Four years of dedication on the field had all led up to this moment. Entering her senior year at Dwight-Englewood School, Catalina De Alba ’18 had earned her spot as varsity lacrosse captain. Then came a devastating blow, a severe injury that benched her for almost the entire season.
Instead of stepping back, Catalina pivoted her leadership to the sidelines. Drawing on the core values of Courtesy, Compassion, Consideration, and Cooperation instilled during her formative years at The Elisabeth Morrow School, she transformed a painful setback into a lesson in empathetic leadership.
“You do not realize how much the 4 C’s shape you at the time,” Catalina reflects. “It is about being the best version of yourself for others and understanding that you are always working as part of a collective.”
Rather than letting the injury define her final season, she focused on motivating her teammates, offering guidance, and proving that real leadership is measured by much more than playing time.
Personal Discipline and Grit
Catalina forged that spirit of perseverance years earlier on the athletic teams at EMS. Running cross-country taught her the value of individual drive and the true meaning of personal discipline.
“Cross-country showed me that what you put into something is what you get out of it,” she recalls. “It is a team sport, but it is mostly about bettering yourself. EMS gives you such a strong athletic base because you are encouraged to try everything.”
Athletic Director Andy Escala ’83 recognized Catalina’s natural speed, empowering her to step outside her comfort zone and pick up a lacrosse stick in eighth grade. This provided a launchpad for future athletic endeavors. By the time Catalina entered Dwight-Englewood for high school, she was already performing at a varsity level, earning a spot on the girls’ varsity lacrosse team as a ninth-grader.
Her internal drive has remained active. In her sophomore year at Villanova University, Catalina completed the Philly Love Run half-marathon, designing a strict personal training regimen to cross the finish line.
Dedication Across Every Pursuit
Her strong work ethic extends far beyond athletics. At university, Catalina tackled a rigorous double major in communications and art history alongside a minor in business. Her studies grew out of a fascination with how art and human connection overlap, connecting cultural history with real-world storytelling. She credits her curiosity to her EMS experiences, where exploring new subjects was always celebrated through interactive lessons and projects like the third-grade Lenni Lenape Fair and the sixth-grade Greek Olympics.
“Learning never felt like work to me,” she says. “The history was so ingrained in everything we did. I still have a memory box with items I made for the Greek Olympics!”
The creative outlets provided at EMS have also helped shape Catalina’s continued interests. A seventh-grade ceramics elective ignited a lasting relationship with pottery. Throughout her years at university, spending time at the wheel provided a grounding space to stay balanced amidst a demanding academic schedule.
Lasting Connections
Through every challenge, Catalina relies on her community. To this day, her closest bonds are with the friends she met in Chilton House.
“I met my best friend in kindergarten,” she says with a smile. “We used to sing Taylor Swift together on the playground. We are still close, and we always hang out. That is what sets the school apart. The friendships truly last a lifetime.”
Having had the freedom to explore every interest at a young age gives Catalina the confidence to chart her own path today. Whether leading a team with empathy from the bench, navigating a demanding academic schedule, or training for a half-marathon, she continues to carry the lessons of determination and community that began at EMS.
“The values instilled in you early on teach you to stay true to yourself, embrace new challenges, and never stop learning.”
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