Fenwick Graduation: 2018
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Grade School: St. Isaac Jogues
Current School: Marquette University
Current Major: Exercise Physiology, Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate

Summer Internship: The closest opportunity for a physical therapy “internship” during the schooling years is to work as a physical therapy aide at a clinic. This entails tasks such as taking patients through their exercises after they have been worked on by their therapist, scheduling patients, and other clinical duties. I worked as a physical therapy aide at Impact Physical Therapy in Hinsdale the summer of 2019 after my freshman year but was unable to work this past summer due to many clinics limiting staff for COVID-19 precautions. I am currently looking for a site to work at for this upcoming summer!

Career aspirations: When I was admitted into Marquette my senior year of high school, I was also given direct admission into their highly competitive Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) graduate program. This fast-tracked curriculum means that I spend three years as an undergraduate and then advance right into the graduate program for another three years. At the end of my six years of schooling, I will be a licensed physical therapist! I do not have a certain PT specialty chosen at this time but would love to work in a hospital setting or with athletes. 

Fenwick Achievements/Activities: Four-year varsity soccer player, National Honor Society, The Write Place, Friar Mentors, French Club

Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on me: There were so many teachers that I valued during my time at Fenwick, but I would have to give this title to Mr. Menich who taught my Accelerated Anatomy class senior year. Mr. Menich teaches his class with confidence and presented his material in a way that always made me want to know more. He is compassionate towards his students and made everyone feel like a friend. His class fueled my interest in anatomy and the human body and definitely influenced my decision to go into health sciences. He is surely a teacher I can look back on for positively impacting me as a student.

Fenwick class that had the most influence on me: Mr. Wnek’s AP Biology senior year. This class best prepared me for college science classes. It was not the easiest at the time, but I felt more confident going into my college classes with this class under my belt. Mr. Wnek pushes you to think harder and be a more accountable student, and that is something that I value as I look back.

Best Fenwick experience/the one I would like to live again: Fenwick soccer was a huge part of my high school experience, and I will always look back on those seasons with such fond memories. I grew so much as a person and player during my four years on that team. Every season had a well-bonded group with such great chemistry and the determination to play for your teammates. There are so many moments from soccer that I would love to live again, but to pick one it would be scoring a goal as a defender in the 2018 PepsiCo Showdown championship game. Fenwick won, and our whole team got sprayed with Pepsi as we received the trophy!

The Fenwick experience that changed me the most: I would have to say the whole Fenwick experience was what changed me the most. The challenging curriculum demanded a solid work ethic and self-accountability. I met people who inspired me to be a better friend, leader, student and person. Attending Fenwick molded my character and set me up for successful years to come.

Fenwick Graduation: Class of 2017
Hometown: Elmwood Park, IL
Grade School: St. Vincent Ferrer (River Forest)
Current School: University of Kansas
Major: Human Biology & Italian Language and Literature

Summer Internship: This past summer I had the opportunity to work with KU Athletics and the Kansas football team as an athletic training aide during summer camp and into the regular season. This was a great learning experience for me and gave me a good insight into the field of sports medicine.

Career aspirations: I plan to continue working with KU Athletics going into the next season while at the same time furthering my education.

Fenwick Achievements/Activities: Swimming and water polo

Fenwick teacher who had the most influence on me: I had so many amazing and influential teachers throughout my time at Fenwick that it would be impossible for me to single one out. Some of the many teachers that come to mind are Fr. Joe, Mr. Kmiecik, Ms. Hennessey, Mr. Draski, Mr. Gallo, Mr. Konrad, and Mr. Arellano. I can honestly say that at one point each of those teachers taught me lessons that will stay with me forever.

Fenwick class that had the most influence on me: I have to say that Ms. Hennessey’s Italian classes had the most influence on me. What she taught me stuck with me throughout college and is the reason why I decided to major in Italian language and literature. I am currently speaking and writing Italian at an advanced level and it is all thanks to the great foundation I received in her classes. Grazie Prof!

Best Fenwick experience/the one I would like to live again: My senior year water polo season is the one experience that I would love to live again. I believe that as a team we had lots of fun that year even though the season did not pan out like we hoped.

The Fenwick experience that changed me the most: Being part of the aquatics program. I learned so much from my teammates and coaches and made friends that will last a lifetime.