Passionate about faith and science
By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent
She wants to walk on the cutting edge of science — in a world
of test-tubes, laboratories, genetic engineering and biomechanics. For
most of us, the description alone is intimidating, but not to 18-year-old
Cathleen Kerr. In the case of this Fox Chase teen, it is her chosen
destiny.
“It’s a field where I feel like I can really help people,”
said Kerr, who will begin studies to become a biomedical engineer at
Drexel University this fall. “Originally, I wanted to be a doctor.
But I’m just not into blood, so that kind of eliminated that choice.
But this is a growing field where faith needs to have some influence.”
While the world is embroiled in fierce ethical battles surrounding stem
cell research, Kerr sees an opportunity to bring her strong belief in
God and family into that critical arena of life.
“Faith has always been very important to our whole family,”
she said. They pray together, attend Mass together, share meals together.
Faith and family have forged a deep foundation in her life.
Born the second of four children to Bruce and Maureen Kerr of Fox Chase,
she is active in Saint Cecilia parish, serving as the weekend sacristan
and an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. She attended Saint
Cecilia grade school, and was named valedictorian of her class at Little
Flower High School this spring, graduating first in her class.
“Little Flower prepared me very well,” Kerr said. “Being
there really helped me to grow up. It helped me realize what I wanted
to do, helped me develop my goals. It was good example from the teachers
— the fact that they were always there to talk to the students
— and it was the counselors.”
Little Flower was the place where her interest in biomedical engineering
was born.
“I started to become interested in this field during a high school
biology class,” Kerr said. “Our teacher told us it’s
a field women should get into, because engineering is mostly a male-dominated
field. When I went to Drexel for orientation, there were mostly guys
there.”
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially for a young woman
who can hold her own when it comes to academics. Kerr applied to six
of the finest schools in the country and was accepted at all of them
except one — and only because that school did not offer her major.
Her studies will include calculus, chemistry, physics, and engineering
labs, and she’s looking forward to all of it.
“She’s always had a love of math and science, and always
enjoyed those subjects more than history and English,” said her
mother, Maureen Kerr. “But I didn’t see her becoming a biomedical
engineer. Of course, Bruce and I are thrilled that she’s going
into a field that she seems so excited about.
She’s really passionate about the research and the possibilities
that are there for women in this field.”
It is also field where a person with faith can make a difference.
“She truly is a great role model for young Catholic women,”Kerr’s
mother said. “She is definitely guided by her faith. Faith and
church have always been a major part of Cathleen’s life.”
Kerr plans to bring that faith with her into the lab, along with her
passion for science and her ability to work hard.
“We do a huge fundraiser for the CYO — a fashion show and
tea — and Cathleen is one of the models,” says Rosemarie
Kaufmann, St. Ceclia’s parish secretary. “If you need her
to model a not-so-great outfit, she’ll do it. But she would also
do the work of lugging out chairs or putting them away. She modeled,
but she wasn’t afraid to do a lot of the non-fun stuff.”
Father Charles E. Bonner, pastor of St. Cecilia, also has praise for
Kerr; he describes her as an outstanding parishioner and young adult,
and a great example for others.
For her part, Kerr sees her future including her own family one day:
“I want to have a family. Family is always first.” In the
meantime, she plans to stay close to God as she moves into the next
phase of her life.
“What motivates me is knowing that my faith is always going to
stay the same,” she said. “God will always be there. As
the world changes, and people change, and my life changes, God is always
going to be there for me to turn to.”
Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615