Embracing the Promise of Opportunity
From left to right: CTB's Gieriet Bowen (Director of Advancement and Communications), Carlos Martinez (Assistant Director of Programs), and Amy Jo Dowd (Chair of the Board) at the blessing and dedication of Seton College of the University of Mount Saint Vincent.
By Carlos Martinez, Assistant Director of Programs at CTB & Arrupe College Alum ‘19
On Tuesday, August 27th the CTB Team and I got the wonderful opportunity to attend the blessing and dedication of Seton College on their first day of classes. Then, after speaking to Seton College leaders as well as to some of the amazing students who make up the inaugural class of Seton College I realized this:
Every opportunity leads to a new chapter, filled with the potential to change our lives in ways we don’t often think of. It's that feeling of hope that fuels our dreams, the spark that lights our path forward. Even when the road ahead is uncertain, the promise of what could be gives us the courage to take that first step.
The hope that new opportunities bring reminds us that we are not bound by our past, but are free to shape our future. The Associate Dean of Academics, Dr. Katie Alexander, shared with us that her “hope is that our students find a love of learning so that they want to be lifelong learners, that they feel like they belong here, that they feel fully a part of the community, and that they go on to become leaders in their communities.” It was powerful for me to hear this because Dr. Alexander’s aspirations for Seton’s students represent what higher education has been for me: a community where I found a sense of belonging. Similarly, Israel (Seton ‘26), a Hispanic & African-American student who plans to major in business and support his mother and siblings shared, “I am not going to lie, I feel amazing here, feel welcomed and loved here. It’s an amazing environment for me”. This feeling is the true essence of the CTB model, which is now felt in the Bronx, just as I felt it in Chicago during my time at Arrupe.
Nevertheless, along with this feeling of belonging comes the commitment to planting the seeds of growth, pushing each other beyond our comfort zones to discover strengths we never knew we had. Thus, Seton College also aspires to be a place where students learn, grow, and feel cared for. Sade (Seton ‘26), a Dominican American student who aspires to study Economics and become a real estate agent shared that she felt that Seton College “really cared, because I know the transition from high school to college is a bit different, they let go of you more, and you're more on your own. But I like that when it came to the acceptance, they delivered my letter to my school. It made me feel like they cared, I felt more appreciated, rather than just getting it through the mail.” This is why Sade chose Seton: because of how much the faculty and staff are committed to pouring into all students' success and well-being.
Moreover, when you embrace an opportunity, you're not just opening a door; you're stepping into a world of possibilities where hope transforms into reality. When I think of my time as an Arrupe student, I think not only of the path that I walked but also my role in helping shape a path for those who came after me. Jaden (Seton ‘26)–the oldest child from a single-mother household who hopes to merge his passion for Business with Psychology in the future–told me that being part of Seton’s inaugural class is the perfect chance for his peers and him to leave a great “scoring record” (Yes, he is also a basketball fan) as the first to graduate from Seton. This is their legacy, the chance to shape a path for those who will come after the first ever to not only attend but eventually graduate from Seton College.
Seton College and the entire CTB community are meant to not only give underserved students access to high-quality liberal arts education but also provide a space for them to feel like they can be themselves entirely. In the words of Jaremir, (Seton ‘26) –from South Bronx, and, like Jaden, an avid basketball fan– told us, “The school that chooses you should feel like home, and Mount Saint Vincent felt like home.” At the CTB Network, we believe in the power of opportunity, and so do our faculty, staff, and students. The Associate Dean for Student Success and Engagement, Sharon Ortega, concluded with this message of hope for the Seton students:
“My hope is that throughout this year they will gain a ton of confidence; that they will challenge themselves, that they will challenge us, their faculty and administration; that they’ll ask questions, that they’ll push themselves. My biggest hope is that our students will feel connected and plugged into the University of Mount Saint Vincent. I want them to be part of that community.”
Let this be a reminder for all of those of us who get to be part of the higher education ecosystem that with every opportunity comes the chance to rise, to create, and to become the best version of yourself.
Congratulations to the University of Mount Saint Vincent, to the new faculty and staff at Seton College, and most importantly to the students of Seton College. We cannot wait to see the ways you all embrace the promise of opportunity.
