A junior at Villa Maria Academy, Valeria Guerin has served on the leadership team of the Respect Life Club since her freshman year, has been selected for Madrigals, an audition-only singing ensemble, is a member of the National Piano Guild, has participated in a number of service projects (including one with her mother to Mexico) and is a member of the Villa Maria golf team.
Main Line Media News: Tell us a little about your service trip to Mexico with your mom. What was your most memorable experience there?
Valeria Guerin: Having family in Mexico, I have had the opportunity to visit many times. However, visiting the village of Guadalupe-Huexopapan was a very unique and eye-opening experience for me. Because I am fortunate enough to speak Spanish and be able to communicate with the residents of the small village, I was able to understand their fears and needs after the traumatic earthquake. They expressed great concerns about the stability and delayed reconstruction of their village due to material shortages from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, throughout their fears and worries, they also showed me just how much faith they had in that everything would be alright. Their overwhelming sense of hope and perseverance despite difficulties inspired me and taught me so much about the culture and character of the village.
Main Line Media News: Tell us a little about the most meaningful activities you have participated in with the Respect Life Club.
Valeria Guerin: This year we planned the first annual Villa Respect Life Week. On Sunday afternoon we gathered on campus to start off the week by writing positive pro-life messages in chalk around the sidewalks of the school. Each of the following days consisted of different activities and service projects such as creating care packages for grieving mothers suffering miscarriages, hosting a speaker who gave their pro-life testimony, and other activities that promoted the sanctity of human life.
Main Line Media News: Last summer you spent time caring for your grandmother with Alzheimer’s Disease. What do you feel was the most important thing you learned from the experience?
Valeria Guerin: I did some research in order to provide the best possible care for her. Quickly, I learned that patience and a smile are the best antidotes to almost any situation concerning her. I learned that performing simple tasks with her such as coloring in coloring books aided her in remaining calm and comfortable. In the evenings, I learned that the best way to get her ready for bed was to encourage her through example. If she was hesitant to change into her pajamas, I could reinforce her by putting on my own, and then helping her.
Main Line Media News: What is your favorite performance song with Madrigals, and why?
Valeria Guerin: The Silver Swan by Orlando Gibbons is my favorite song that I have performed with Madrigals. It tells of the legend that swans, while mostly silent throughout their lives, sing a beautiful note at the end of their life. This piece challenged each of the different voice parts of the ensemble to listen to each other and sing our separate parts harmoniously.
Main Line Media News: What sparked your original interest in the piano? Tell us a little about the National Piano Guild. What is your favorite performance piece with the piano, and why?
Valeria Guerin: When I was in grade school I watched as my older sister learned to play the piano on her small, child-sized keyboard. Her enthusiasm for making music was contagious. Eventually our parents brought home a full-sized piano so that we could continue to learn and grow our skills. For the National Piano Guild, piano students across the country prepare their scales and songs with various levels of difficulty to play in front of judges. My favorite song to play is Summer’s Dream by Catherine Rollin because of its soothing melody and nostalgic mood.
Main Line Media News: You mentioned that your favorite course at Villa Maria Academy has been Sports Medicine. What do you think has been the most important thing you gained from this class?
Valeria Guerin: During the time that I have been taking the class, Sports Medicine, I have learned an abundance of useful information related to treating sports injuries and giving life-saving treatment such as CPR. All of the information and practices I have learned have been very beneficial, and they have led me to the most important thing I gained from this class – the discovery of the future career I hope to pursue – physical therapy.
Main Line Media News: What is your favorite book, and why? Who is your favorite author, and why?
Valeria Guerin: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe from the series: Chronicles of Narnia, written by C.S. Lewis, has been my favorite book since the fourth grade due to its epic tale of adventure filled with fantastical characters. Recently, I’ve done research about the spiritual parallels that fill the pages within C.S. Lewis’s novels. Through children’s stories, he was able to express deep theological truths in simple and entertaining terms.
(To be selected as Main Line Student of the Week, a student must first be nominated by his or her school.)
To view a gallery of the previous Main Line Students of the Week click here
