Seton Alumnus Gabriel Mellino: Become a Better Version of Yourself

I am Gabriel Mellino, an Ave Maria University junior from Olivet, MI. I graduated from Seton Home Study School in 2021.

I chose Ave Maria University because I wanted to surround myself with a faith-filled community while I was in college.

I trusted in the Cardinal Newman Society’s Guide for Recommended Catholic Colleges, and AMU’s place in it filled me with confidence that AMU was a place where I could grow and be formed to become an even better version of myself.

Seton provides an authentically Catholic education, and I was so excited to find a college that provided a continuation of that authentic Catholic education and formation.

The integration of our Catholic Faith into the entirety of the curriculum was stressed at Seton, and I have been so impressed to find the same at AMU. Seton’s religion courses provided an excellent foundation for pursuing my minor in Theology and my Communications major.

Seton Prepared Me Well

As a Communications major, I am almost always writing, and Seton’s emphasis on paper writing has helped tremendously.

My writing assignments at Seton forced me to learn to think critically and then effectively communicate in writing, which is exactly what I do now at Ave Maria. My time at Seton has prepared me to do this well.

Beyond my academics, I cannot stress enough the quality of the community and the friendships I have found at Ave Maria, specifically those rooted in the Catholic Faith.

I have met so many incredible men and women at Ave Maria who are striving for excellence and holiness, particularly through my men’s household (Ardens Virtuus), the drama club, the rugby and ultimate Frisbee teams, and the shooting club that I helped found.

What I Want to Share with You

To any Seton students considering their next step after graduation, I encourage you to take real ownership of your life.

Be structured, be disciplined, and manage your time well while learning to be flexible.

Ave Maria is a place where you can do all this.

Surrounding myself with the community here, where I have constant access to the sacramental life of the Church, has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

God bless you!