Taylor McGrath started her journey at The Franciscan School in 5th grade. This is often a pivotal time in a child’s life, as they are about to enter their middle school years. But TFS’s support system provided her with unique opportunities for growth. “TFS was a special place for me to really grow into myself,” shares McGrath. “It was somewhere I felt very comfortable and really came out of my shell, making new friends and building strong relationships with my teachers.”

With the foundation laid in her middle school years, McGrath graduated from TFS in 2011 and went on to attend Cardinal Gibbons High School and the College of Charleston where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science, minoring in Communication. After interning in London for a summer working in Parliament and working as a Political Assistant Account Executive at Push Digital in Charleston, McGrath’s drive and work ethic have led her to a successful marketing career. She worked for nearly 4 years at CRAFT, a digital marketing agency in Washington, D.C. where she became an integral part of her team, excelling quickly. She now works for a marketing firm called MMI Agency and hopes to move to New York in the next year. 

McGrath looks back at her time at TFS fondly. Not only was it a safe place for her to grow and learn, but it was also a place where she made lifelong friends and, above all, had a lot of fun. Field Day in particular brought back fond memories: “Field Day was such a fun time to grow relationships with my peers by being on small teams and working together outside the constraints of the classroom.” She recalled her team winning the tug-o-war challenge. McGrath also recounts the time her team won the middle school girls’ soccer championship. An overtime game allowed McGrath’s team to win in penalty kicks and create a memory she’ll never forget. 

McGrath believes that her time at TFS was so impactful on the person she has become today. And a big part of this stems from the teachers who invested in her while she was in middle school and even beyond her time at TFS. One teacher continued to tutor and mentor her throughout high school, and another became her confirmation sponsor. McGrath was able to experience the dedication of our teachers in such a profound way that has made a lifelong impact.  

It is this warm kindness and dedication of TFS’ faculty and staff that has also instilled in McGrath a love for serving others. Each Christmas, McGrath honors those who have served our country by laying wreaths on the graves at Arlington Cemetery. And when asked to share any advice or wisdom for current TFS students, McGrath simply shared “Be kind and be yourself.”