Summary
I am grateful that Seton empowered me to be an effective communicator as I solidify my skills to teach, delight, and move audiences.My name is Sofia Castillo, and I am a senior at Ave Maria University, majoring in communications and minoring in theology and philosophy. While in high school, I took numerous courses with Seton Home Study School, which equipped me with the tools to excel in higher education.
My family has lived in Ave Maria for many years, and growing up, I witnessed the vibrant Catholic culture and commitment to truth that Ave Maria University exemplifies.
I felt drawn to attend AMU to continue the solid academic and spiritual formation I received from Seton. At AMU, I am blessed with an authentic Catholic education while surrounded by an edifying community of like-minded peers striving for virtue and sanctity.
Grateful for Seton
Through its rigorous curriculum, Seton influenced my studies at AMU and prepared me for the demands of reading and writing in my communications classes. I am grateful that Seton empowered me to be an effective communicator as I solidify my skills to teach, delight, and move audiences.
Moreover, Seton’s theology courses inspired me to minor in theology at AMU. Seton’s Catholic Apologetics class especially motivated me to explore systematic theology courses at the university and to dive deeper into doctrine.
My love and appreciation for my Catholic Faith have grown through my AMU theology classes, such as Sacraments, Creation and Grace, and C.S. Lewis’ Apologetics. What I learned through Seton is daily fostered at AMU and has become my way of life through Marian spirituality and Eucharistic devotion.
Furthermore, the array of books I read in Seton’s high school literature courses enkindled in me a love for reading, which further deepened in college.
Although Seton’s reading load was challenging at times, it taught me to value the process of discovering truth in every text, leading me to recently add a philosophy minor so I can explore the most fundamental realities of life under the guidance of my professors.
Academic Career
Additionally, Seton’s homeschool program afforded me the flexibility to pursue extracurricular interests I still enjoy today, such as playing the organ and participating in the Legion of Mary apostolate. I have also stepped into leadership roles with AMU’s Drama Club and the Dietrich von Hildebrand Philosophy Club.
As I conclude my academic career at Ave Maria University this year, I encourage Seton students to appreciate the gift of education with all its enriching opportunities to learn and grow intellectually and spiritually.
Throughout my college journey, I have adopted the motto non scholae sed vitae discimus –“we do not learn for school but for life.” Both my Seton homeschool foundation and AMU formation have encouraged my pursuit of truth and helped shape who I am today.
