“What drew me in was the community, the girls, and the sisters.”

That was how Cecilia Vu described her feelings about joining the Academy of The Holy Family, a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls college-preparatory school.

As of this month, Cecilia is working with the Sisters of Charity program there and studying to pursue a career as a nun. The Sisters of Charity is a communal program that allows individuals to follow a path as a nun and continue the missions of charity that is the foundation of the program.

A student from Houston, Texas, with an interest in art and theater, Cecilia was at first reluctant to move out of state due to the unease at the thought of leaving home. With the lack of close relationships during her previous school experience, Cecilia would later change her stance after shadowing and eventually moving into the academy.

She would go on to connect with the seven girls that made up her class, forming close bonds that will not only last beyond her 2021 graduation, but that would aid her on her path to become a nun.

“The bonds made after my first week were the ones that would influence my journey,” Cecilia said in a Zoom interview. “I would not have been interested in becoming a nun if not for the friendships that were created through my four years at the school.”

They assisted Cecilia in periods of difficulty and played a role in helping her develop her work ethic. Cecilia would not have considered following a career path as a nun without the connections made with her friends in Marist Hall.

Outside of friends and peers, the Academy of the Holy Family provided Cecilia ample opportunity to expand on her hobbies and interests, most of which revolved around art-based activities. She had served under the art, yearbook, and student ambassador clubs throughout her four years at the school.

Yearbook allowed her to combine the school’s religious background and her interest in illustration. She designed the 2021 yearbook for her senior year and worked on the accompanying slideshow for graduation day.

“Over my past years, art has been a central aspect in my life in and out of the academy,” said Cecilia, “I had started out only doodling in the first year and the next had me illustrating a children’s book and the school yearbook and slideshow for my senior year. It started out as a minor hobby to keep me entertained but it eventually spiraled into a skill that is aiding me outside of school.”

Cecilia feels confident about her induction into the Sisters of Charity, as she has garnered a newfound work ethic because of her experiences at the academy.

After graduation on June 3, Cecilia said she is still confident about her future.

“My parents were rather worried about me traveling back to another educational program,” Cecilia said, “I understand the sentiments, but it does not stop me from studying to be one of the sisters, even if my plans after the next years in the group are unknown.”

Cecilia Vu is currently preparing for September, when she will travel to the Sisters of Charity’s Holy Mother House at 54 W. Main Street in Baltic.

Matthew Rascoe is a Times intern and student at Mitchell College.