Our Work

Colleene Kabaria - Central Catholic High School  '22 & St. Michael School, Lowell '18

Colleene will be attending Rutger's University as a Posse Scholar in the Fall. She earned the MA State Championship at the MA DECA Conference for her Start-Up Business Plan. Colleene competed in the DECA National Conference in Atlanta in late April.

Q: We know you're interested in studying Marketing, what drew you towards that field?

My initial interest started in the summer of 2020, where I was stuck at home doing virtually nothing. I had gotten into designing magazines, in which I collected people’s art and poems and pieced it together to make cohesive issues. Within that experience, I had studied a lot of color theory. That is when I discovered that marketing had a lot to do with color theory but also so many other subjects as well. It is a major that works on the creative side and analytical side which is something I wanted in my major in the first place. I can express my creative notions while also analyzing and crunching numbers.

Q: What are you most looking forward to in college?

I’m looking forward to exploring campus and taking advantage of opportunities around me. Since I’m going to college in New Jersey on a big campus, there is so much to explore and take in as a student. New York is also a 40 min train ride away from my school, so I will be able to continue my avid love for attending the concerts of my favorite artists. Rutgers University also has a top ranked business school, which comes with many resources and opportunities for me to use. I want to advance my career as I enhance my education at Rutgers.

Q: What is a dream career you’d love to have after college?

I would like to be a Marketing Manager for a successful start up company, preferable in the sustainability sector. I want to be doing what I love but also helping the environment and promoting the dangers of climate change. I would also like a career that lets me travel around the world.

Q: How has receiving a Catholic education from CCHS helped you be a successful student and prepare for your future?

Central Catholic has given me the resources and experience to become a strong, inclusive leader. As our mission states, “we educate the whole person for college and for life, with particular care for the least favored and those in need.” This is at the center of what we do everyday in school, whether that be in classes or in clubs. By having the opportunity to aid the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office and start my own club, United We Stand, I have truly learned what our mission statement means and what it looks like in action. Which in turn has made me a better leader and student at Central Catholic.

Q: Did you have a teacher from school who really inspired you or helped you on your academic journey? How did they help?

Mr. Lynch, my junior year history teacher was one of the most encoruaging people on my academic journey. He would always give pep talks before certain tests I was anxious about, and was a reassuring voice in a time of confusion and hysteria. I learned to have a more solid work ethic because of him and also how to let go sometimes and take care of myself first before any academic commitments.

Q: Do you have any advice for someone who may be earlier on in their academic career and thinking about their future?

My advice is to do classes, clubs, and activities you are genuinely interested in. Most of us are worried about having a certain number of AP classes under our belt or joining certain clubs because they bring more “prestige.” But if you're miserable doing these things, it is not worth it. Learn more about the topics that make your heart soar and join the clubs that make you feel you have become part of a family. Don’t center your whole life around academics, it’s ok to have other hobbies and interests that make you happy.

Q: Do you have any favorite memories or things you'll miss about your time at CCHS?

I will definitely miss the friends I’ve made during my time here. They have made my experience the most memorable and worthwhile. One of my favorite memories is rooming with my friends in a Boston hotel during the Massachusetts DECA State Conference. We had so much fun competing and indulging in amazing food. Another memorable moment is backstage on show nights in Theatre Guild. The energy and the community was unbeatable.