In 1980, Mariauxy Castillo Vitale’s first day at her neighborhood high school was quite a shock. “One of the students just threw a chair at the homeroom teacher. I went home and I told my mom, ‘That school is not for me. I don’t know where I can go but I don’t want to go to that school,” she said. She needed an alternative. Fast.

Her mother asked the principal at her brother’s school for help choosing another school. Luckily, he had an idea. The principal told them about Cathedral and assisted in arranging her transfer. Mariauxy started a week late, without a uniform, and with limited English skills, as she had just emigrated from Ecuador two years earlier. Despite her initial nervousness, she had found a school where she could learn in a comfortable and welcoming environment.

“I was a little bit afraid, especially not being a freshman and being a sophomore, but it felt right. I became friends with a lot of people that I’m still friends with now,” she said.

She also felt supported by her teachers. “I think the teachers there really do care for their students,” she said. Mariauxy remembers her French, accounting, religion, and fitness classes the most fondly.

Although Mariauxy, who loved music, felt she wasn’t ready to audition for Cathedral’s Glee Club, it turns out that being at Cathedral helped her to launch a tremendous career in the music industry.

After graduating from Cathedral in 1983, Mariauxy went to Brooklyn College, where she intended to major in accounting. She quickly decided that this wasn’t the right path for her. One of her friends from Cathedral, Lynda (LaVerne) Baquero, needed someone to fill in for her position at New York’s Channel 47.

Lynda is now an Emmy-award winning reporter for NBC 4 New York. Back then, she thought Mariauxy’s Spanish skills and her outgoing personality would make her a perfect fit for the channel. Mariauxy was tasked with writing, answering phones, and other duties as assigned. She loved the experience so much that she decided to switch her academic track. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in TV and radio production and a minor in photography.

Mariauxy’s career took off immediately. She worked at MTV, starting out as intern. She became a production assistant and then advanced to being a writer and producer, working with stars like VJ Daisy Fuentes. “I loved it. We traveled the world. It was all about the music,” she said.

Later, when MTV launched its Latin music channel, Mariauxy moved to Miami to help drive the launch. “I was the person in charge of all of the talent relations, such as contacting the record labels, getting the videos, and securing interviews,” she said.

Mariauxy was with MTV for more than a decade. She worked on shows such as MTV Unplugged, where she booked artists including Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Maná, and achieved what she considers some of her proudest moments of her career so far.

Next, she joined Madonna’s Maverick record label as the A&R rep looking for new talent to sign for the Latin division, called Maverick Musica. When Madonna sold the company back to Warner Music, the office in Miami closed, said Mariauxy. After freelancing for a while, a new opportunity opened up. “I ended up working for Ricky Martin for close to 10 years,” she said. As part of Ricky Martin’s management team, Mariauxy oversaw PR & marketing and promoted his record releases, appearances, and world tours.

Now, Mariauxy works at Apple, where she helps to drive sales in Latin American markets. “I’m identifying influencers in the region, working with them, and making sure that they are aware of what Apple is doing. I’m also doing placement of Apple products,” Mariauxy said.

Through it all, Mariauxy always has been willing to take on new challenges and give whatever she is doing her all. She’s worked with some of the world’s best brands and with some of the most successful musicians as well. “I can’t complain,” said Mariauxy.

Mariauxy lives in Miami with her husband and rescued pets. She keeps up with her Cathedral classmates through the Class of 1983 Facebook page. Looking back, she feels grateful for her Cathedral experience. For example, the school’s diversity helped prepare her to work with people from around the world. “I think CHS opened up my eyes to the idea that everybody is equal. It was a beautiful school,” she said.

Also, without Cathedral, her story might have been very different. “If I wasn’t there when Lynda told me to take over her internship, and with us being friends through Cathedral, who knows what I would be doing now,” Mariauxy said.