Mrs. Carlie Gillen

Mackenzie described her experience following the interests and opinions of her mother.  She shared how the pathway her mother paved for her helped her develop into the person she is today.

“I’ve heard it said many times that we are mosaics of everyone we’ve ever loved.  When I think about it, the majority of the colorful, jagged fragments that have come together to form the young woman I have become are of my mom.  She must have had the greatest and most profound influence on who I am today because she created the very first and largest fragments of my personal art piece.  With this in mind, it’s no surprise that I have the same go-to order as her at our favorite ice cream shop, or that we have similar tastes in movies, TV shows, and books.”

“I would likely not attend Sacred Heart Greenwich if she had not also graduated from our sister school, Newton Country Day School in Massachusetts.  However, these are not the most important aspects of having my mom, of all women, as the most important piece of the ongoing puzzle of discovering who I am as a person and who I want to be for the rest of my life.  Because of all of the characteristics that make her unique, my mom is able to exceed expectations in her roles as a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend.”

“Her intelligence is one of her distinguishing characteristics, as she constantly reminds me of the importance of knowledge and education in one’s life.  She certainly embodied this throughout her academic career, which ended with her graduation from the prestigious Georgetown University.  Furthermore, my mom is the strongest and most persevering person I know, and she has used this to her advantage while overcoming adversity in her life.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.  Both the surgery and the months of radiation did not change the person she had always been, and I never felt that it hindered her ability to take a stand in her role as a mother.”

When I think of the most influential female role model in my life, there is no doubt that it is my mom, who almost perfectly exemplifies the strength of femininity by blurring the line between traditional gender norms.  She can do anything a man can do in the classroom or workplace and defies stereotypes about what a woman likes and how she enjoys spending her time.  At the same time, she is a maternal figure who is kind, loving, and beautiful.  Overall, I hope that when my mosaic is finished, it will reflect all of these aspects of my mom’s personality and more, because she is and always will be my greatest role model.”

Featured Image by Mackenzie Gillen ’25