Where Are They Now: Riley’s Dream to Give Back

An Arete alumna with a lifelong love of learning, Riley is already turning her college journey into something remarkable. Now a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University, she’s majoring in history and diving deeper into the subject that has fascinated her for years. Her goal is clear: to one day stand at the front of the classroom, inspiring students the same way her teachers once inspired her. “My essential goal is to graduate with my bachelor’s and teach at Chapelle for a little bit,” she says. “Eventually, I want to get my master’s and then my doctorate and teach at the college level.”

College has brought new growth and confidence to Riley, along with opportunities she never expected. One of those came in 2023, when she decided to join a sorority, something she’d hesitated to do at first. “At the beginning, I didn’t think I’d have the confidence to join,” she says. “It felt like something completely outside my comfort zone. But now, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” The experience reminded her of the close-knit sisterhood she’d cherished during her high school years. “Coming from an all-girls school, I was used to that sense of community. Joining a sorority helped me rediscover that, and high school gave me the confidence boost I didn’t know I needed.”

That confidence was first nurtured at Archbishop Chapelle High School in Metairie, Louisiana, where Riley spent five unforgettable years. “I just loved all five years at Chapelle,” she says with a smile. “It was definitely an experience that I love looking back on. Having so many friends and the environment of the school itself, it just sticks with me.”

“Before I graduated high school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in,” Riley admits. “It took some time to figure out what really clicked for me.” That moment of clarity came when she realized how much she loved learning, and how deeply she admired the teachers who had believed in her throughout high school. “My teachers at Chapelle always saw potential in me, even when I doubted myself,” she says. “Their encouragement helped me find my confidence and my direction.”

At Chapelle, Riley found more than an education; she found a place where she belonged. Surrounded by laughter, friendship, and teachers who believed in her, she discovered her strengths and her passion for helping others. She graduated with honors in 2023, earning a letter in community service while volunteering with the Humane Society, a local food pantry, and Delivering Hope NOLA, where she helped create care packages for NICU families. “Community service is important to me because I’m able to help others in small acts that make a big difference to them,” she says.

That same dedication to service and leadership earned Riley the title of Arete Scholars’ 2023 Graduate of the Year—a recognition that celebrated not only her achievements but also her heart for others.

Riley’s dream to teach traces back to the mentors who guided her during her years at Chapelle. “I was close with a lot of my teachers, and I want to be able to give that back,” she says. “I want my students to know they always have a teacher who is there for them, someone they can go to with anything.” She still remembers the teachers who made a lasting impact—from her world geography teacher who encouraged her to take honors classes, to her Western Civilizations teacher who first inspired her to pursue history.

Looking back, Riley says both Chapelle and Arete Scholars played pivotal roles in her journey. “Without Arete, I don’t think Chapelle would have been possible,” she says. “Being able to go to that school helped shape me in so many ways and gave me an idea of what I want to do after graduation. It was a huge impact.”

Now, as a proud alumna, Riley continues to stay connected with the Arete community as a member of the Arete Alumni board, offering encouragement and perspective to those following in her footsteps. Her warmth, empathy, and steady guidance already reflect the qualities of the teacher she aspires to be. Her message to today’s Arete students is simple but heartfelt: “Just keep going. You have people who are always there for you.” 

For Riley, every step of her journey—every challenge, every moment of doubt, every teacher who believed in her—has been leading her toward the classroom. She is not just preparing for a career; she is preparing to give back the same confidence, care, and encouragement that shaped her own story.

Riley’s dream of becoming a teacher is more than a personal goal. It is a continuation of the legacy that Arete Scholars helped make possible. The investment made in her education will one day multiply, touching the lives of countless students who will see in her what she once saw in her own teachers: someone who believes in their potential and helps them see it for themselves.

Her story is a full circle of impact, proof that when opportunity meets determination, it does not end with one student. It grows, it inspires, and it carries forward into the next generation of dreamers and achievers.