We all know Mrs. Brady is an English teacher at Marymount. We see her walking around campus waving to everyone and smiling. We stop and chat with her in line at the café. We hand in papers and pray that she likes them. She’s a very generous, kind-hearted, and enthusiastic Marymount teacher (and a really tough grader). However, there’s something you might not know about Mrs. Brady: she was once a Marymount student herself! I sat down with Mrs. Brady and grilled her about her Marymount experience, both as a student and as a teacher.
Why did you choose to attend Marymount?
At the time I was looking, Marymount was the premier Catholic school in town. I went to Corpus Christi so people from my class came to Marymount, and I was interested in a Catholic school. I really liked the all-girls aspect as well. So Marymount just fit.
What was the best part about going to school at Marymount?
I made some really strong girlfriends who I am still friends with today. A big group of us reunited over Christmas vacation, so I would say the friendships were the best part. I loved the classes, too. I was very involved in drama as both an actress and a member of the stage crew, and I loved that as well.
Did you have a rigorous curriculum?
Yes, I did. We did not have as many AP classes as we do now, but I took a lot of honors classes. In my senior year I took a lot of AP classes as well.
What was your favorite class?
English.
Did you play any sports?
My freshman year I did: I swam. I was not that great, but I was a distance swimmer, and I swam the 200 free on the Junior Varsity team. I actually made Varsity time, which was very unexpected.
What extracurricular activities did you participate in?
Drama, swimming, choir, and I was the editor of the yearbook during my senior year.
What were the uniforms like?
We had khaki skirts, and for dress uniform days we wore blue herringbone skirts. They’re called blue but they’re really grey, and they have blue woven into them. We had white oxford shirts, and they had to be tucked in. We also had blue and maroon sweaters and sweater vests. We wore blazers, of course. We didn’t have free dress days very often, but when we did, we had to wear skirts.
Do any of your teachers still teach at Marymount?
Ms. Bennet, Ms. Miller, and Senora Kosberg.
What are the major differences between Marymount then and now?
Technology is a major one, although Marymount, even when I attended, was pretty good with technology to the extent that it could be. We had a computer programing class, which was just basic programing, but still the fact that an all -girls Catholic school would have a programing class was impressive. Now the technology is just so much more available. There are a lot more AP classes, and a lot more free dress days. Overall, the individual details of the school have definitely grown as the school has developed, but the underlying spirit is the same. The idea of developing independent young women who will be successful in the future is something that I still see today.
What inspired you to come back and teach at Marymount?
That underlying spirit of really encouraging and preparing young women to be independent and successful was something I wanted to be a part of. I had such a great experience as a student that I wanted to return as a teacher and continue the tradition. I love teaching English as well, but I feel like that’s just an added bonus! I enjoy helping young women become confident and independent and successful.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of teaching Marymount students?
To take a student who says they know nothing about English or they cannot write and watch them gain confidence over the course of the year or two years I teach them is very rewarding.
If you could give one piece of advice to your students to help them put their best foot forward at Marymount, what would it be?
Balance your activities and your time! It’s so easy to get involved in so many different activities at Marymount, which as a freshman I think is really important, but once you start sophomore and especially junior years, you should really choose the things that you want to focus on so you don’t exhaust yourselves with too many activities. We like you, and we’d like you to survive throughout your high school career!