Alumna Spotlight

Olympian Jenise Spiteri ‘10

I didn't really know careers in skiing and snowboarding existed until right before senior year. I sent myself to a summer snowboard camp right before the school year started and met professional snowboarders and people who worked for companies in the snow sports industry. Their lifestyle of getting to do this amazing fun thing year round, surrounded by a fun and exciting community infatuated me. I spent senior year secretly reading snowboard magazines during class, dreaming about traveling the world, and being in those magazines myself. Prior to this I had totally other plans for what I wanted to pursue (acting and college in Southern California), and it was really tough choosing between continuing down my planned route or going after my new dream. Ultimately, I felt like that moment in time would be my only chance to try my hand at being a professional snowboarder so I went after it. I wanted to put my full effort and heart into snowboarding so that whether I succeeded or failed, I'd know that I gave it my best shot. I didn't want to have any regrets later in life about not pursuing this crazy dream, so I gave it my all.

What is it like to be a woman in your field?

The snowboard industry is predominantly male. Fairly often events have a 10 to 1 ratio of men to women. Entering the snowboard industry was like transferring from Mercy to Serra. I had to deal with some sexism and difficult situations in my early years of snowboarding that taught me how it was important to self advocate and stay strong in my values. I think any woman in a male dominated field needs to be confident in speaking up about what she wants and needs. Recently there's been a push to elevate women more in snow sports and make a more inclusive environment, so women entering the field today have a much different experience than how it was 12 years ago.

What aspect of Mercy High School did you like the most?

I really enjoyed participating in the Tri-School shows. I had the opportunity to perform in all 8 of them while I was at Mercy, and it was a great way to make friends with students from Serra and Notre Dame, as well as make connections with other Mercy students I might not have crossed paths with. I also got elected as Student Body Officer (SBO) Treasurer for senior year, and I had a good experience getting to be hands on with planning and orchestrating so many school rallies, dances, and events. Also going on the Close-Up trip to Washington DC was amazing. Our trip was during Obama's inauguration, so we got to watch that in person which was historic. Looking back, there were so many amazing opportunities while at Mercy, and I'm thankful for all of them.

What advice would you give current Mercy students?

Don't be afraid of going after something different than what people expect. You know your heart and soul the best, so if you feel a passion calling for you, trust yourself and take the chance. Going after your dreams isn't easy—you will face obstacles, and there will be times when there's no one but you in your corner, so you need to be your own biggest fan. Cheer yourself on. Be kind to yourself. And don't let anyone else's opinion of what you're pursuing deter you—at the end of the day it's your life and your responsibility to chase what you want in it.

Listen to Jenise’s graduation speech on “going after your dreams” as Class of 2020 Student Body Officer - Treasurer. Originally presented at the senior mass and recorded 10 years later for YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=kDPrhON3sy0