For many alumni, the years spent at St. Catherine’s form a foundation that shapes far more than academic success. For one alumna, those formative years planted the seeds for an unexpected journey that would span moves abroad, two degrees in the UK, and a wonderfully versatile career. 

Describing herself as "caring, determined, adaptable, curious, ambitious, positive and always willing to learn," Ioanna Kallitsi’s trajectory proves that life rarely follows a straight line. Reflecting on her time at school, her fondest memories are rooted not in grand milestones, but in everyday life:

"It is difficult to choose one specific memory, but I would say the friendships and everyday moments with the people I grew up with at school. Looking back, it is often the small moments between lessons, school events and time spent with friends that I remember most fondly." 

Growing up in St. Catherine's international environment also taught Ioanna a vital lesson that she carries with her today: the importance of being open-minded and embracing different people and perspectives. That openness ultimately redirected her future. Initially set on studying Law, a spontaneous decision to take IB Psychology - simply because it sounded interesting, sparked a passion that changed everything. She went on to study Psychology at the University of Bath, later returning to complete a Master's in Human Resource Management. 

Her post-graduation path has been wonderfully rich and diverse, spanning HR, real estate valuation. customer-facing roles, retail experiences like helping with the launch of Diptyque in Athens, and even teaching assistant work in the UK,. Together, these varied experiences challenged her to grow, showing her that she thrives in roles where she can engage with and support others. 

As of September, all those twists and turns culminated in a uniquely meaningful milestone bringing her  back where it all started:

"It feels quite special to return to St. Catherine’s, but now working as a Shadow Teacher and tutoring students one-to-one, seeing it from a completely different perspective." 

Looking back on her personal growth - from moving abroad on her own to adapting to entirely new environments - she takes the greatest pride in remaining close to the people she loves and staying true to her core values. Offering advice to her younger self and fellow alumni alike, she emphasises the power of resilience and community: 

"Stop worrying so much about having everything figured out. Things will change, and sometimes the opportunities you never planned for will teach you the most. Stay open to change, trust yourself, and most importantly, appreciate the St. Catherine’s community. You may be surprised by how meaningful it feels to come back to it years later." 

Want to be our next spotlight? Email us at alumni@stcatherines.gr or submit your Spotlight directly here. 

Curious to read about other St. Cats alumni? Check out our previous Alumni Spotlights!