Class of 2025: Mili Espino, Cassata Catholic High School

Mili Espino, a 2025 graduate of Cassata Catholic High School, is a member of St. Bartholomew Parish in Fort Worth. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)

EDITOR’S NOTE: This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

NTC: What school did you attend before Cassata?

MILI: I was at a public middle school in Fort Worth.

As soon as I completed public middle school, I was ready to find a suitable high school. I wanted to go to high school, but not just any high school. I was ready to do something new.
 

NTC: What sorts of things were important to you when you were choosing a high school?

MILI: When I was picking a high school, the school environment was very important, and also the teachers and the education that the school would give me. All of those boxes were checked when I learned about Cassata through a mom's friend.

I prayed about it, and I also did more research on Cassata. I felt my calling was to be part of Cassata.

My goal was to graduate early, and Cassata worked with me. They provided me with graduation plans throughout. They said, “If you want to graduate early, you could complete this course from this time to this time, and then we could talk with you and see what other classes you want to complete next.”

I graduated in three years.
 

NTC: You said you felt God leading you to Cassata. Now that you’ve graduated, do you still feel that way?

MILI: Cassata was the best choice. God pointed me in the right path. I know He did.

Cassata has opened so many doors for me. I come from a low-income family; I’m the oldest of six children.

My dad is the only one working — my mom is a stay-at-home mom. Some of my younger siblings have medical needs, so there's a lot of expenses with that.

Sometimes it was hard for us to pay tuition, but Cassata provided me with mentors who helped pay half of the tuition. Cassata helped me apply for scholarships, and they gave me career information.
 

NTC: Did Cassata meet your expectations, or did you have surprises when you entered?

MILI: Everybody was very welcoming right away. I was a little nervous because I didn't know what the environment was going to be like with the students.

Cassata doesn’t allow bullying at all. That's something I really liked. The students are only here to meet their expectations and do their work and complete their courses. They're not here to mess around with other students, which I liked. I'm only here to do my schoolwork too.

I was nervous about the teachers too. But these teachers, they actually sit one-on-one with you, and they'll provide tutoring either in the afternoon or in the morning, whatever best works for the students. They make sure that you understand everything. They're very sweet and kind. And it's just lovely.
 

NTC: What are the strongest features of the school?

MILI: The environment. It's so peaceful. And the teachers, they’re understanding, they work with you. I've had many one-on-ones with teachers, and they give me the time that I need in order to understand the subjects.

The principal is amazing. She has really gone above and beyond. She is humble, and she has served her community in many different ways. She has a really strong faith. I look up to her.

A couple of years ago, I went through severe depression and anxiety, and the school supported me. It gave me the tools; it gave me a hand; it gave me resources. The teachers motivated me to take a step at a time, and they would check up on me. They were patient and they were loving.

I felt like Cassata really did care about me. They also provided me the privilege to work at my own pace.
 

NTC: How has being a student here helped you grow in your faith?

MILI: It has helped me grow a lot in my faith. Everybody shares your faith. You pray in the morning, and you'll pray before you leave the school, and we pray before every class. That's super important because you're making God part of every period and you're not leaving Him out. We go to Mass on Thursdays.

The teachers, too, they have conversations with students about any questions about God, and they always have an answer.
 

NTC: What lessons have you learned here that you want to take with you?

MILI: No matter how hard the situation is, nothing is impossible. During this whole path that I've taken at Cassata, they have taught me that with God, everything is possible — not to give up.

Since everything is at your own pace, I have time to put God in the middle of everything. It's amazing. It's like you're walking hand-in-hand with Him through your school environment.
 

NTC: What are your plans now?

MILI: I am applying for scholarships, and I have been looking into being a medical assistant as a short career where I could save money for a long-term career, which would be counseling.

It’s my dream to go to University of Dallas. I’m looking for a college where I could keep taking God with me, keep walking with Him.

I'm still praying: “Whatever purpose you have for me, I just want to be close to you. So lead me throughout my path because without you, nothing is possible. I can't do it on my own.”

So whatever purpose He has for me, I'm still waiting on that.