California Nu Caitlyn Rei is officially an alumna of Loyola Marymount University (LMU)! We met the week leading up to graduation when the chapter celebrated Senior Week to honor its graduating seniors. Now Caitlyn is back home in Santa Rosa, California, reflecting on the memories of the past four years. “LMU has changed me for the better,” proclaims Caitlyn, “And the most defining experience was my time in Pi Phi.”
Because California Nu does not have a chapter house, the entire campus is like the chapter house for its members. “There are Pi Phis wherever you are on campus,” Caitlyn recalls. “I showed up to class to see three or four Pi Phis in the class.” Pi Phi provided social interactions and academic support as well as core values to consider as she went through her everyday life. She served as Vice President of Fraternity Development and loved to share quotes to help chapter members identify with the Fraternity’s values. One of these quotes is by C.S. Lewis: “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
Caitlyn knew there was no better place than Los Angeles for her to attend college and she quickly realized there was something very special about LMU. Understanding education is not just books and learning. Rather, LMU focuses on the education of the whole person. She received her degree in English with a minor in Film, Television and Film Studies. And Caitlyn does not have too much time to rest as she is getting ready to use her degree in a unique way.
In August, Caitlyn is moving to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the Disney College Program. Caitlyn is drawn to the four-month internship program because she has grown up loving everything Disney. As many of us have experienced ourselves, Disney is the ultimate storyteller. Caitlyn loved the characters that jumped off the pages or the far away lands she found herself in through Disney’s stories. This summer, Caitlyn will be living with other cast members and participating in workshops and classes to discover the behind-the-scenes magic of Disney. What a perfect opportunity for someone with a passion for books, writing and stories to experience firsthand!