Yanari Rodriguez ’22 (pictured above) is currently studying Business and Technology Management at NYU and interning part time in the Office of Development and Alumnae Relations at Cathedral High School.

I remember walking the halls of Cathedral High School for the very first time like it was yesterday. I was nervous, as this was an entirely new experience for me. But the transition was easier than I thought. I grew accustomed to getting off the 5 train on 59th St and being greeted by the tall buildings in the heart of Manhattan that tower over everything and to the hustle and bustle of New Yorkers. The overall ambiance of New York City became the highlight of every day. Home sweet home!

My freshman year, I was required to take an Introduction to Health class and a Technology Foundations class. Although the health class was interesting, I knew it wasn’t suited for me. But I found working hands on with the laser cutters and the 3D printers in the technology class exciting! A year later, I became president of the STEM club and was able to work with this equipment every Tuesday after school, accompanied by other bright young ladies who also wanted to pursue this field. Because Cathedral has several specialized tracks, I decided to pursue the STEM Academy for my remaining years in Cathedral.

Fast forwarding to my senior year, I knew I wanted to try something new now that I had finished the STEM Academy coursework, but I wasn’t sure what. After going back and forth between the law program and the business program, I decided to pick the business program. Sitting in Ms. Mazzo’s class and learning about her experience in the industry and how it got her to where she is today sparked a new interest in me. It was very inspirational. Further into the semester, one of our group projects was to come up with our own company and construct a business plan, including everything from revenue to salaries to production costs. Each group had to submit their business plan to a national competition called the Junior Achievement Social Innovation Challenge. Of all the creative and innovative submissions, my partners, Yuhlani and Jocelyne, and I made it to the finals, making history at Cathedral as the first to do so!

My experience in my business class was the defining factor which helped me determine what I wanted to study in college. I always thought I was going to study civil engineering, until I came across a major that incorporated business management with a technology focus. Cathedral High School allows you to go beyond the horizons of basic math and science classes thanks to the career programs it offers.

Now, I am a rising sophomore at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, pursuing Business and Technology Management and working as an Admissions Ambassador. I’ve learned so many things at Cathedral that I’ve taken with me on my NYU journey. Cathedral helped me grow as a young woman and paved the way for where I am today, and I have my scholarship sponsor to thank. She generously sponsored my education, which gave me access to the incredible opportunities I was afforded here. She and I shared so many correspondences over my four years at Cathedral and I recently updated her on how things are going at NYU! I am so delighted to be back at CHS in a professional capacity (and to give back!) as I intern in the Office of Development and Alumnae Relations this semester.

Yanari’s scholarship sponsor (a CHS alumna who prefers to remain anonymous) shared with us why she began to support CHS scholarship students twenty years ago:

"When I was attending Cathedral as a freshman, my father passed away. My mother was afraid that we would be unable to meet the monthly tuition payment. I went to speak about this issue with Sr. Aloysius, the principal at the time, but by the time I did she had already spoken to my mother. Sr. Aloysius told me not to worry; she informed me that my tuition would be taken care of. Cathedral High School supported me when I needed it, providing me with an excellent education and terrific friendships that carried me through life. I support student scholarships because my own Cathedral education was made possible by the generosity of others."

Contact Marea Hurson at mhurson@cathedralhs.org to find out how to become a student sponsor!