“My time at TFS meant a lot more than I realized at the time.”

Though TFS alumna Abi Garcia ‘18 attended TFS for all nine years and one year at the St. Francis Preschool, it wasn’t until she moved on from the school that she recognized the significant impact it had on her. “My time at TFS was the beginning of my learning how to be a leader, a teammate, and a role model for others,” shares Abi.

One of the most meaningful moments Abi can remember was having a Prayer Buddy during her eighth-grade year. She loved being a role model for the kindergartners, believing this helped ignite her passion for finding a career working with children. 

While at TFS, Abi treasured her experience being on the cheerleading team. She especially enjoyed traveling to the Shamrock Tournament in Charlotte during middle school to cheer on the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams. While attending Cardinal Gibbons High School, Abi returned to TFS during her sophomore year to coach the cheerleading team. Though the season was cut short because of COVID, Abi felt that this experience helped her to grow her leadership skills, and she again thrived as a role model to TFS students. “Although this was a memory I made after graduating from TFS, it was one of my favorite experiences TFS has brought me,” says Abi.

Abi shared that one of the teachers who made the most impact on her was Mrs. Moser. “It is clear that Mrs. Moser truly cared about her students and wanted them to succeed in the classroom,” shares Abi. “I always appreciated her support.”

Field Day was also a core memory for Abi during her time at TFS, and she shared that some of her best friends, including her college roommate, came from TFS!

Abi graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in 2022. She just completed her sophomore year at Penn State, where she is majoring in Human Development and Family Studies in the hopes of becoming a Child Life Specialist to support children and families who are in the hospital. “Being a student at Penn State has been a dream come true for me, and I could not have seen myself at any other college,” says Abi.

Abi is a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and the chapter’s director of primary recruitment. Hands down, the best experience for Abi while in college has been working with THON. THON is Penn State’s largest student-run philanthropy event that raises money for Four Diamonds families with children who are diagnosed with pediatric cancer. THON 2024 raised over $15 million for the cause, and Delta Gamma raised over $300,000 within the overall total. 

“Being a part of THON is one of the reasons why I want to work with children and their families who need support,” shares Abi. “Being able to put a smile on a kid's face just by being there for them and the family is what I want to do in my future after Penn State.”

Thank you for inspiring us, Abi!