by Jeffrey Mu ’24
Over my high school years, I’ve seen seniors come and go. Freshman year, this was from behind my surface screen, as I sat in my pajamas, wondering where they would go after Bell. As a sophomore, I pursued the long list of colleges in a dropped flyer for senior graduation. And when I became a junior, I finally understood the possibilities that life was after high school. I talked to students venturing to Washington mountains and the busy streets of New York City, all with recommendations from counselors here. And now, as a senior, I’m working on to unlock my own possibilities.
It’s unimaginable the things Bell graduates go on to do in their university lives. Each has found his own path, a calling that has brought them to a school of their choice. And they do wonderful things there. Around the end of the first semester, when early applications come out, you can always hear the chatter of excited seniors around Lokey halls and up Sobrato stairs: just about every school in discussion. But what I don’t hear often talked about is the force that makes these accomplishments happen: the amazing Bellarmine counseling department, who this year welcomes Ms. Jenny Uribe to the team.
The oldest of a family of six and a UC Santa Cruz graduate, Ms. Uribe is no stranger to the college world. She talked to me about many of the traits that drew her to Santa Cruz. “I think the main piece was the academics,” she says. “I wanted to pursue psychology. I took it in high school, and the teacher was amazing, the subject was very interesting. And at UC Santa Cruz, they have an intensive program for it.” From the academics to the student life, this was one open door for her. Now pursuing a graduate degree, Ms. Uribe offers quite a share of mentorship not only at school, but also at home. “Family is number one, and three of my [younger siblings] are in college now. Part of my job is really making sure they’re all on track, and I love being an older sister to them.”
On campus, Ms. Uribe is the counselor for eighty Bellarmine seniors, including me. She comes from a twelve-plus year history of helping out students in the college application process. From various nonprofits and high schools across the states, she has been partnering and working with high school counselors everywhere in guiding the students through the process. She was previously the Director of College Counseling at Cristo Rey High School.
Although she has worked in a Jesuit institution before, Ms. Uribe told me that Bellarmine really made her feel invited. “It’s with the folks that not only say hello but also share a warm welcome with you,” she says. All the way back from when she discovered Bellarmine, students have been greeting her with the symbol of being a Bellarmine Bell: a brotherhood. “In meetings with students to learn about their experiences and why they’re motivated to go to college and what they wanted to study, I listened to all the Bellarmine students talk about Brotherhood and being at a school with a ton of adults who truly care and want to see them win,” she recalls. “So that supportive community really stood out.”
When asked about her favorite part of the admissions process, Ms. Uribe told me she most enjoys reading essays. “I get to learn more about them, and sometimes they share more in their essays than they do in person!” She told me that students should really fine tune the theme of their works in their essays, and that illuminates their story. Through her guidance, they learn to reflect deeper and brings accomplishments to life.
But more than just as a counselor, Ms. Uribe sees her job as an act of service, of helping students complete a very challenging process successfully. Her advice to current and prospective seniors? To trust the process and to remain open-minded. “It’s worked over and over again. Keep an open mind because applying requires reflection and articulation as to why you want to pursue that particular college.” For Bellarmine’s purposes, this is going through that process thirteen different times, for thirteen different schools. The process shifts the student’s perspective and self-awareness, and Ms. Uribe always encourages seniors to keep those “doors open.” For her, if there are students who are wanting to “close some doors right now in September, I always encourage them to keep that door open.” She tells us to always keep one type of school or one type of system on the list, per se, that way doors can stay open for our future.
When she’s not guiding students to new opportunities or reading their essays, Ms. Uribe enjoys taking photos while out in the redwoods and near the ocean. “Spending time next to the water is important,” she told me, “I’ve been exploring all of what the Bay Area has to offer in terms of beaches.” Her favorite oceanscape is the famous Davenport beach, where she enjoys hanging out and watching the sunset. “The ocean is huge, and it’s like I’m at the end of the earth,” she says.
We are very fortunate to have Ms. Uribe here at Bellarmine. The Bell Online would like to extend her a warm welcome to our community!