Alumni SpotlightCHRISTINA FINNEN ('12)

Please explain your career – title, daily responsibilities, what you like about yourjob… My current title is 2nd Mate onboard two small cruise ships: The NationalGeographic Quest and The National Geographic Venture. I spend my timerotating between these two sister-ships, as their 2nd Mate on a 2 month working /1 month vacation schedule. As a 2nd Mate, I am the navigation officer; I amresponsible for making all of the ship's voyage plans and I make sure that we willbe arriving to our destinations safely and on time. Aside from creating the ship'ssailing routes, I also stand the 12AM - 4AM and 12PM - 4PM watches. This is whenI steer the ship, monitor other ships around us, and make sure my deck team isdoing their part in keeping the ship running smoothly. What I love most about my job is that I have the opportunity to travel all over theworld and continue to learn new things every day. In the last year, I have donemore things outside of my comfort zone than I ever thought possible. Some ofthese things include steering the ship through The Columbia River locks, drivingwithin a mile of a glacier in S.E. Alaska, and transiting through the Panama Canal. 

How did Holy Trinity help prepare you for lifeafter graduation? Holy Trinity prepared me very well for life aftergraduation. It was at HT where I learned theconcepts of discipline, hard work, and faith. My faiththat I developed at HT is what keeps me groundedand focused while I am away from family andfriends for long periods of time. It was my Historyteachers- Ms. Kolbe, Ms. Peto, & Mrs. Picatagi- whokept me fascinated in other cultures and places. Mrs.Martin, my Public Speaking teacher, alwaysencouraged me to do things outside of my comfortzone. The combination of these classes continues tohelp me every day while I experience newchallenges on the water.

2nd Mate aboard the National Geographic Quest

Earned B.S. from SUNY Maritime in Marine Business & Commerce

with a US Coast Guard 3rd MateUnlimited Tonnage License

What is your earliest memory of your“Titan Experience?” Do you rememberyour first day of school? How did youfeel? My earliest memory of Holy Trinity ishearing seniors say, “Don’t be a 2:30person." I soon learned that this meantwe should stay after school and takeadvantage of all that HT has to offer,outside of the classroom. It did not takelong before I was ALWAYS staying afterschool with friends. Most of us stayedafter for student council, lacrossepractice, or simply just to stay in thelibrary and do homework. It was alwaysnice to have a place to stay and be withfriends. Do you think your life would haveturned out differently if you had notattended Holy Trinity?  Yes, I think that if I did not attend HolyTrinity I would not be the person I amtoday. Holy Trinity gave me manyopportunities that all opened my eyes tothe world and ignited my want to travel.Some of these opportunities includebeing a member of the LIGHTs, amission trip to Nazareth Farm, andtraveling to France & Italy. Holy Trinityalso gave me lifelong friendships that Iprobably would not have createdanywhere else. I always know that I cancount on my “HT Forever” group chat tomake me feel at home - even when I ama million miles away. Holy Trinity willforever be my home away from home. What advice do you have for currentTitans?   Take everything Holy Trinity has taughtyou and continue to use it, even after youleave.  Don’t let little bumps in the roadstop you from doing something you’vealways wanted to do. Try new things.Travel! Reach outside of your comfortzone because you never know where itcan take you. 

Want to be an Alumni Spotlight?

Go to www.holytrinityhs.org/alumni

for details!