Aiming to change lives

Meet Catherine Considine from Connecticut

Catherine Considine, a junior  from Stamford, Conn., was skeptical of the “ah ha” moment so many people spoke of when finding a school they love, that is until she walked onto Villanova’s campus for the first time and experienced it herself. Catherine remembers, “Minutes after arriving at 800 Lancaster Avenue, I knew Villanova was my number one. It was a strong, and visibly vibrant Catholic community that provided a wealth of service opportunities that I could become involved in. Just as significant, it was home to a widely recognized nursing school where I hoped to continue my personal education and ultimately career.”

Catherine was diagnosed with Type I diabetes when she was in sixth grade, and knows first hand what a positive difference nurses can make on their patient’s lives. She recalls, “To this day, I remember their names, the kind words my nurses shared, and the way they made me feel.” Naturally, Catherine was drawn to healthcare, and as a self described bubbly and optimistic individual, she is confident in her ability to thrive as an independent nurse someday.  She says, “One of my biggest pleasures in life is seeing someone else smile, hearing a laugh echo down the hospital corridors, or simply listening to a patient’s story. I already feel so blessed and lucky to have found my passion for nursing, and couldn’t imagine pursuing a nursing career anywhere other than Villanova.”

Catherine wasted no time embracing the Villanova campus and getting involved with various committees and service trips. She served on the Special Olympics Committee this past fall, and is an Ambassador for the College of Nursing through the Admissions Office. She is currently the secretary for a group on campus called LEVEL that works to bridge the gap between students with disabilities and their able-bodied peers. Last spring, Catherine also went on a University sponsored spring break mission trip to Tupelo, Miss. where she helped build and restore homes with Habitat for Humanity.

When thinking ahead to her future career as a nurse, Catherine hopes to work with children, specifically in a pediatric oncology unit. She continues to grow and expand her horizons through her clinical rotations and nursing education, and is looking forward to graduation, “Wherever I end up working, I am confident that the skills I have learned here at Villanova will enable me to make a change in the lives of many.”