Lana Kolpa is a 2024 Alumni who currently works as a missionary for the Catholic Church. She is a part of the Catholic Service Corps through the Immaculate Conception Church in Waterbury. Lana says that, “Each day is something new, which I love.” Some of the places that she works the most are the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen and the Blessed Michael McGivney Center. The Blessed Michael McGivney Center is a place of hope and healing for those struggling with mental illnesses, addiction, and trauma. Her favorite part of the job is building strong relationships with the people that she ministers to. She said, “I love getting to know them and their stories.” Working as a missionary has been a big dream of hers for a long time!
In high school, Lana participated in community service activities through many clubs which helped spark a fire in her to help others in need. She took on many leadership roles throughout various clubs which has helped her speak confidently, solve conflicts, and connect with others. Her message to anyone who is looking to work as a missionary or, in general, any position in the Catholic Church is to, “start by volunteering in the community. It could be volunteering through clubs, food pantries, or community centers. Any type of volunteer work is crucial. It will help you develop social skills, connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and build a passion for assisting those in need.”
If she could go back and give her high school self advice, she would tell herself to take it one day at a time. “As surprising as it may seem, everything you worry about today will work itself out in time. Stay positive and live in the moment.” She’s always had the belief that success involves helping others and making the world a better place, one action at a time. Lana has always believed that building positive relationships with those around you and living a simple life can bring happiness. This belief of hers has been confirmed through her work as a missionary. Today, Lana is motivated by the people she ministers to. Lana says that, “seeing the positive impact I have on the lives of all those I minister to gives me the motivation to continue my work.”
Lana has many goals for her future. She plans on continuing her work as a missionary in Waterbury until she graduates from Naugatuck Valley Community College with an Associates degree in General Studies. She hopes to eventually get her Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Francisican University and then continue her work as a missionary worldwide for a while. As a main career however, she would like to work as a paramedic or a police officer. No matter what, she wants to live a life serving those in need.
Her advice to current graduates is to write down your goals and what you value in life. “Take small steps every day to reach those goals and become the person you want to be.” For current high school students, she advises students to focus on, “on finding a balance between school, extracurriculars, and social life. Getting good grades and doing extracurriculars are important, but it’s also very important to enjoy the time you have in high school with your friends. Participating in clubs and sports is one of the best ways students can make the most of their time in high school. It’s easy to get caught up in the business of high school. Don’t avoid self-care. It’s so important to get good sleep, eat healthy foods, and get some downtime.” Congratulations to Lana Kolpa on all of her successes and good luck to her in the future!
