March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the astounding achievements of women throughout history.
Lourdes’ Annual Career Fair is intentionally held during this meaningful month celebrating womanhood, leadership, and legacy.
The event is spearheaded by Olga M. Martinez ’00, Dean of Enrollment and Engagement. Mrs. Martinez began this initiative in 2022 to help students discover their passions and gain inspiration from successful alumnae.
The Career Fair welcomes back Lourdes alumnae who have courageously pursued their passions and now return, eager to inspire the next generation of Lourdes girls.
Mrs. Martinez’s dedication to the career fair stems from her desire to empower students to pursue their passions and leverage the network of the sisterhood.
While many schools host career fairs, Lourdes’ career fair stands out as particularly impactful because of the unique bond of sisterhood between current students and alma mater. From this special sisterhood stems a powerful cycle of mentorship and encouragement.
“The beauty of our sisterhood is that it doesn’t end when you leave Lourdes. Our alumnae are out in the world making an impact, and they are ready and willing to share their experiences, offer guidance and open doors for the next generation of Lourdes girls,” Mrs. Martinez said.
The career fair is designed to offer a personalized experience for each student based on the career paths they are genuinely interested in exploring.
This valuable opportunity allows students to hear directly from professional women in their potential career field.
Students were asked to select their top career choices from a variety of fields and were then placed into breakout sessions based on their interests.
Once regular classes were dismissed, students were called into the gym to hear from keynote speaker Carolina Suarez-Aguiar ‘03, a beloved Lourdes alumna who has successfully pursued a career in human resources.
Mrs. Suarez-Aguiar took to the stage and immediately captivated students by her contagious enthusiasm. Her passion for inspiring students to build successful careers was evident throughout her speech.
A key takeaway from Mrs. Suarez-Aguiar’s speech included her emphasis on the importance of having “grit.” In her own words, grit is defined as the combination of passion and perseverance.
Following the keynote speech, students were dismissed into their personalized breakout sessions. These breakout sessions provided students with valuable insights into their potential career paths while fostering meaningful connections with alumnae in that field.
Sophomore Gloria Rodriguez chose to hear from alumnae in the fields of nursing and psychology. Gloria is passionate about pursuing a career in the medical field and was thrilled to have the opportunity to network alongside successful medical professionals.
“I learned so much from the sessions. Hearing from successful professionals who were once in our shoes left me feeling more motivated than ever to follow my passion and make a difference,” Gloria said.
The impact of the career fair extended far beyond current students as the alumnae present at the event gained a renewed sense of sisterhood and love for their OLLA community.
Ashley Velez Villaneuva, ‘03, was a member of student council, the basketball team, and crowned prom queen during her time at Lourdes. Ashley is now a successful real estate agent and business owner who credits much of her success to her Lourdes education.
Ashley was thrilled to have the opportunity to return to Lourdes to inspire young women soon to enter the workforce.
“Seeing how involved, polite, and welcoming all the girls were was incredibly refreshing. It’s a true testament to their parents, teachers, and the school’s leadership. Meeting the students, listening to their questions, and letting them know I’m available as a mentor if they’re interested in real estate—it was a wholesome and rewarding experience I’d love to continue.”
From building connections to building confidence, Ashley reflects on the different ways her Lourdes education helped her become the successful woman she is today.
“Being a Lourdes girl didn’t just shape who I am as a businesswoman—it still helps me today in the real world.”
“During listing appointments I have the opportunity to compete against powerful brokers. When they ask about my background, people love that I went to Lourdes. It says a lot about how highly the school is regarded—and sometimes, it turns out they’re alumnae too. It definitely helps open doors and start meaningful conversations,” Ashley said.
The different extracurriculars offered to Lourdes students award them with the skills they need to succeed in their respective fields. Whether a student is a member of a sports team, peer ministry, or student council, the value of teamwork becomes deeply instilled in them.
“Lourdes taught me the value of teamwork and synergy. Being part of the student council helped me become comfortable negotiating, which I use constantly in real estate,” Ashley said.
By setting students up for success, Lourdes engraves a deep sense of confidence that propels its graduates forward in their chosen careers.
“Attending Lourdes truly helped build my confidence. I remember driving to school, looking at all those huge houses and dreaming of owning one someday. Now, not only do I own one—I sell them, too. It’s surreal,” Ashley said.
The Annual Lourdes Career Fair has already proven to be a powerful Lourdes tradition that deeply impacts students and alumnae by bringing them closer together.
Although current students will soon graduate and leave Lourdes behind, their sense of sisterhood, career skills, and stellar education will remain with them forever.
In the powerful words of Ashley, “Once a Lourdes girl, always a Lourdes girl. And I’ll always be proud to be one.”
