Courtney Burns '11on Finding Faith, Hope and Love
Prior to her 2011 graduation with a degree in Psychology, Courtney Burns '11 was hired as a development associate in the College's Office of Institutional Advancement. She was recently appointed to coordinator of annual fund and alumnae/i relations.
I grew up in the Foster Care system. I always dreamed of becoming someone who was educated and skillful, yet I never truly believed I would achieve these aspirations. Moving from foster family to foster family, I thought I would never amount to anything because I would never get the chance to break out of the life I was sentenced to live. I was told on countless occasions that I would be lucky to graduate high school.
During my senior year of high school I only applied to a few colleges. However, one of my friends suggested I apply to Saint Joseph College. When I received a response saying I was accepted, I was ecstatic.
While at Saint Joseph College, I’ve had the opportunity to study under brilliant and talented professors, who have encouraged me to become someone great. I also had the opportunity to work with some wonderful patients.
My first patient was a deaf man and I was completely clueless as to how I would communicate with him. I saw in his file that he read lips and I thought to myself, “Ok I can do this.” However, I entered his room with preconceived thoughts that he wouldn’t be able to understand me or I wouldn’t be able to help him. I was totally wrong! I ended up having a long conversation with him and learned a lot about him. My preconceived thoughts were erased, just as any preconceived thoughts about me were erased. It was the first time I truly believed I would be able to do something great in life; that I wasn’t destined to live the life of the stereotypical foster child. I had broken the chain and moved on.
Faith, hope, and love: these are the things I live by, and this is what I found at Saint Joseph College. It is because of the support I get from the College, both financial and educational, that I know I can succeed. One day, when I am accomplished in my field, I will bestow the same generosity you have shown me upon someone else.
