Meet Katie mason
Thornton Donovan class of 2018 Alum
Barbara: Hi Katie, how are you? Good to see you! Your new look is fabulous!
Katie: Hi Barbara, nice to see you again! I didn't see you at Christmas lunch, but they told me you were in Italy.
Barbara: I hadn't been back to Italy for Christmas for eight years, and we decided to return to be with our families. Katie, can you tell me a little about yourself and your experience at T-D starting with the year you graduated?
Katie: I started in 2015, and I graduated in 2018.
Barbara: Where did you go to college or university?
Katie: I studied at the University of New Haven in Connecticut. I had a very good time.
Barbara: What was your major at University?
Katie: My major was Health Science (Major) and Italian (Minor).
Barbara: What is your goal and career or what are you doing now?
Katie: My goal now is to get my Master's degree, I graduate in December. I'm currently at NYU doing Speech, Language Pathology. In the meantime, I am interning at a school in Dobbs Ferry. I'm treating high schoolers with behavior issues and mental and learning disabilities. It's not easy, but I'm happy.
Barbara: What are three adjectives with which you would describe your experience at T-D?
Katie: Immersive, unique, cross-cultural.
Barbara: Who were the teachers who were helpful to you, and of whom do you have fond memories?
Katie: I remember many teachers who were important in my growth. Mrs. Tudisco, a Spanish teacher, and Mrs. Pugliese, an Italian teacher, inspired me to study Italian further, hence my minor in Italian. I also remember Mrs. Vasendin, a Russian teacher. I also remember Dr. Kernell very well. At the time, he taught etymology, which was very useful for my university studies; it helped break down words if they were unfamiliar.
Barbara: What were the T-D courses that helped you at university?
Katie: The teachers who helped me a lot for my university courses were Dr. Kernel, etymology, and Mrs. Pugliese, Italian,
Barbara: What trip did you take with T-D, and which country was your favorite? I know you have taken many trips with T-D and that you still do now that you are an Alumna.
Katie: Yes, I've gone on many trips with T-D, including Peru, Japan, the Balkans, and Italy. My favorite trip was to Japan. This country is incredible, and I recommend it. The Japanese are very respectful, polite, and very tidy. In just one word, I could define the Japanese: Hospitable. Yes, and I am always traveling.
Barbara: Who from T-D are you in contact with now?
Katie: I don't keep in touch with anyone from T-D other than on social media. Instead, I am more in contact with the people I have hosted from different countries and the students who have hosted me over the years from Japan, Argentina, and Italy.
Barbara: Have you advised K-12 students at TD? If yes, who?
Katie: I talk a lot about T-D with friends and acquaintances, but unfortunately, I don't have any friends who still have children. In the future, I will talk about T-D and the fantastic experience they can have when being a part of the T-D "family."
Barbara: Mr. Goodman is in the Library with me, and he's wondering who I'm talking to. Can Mr. Goodman say hello?
Katie: Of course!
After a brief greeting with Mr. Goodman, who is very happy to be able to greet her, Katie said goodbye to Mr. Fleming, with whom she continues to feel for his great esteem and travels.
Thank you, Katie, for your time. I hope to see you soon. I wish you the best for your internship and, especially, your master's degree.