts, Presents and Futures
However, no one’s life experiences are the same, so I asked some of my peers about their pasts, presents and possible futures. Both Sam Sprague ‘25 (Psychology) and Kathryn Feil ‘25 (Theology) believe that their past selves would feel “confused” and “shocked” at their present selves. As kids, we often dream of what we want to be when we grow up, and those things tend to change. “My dreams have changed significantly as an adult,” Sprage said. “When I was younger, I really wanted to be an astronaut and it was my dream to work at NASA. Now my dreams are more realistic. I just want to finish my education and one day be able to afford my dream house up north.”
Thinking about the future is difficult, especially when it comes to post-graduation opportunities. Some, like myself, prefer to plan for that, while others such as Feil feel that “it’s all up in the air” and are taking it year by year. “I don’t really know right now,” Feil said. “I have dreams of going to post-grad, but at the same time, I have dreams of traveling; bouncing around and enjoying little jobs along the way rather than making a career for the next 40 years.”
St. Kate’s Past, Present and Future
Since 1905, St. Catherine University has made its mission to educate women to lead and influence. Initially, this mission came in the form of widening the opportunities afforded to women. In 2009, St. Kate’s expanded from being a college to a university, and since 2019, the College for Women has accepted nonbinary and transgender students. Despite the changes, St. Kate’s still strives to recognize the “rich and vibrant history of educating people of all marginalized genders, as well as our duty as an institution to acknowledge and celebrate their contributions to our university.”
Presently, the University is going through many changes. Students are fighting for change within administration and throughout the university. The university is also revamping various spaces on campus, such as the Coeur de Catherine. The Core Curriculum is also under construction, mainly The Reflective Woman (TRW), a class that every first-year and transfer student must take. This reconstruction has been ongoing, and this year, a community engaged learning experience has been implemented into TRW.
“Lead & Influence: The Campaign for the Next Level of Excellence” is another series of projects that is largely responsible for the changes that will be implemented in the near future. This campaign can be split into three main priorities: preparing students to become exceptional leaders, supporting faculty in developing future leaders and preserving our beloved campus.
The student-centered priority includes expanding need-based financial aid, creating the Office of Scholarly Engagement, supporting success beyond graduation and developing more Black, Indigenous and Women of Color leaders in science. The Office of Scholarly Engagement has already been created, combining the offices of Community Work and Learning, Global Studies, Antonian Honors, Collaborative Research and Competitive Fellowships. The focus on supporting success after graduation will culminate into a stronger alumni and employer network, more access to paid internships and investing in a stronger career development center that includes enhanced career readiness programming.
The faculty-focused priority strives for more options for faculty development and interdisciplinary academics. This will not only assist faculty, but also develop the student experience at St. Kate’s. One project that is central to this priority is the creation of institution-wide development programs for faculty, students and staff to foster equitable and inclusive working and learning environments.
The last priority is focused on the spaces on campus. Many locations, including the Our Lady of Victory Chapel (OLV) and Mendel Hall, are set to be renovated soon.
In some cases, the past can fuel the future’s potential. Even in our world as members of the St. Kate’s community, we see this in the university’s mission written into the plans of this large group of projects and how it continues to educate those of all marginalized identities. It’s difficult to determine if the past fuels our personal potential futures, as that is individualized. Everyone’s journey is different. However, I invite you to think a bit about your pasts, presents and wishes for the future. How do they connect?
