Colleen Beatty '18

An acorn and a proud member of the Oakcrest class of 2018, Colleen Beatty maintained a passion for science and math throughout her education. She attended Virginia Tech, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Engineering & Management in 2022. Her professional career began with a medium-sized general contractor in the Washington, DC area, managing projects in the Corporate Interiors sector. These projects ranged from high-end law firms and corporate suites to fitness centers and back-of-house kitchens. Currently, she serves as a Commissioning Agent for Setty & Associates, transitioning from overseeing the physical construction of spaces to verifying that those spaces were built according to the designer’s intent.

She recalls how several of her Oakcrest classes and teachers have left a lasting impression on her. Among them were Mrs. Deeb’s pre-calculus class, Mrs. DeLisle’s anatomy and physiology class, Dr. Hussman’s chemistry class, Mrs. Escobar’s American history in seventh and eighth grade, Sra. Arjona-Sisto’s Spanish class, and Chef Dorrie’s seventh-grade culinary arts class. “These teachers, in particular, had a beautiful passion for the subject they taught and kept me hooked on learning.” 

One of her most impactful teachers at Oakcrest was Miss Pompei. Although she learned a great deal from many teachers, nearly daily she recalls three small, but meaningful lessons imparted by Miss Pompei. First, “if you are going to sit in the front row of class, you should pay attention instead of spending the period color-coding your schedule” —a lesson that continues to serve her well in professional meetings as she is reminded of the importance of showing attentiveness. Secondly, a lesson she still tries to keep up even in public, “if you see a little piece of trash on the ground, pick it up so the next person doesn’t have to do so.”  And lastly, “the shortest prayer is the sign of the cross and that there is always time to pray it.”

From middle school through high school, Colleen participated in two sports seasons each year—a unique opportunity offered by Oakcrest, for which she is grateful. Her athletic involvement included basketball, volleyball, soccer (as a goalie), softball, and track and field. Outside of sports, she took part in the Respect Life club during middle school and joined several honor societies.

Some of her fondest Oakcrest memories include eating lunch outdoors with classmates at the Balls Hill campus—gathering on the trailer steps, sitting along Balls Hill Road to watch the cars, relaxing in the “garden” near the sound barrier, or walking laps around the (small) campus while snacking on Cup Noodles. Singing and harmonizing in the halls with friends as they moved between classes—belting out everything from Brad Paisley to Billy Joel—was another cherished memory. Spirit weeks were always highlights, providing opportunities to unleash creativity with costumes, sometimes dedicating more time to outfits than to schoolwork. She recalls once dressing as Napoleon Dynamite and the chuckle from Fr. Marty as he offered her communion during Mass, catching sight of her frizzy wig.

Colleen credits Oakcrest’s liberal arts education with teaching her that “each person is unique and that a full life is worth living.” Although the academics were often challenging, each teacher emphasized the importance of their subject and the necessity of hard work and daily dedication. Alongside her classmates, she developed the habit of making the sign of the cross when passing the chapel—a simple but powerful reminder of Jesus’s presence. Oakcrest provided her with “spiritual formation from the Mass and theology classes, classical formation from our general courses, practical formation from mini courses, physical formation from after-school sports, and emotional formation from having friends that spanned between middle and high school and staff mentors.”

Her experience at Oakcrest gave her a strong foundation in the truths of the faith. When she later encountered differing perspectives in college and the professional world, it was helpful to recall the facts she had learned and to know where to seek further information. At Oakcrest, she was taught daily to place God at the center of her life, trusting that everything would fall into place. One significant adjustment after graduating was the absence of a priest for confession and spiritual direction. On entering college, she began attending daily Mass because she missed that aspect of Oakcrest. This practice helped her spiritual life to flourish and led to some of her closest friendships in college.

In her free time, Colleen enjoys exploring—whether running or walking through Arlington or hiking in the surrounding area. She also loves playing guitar and singing with friends, watching classic movies, cooking (she recently learned to make homemade pasta), and spending time with her many nieces and nephews.

Colleen’s advice to the Class of 2026 is not to be afraid or overthink. She believes that the experiences pushing one beyond their comfort zone are those that foster the most growth. She encourages them to never “underestimate the woman you are and who you’ve been raised to be. God didn’t want you to be alive at any other time or surrounded by any other group of people.”  While life can be challenging and friendships from Oakcrest may drift, she urges maintaining those bonds and sharing both successes and failures over the years. “Life is vibrant and worth living; things will go wrong but even more will go right. Look for the positive in each day, in each person, and in each moment.”