Spotlight

Year: Senior
Major: Catholic Studies and Liturgical Music
Minor:
Hometown: Baxter, MN

Why did you come to UST?

I came to St. Thomas to pursue Liturgical Music. I have always been a part of the Liturgies in a Musical way since I was very young and it felt fitting that I would continue on this track going into college. UST offered both the Catholic Theology and Musical development that I hoped to obtain in my bachelor's degree. I felt at home with the community and the intellectual life.

What does it mean to you to be selected as an Aquinas Fellow?

This achievement both confirms and reassures me in my pursuits as an undergraduate. Discerning one’s vocation and pursuing a particular career can be overwhelming at times, and often I have become discouraged with my own failings. However, the Aquinas Fellow program encourages me to continue my studies with diligence and determination, reassuring me that the Lord is continually working in my life.

What has been your most valuable experience at UST?

It is difficult to choose just one valuable experience from my time at St. Thomas. However, the Catholic Studies department offered me the education that I needed to form myself in the Catholic Studies Tradition and merits my most valuable experience. Each course that I took formed my mind further to the ordering of the Catholic faith in such a way that my own faith filled every other aspect of my life. Each course that I took within other departments and every event of my family and friends began to look differently under the truth of the Tradition of the Church. Most importantly, the Catholic Studies professors kindly made themselves available to students, and I still stop regularly into their offices to take in their wisdom, intelligence, and experience to better form my own life. They have taught me within the Catholic Studies department challenged the disorder of the world in such a way that ordered my heart to the unseen, the truth and Tradition of the Catholic Faith.

How will being an Aquinas Fellow help you discern and work towards your vocation?

The Aquinas Fellow program will first relieve the anxiety of finances for my senior year. More importantly, however, the Aquinas Fellow achievement reassures me that I am on the right track in my attitude towards vocation and I must be confident and courageous in the options he has placed before me to go wherever I can best serve the Church. This achievement opens up so many options and horizons and encourages me have peace that the Lord is watching over my life carefully.

What advice would you give a student about discerning their vocation?

Pray, Trust, and have peace.

Aquinas Fellowship Recipients
VIEW OTHER SPOTLIGHTS	Aana Bensdon Aquinas Fellow
	Year: Senior Major: Catholic Studies and Liturgical Music Minor: Hometown: Baxter, MN Why did you come to UST? I came to St. Thomas to pursue Liturgical Music. I have always been a part of the Liturgies in a Musical way since I was very young and it felt fitting that I would continue on this track going into college. UST offered both the Catholic Theology and Musical development that I hoped to obtain in my bachelor's degree. I felt at home with the community and the intellectual life. What does it mean to you to be selected as an Aquinas Fellow? This achievement both confirms and reassures me in my pursuits as an undergraduate. Discerning one’s vocation and pursuing a particular career can be overwhelming at times, and often I have become discouraged with my own failings. However, the Aquinas Fellow program encourages me to continue my studies with diligence and determination, reassuring me that the Lord is continually working in my life. What has been your most valuable experience at UST? It is difficult to choose just one valuable experience from my time at St. Thomas. However, the Catholic Studies department offered me the education that I needed to form myself in the Catholic Studies Tradition and merits my most valuable experience. Each course that I took formed my mind further to the ordering of the Catholic faith in such a way that my own faith filled every other aspect of my life. Each course that I took within other departments and every event of my family and friends began to look differently under the truth of the Tradition of the Church. Most importantly, the Catholic Studies professors kindly made themselves available to students, and I still stop regularly into their offices to take in their wisdom, intelligence, and experience to better form my own life. They have taught me within the Catholic Studies department challenged the disorder of the world in such a way that ordered my heart to the unseen, the truth and Tradition of the Catholic Faith. How will being an Aquinas Fellow help you discern and work towards your vocation? The Aquinas Fellow program will first relieve the anxiety of finances for my senior year. More importantly, however, the Aquinas Fellow achievement reassures me that I am on the right track in my attitude towards vocation and I must be confident and courageous in the options he has placed before me to go wherever I can best serve the Church. This achievement opens up so many options and horizons and encourages me have peace that the Lord is watching over my life carefully. What advice would you give a student about discerning their vocation? Pray, Trust, and have peace.