End of Year Reflection

by Katie Hughes

Katie has been serving as a Wellness Coordinator at Family Care Health Centers in St. Louis.  This fall, she will begin graduate school to study physical therapy.

My year with the Loretto Community in St. Louis has been an amazing experience.   I am proud of myself for trying something new for a year, getting outside my comfort zone in various ways and living in a new city.  I couldn’t have asked for better roommates; our laid-back style and good communication skills let us have an easy and rewarding community experience.  I have learned a lot about their respective volunteer fields, as well as some good cooking tips!

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My volunteer position at Family Care Health Centers was a great opportunity to learn and grow as well.  I had a lot of independence, which required me to be my own boss and come up with new projects.  I learned about caring for low-income patients and have bolstered my interest in exercising and eating right through our weight management class.  My exposure to general medicine has broadened my healthcare background and can only help me in my future career as a physical therapist.  After working with the records on the computer the majority of my days, I am grateful that I will actively be working one-on-one with patients!

I have felt a part of the Loretto Community in St. Louis since the beginning.  Having welcoming sisters next door has made me feel supported and loved.  We have gotten to know them throughout the year, and learning about their journeys is amazing.  They have influenced my spirituality and positively changed my thinking about what it means to be a Catholic.  The Lorettos have a good reputation in St. Louis as well as nationally, and I am proud to have worked under their name.