We would like to congratulate Juliana Giraldo – O’Connell – Class of 1999 on her role as Vice President, Complex Claims Services Manager at Captive Resources, LLC, a company that provides expert consultation services to over 5,000 member companies across the U.S. Juliana, who has a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Illinois Wesleyan University, spoke to us about her memories during her time at KCP and shares great advice for our students.
How has your KCP experience impacted your life and the choices you have made in your career?
Educationally speaking, I grew up at KCP. KCP was the institution that sparked my curiosity to learn, nurtured my academic ambition, and always challenged me to always think critically and become a better student. The education I received at KCP paved the way for me to get a full academic scholarship at Illinois Wesleyan University and allowed me the opportunity to come to the US. In comparison to my peers, I truly believe that I was better prepared than many of them because my underlying education was vastly superior. This gave me the confidence to go out in the world and pursue my dreams as I trusted myself and my abilities. I always joke that I worked and studied harder in High School than I ever did in college. I feel like a lot of the lessons that I learned through my educational journey at KCP built the foundation for my professional career.
What advice would you give to KCP students?
Challenge yourself. You might not realize it now, but your parents have given you an amazing opportunity to study and learn at a superb institution. Seize that moment and embrace the experience, squeeze as much as you can out of it. One day you will look around and notice how lucky you were to study at such an amazing place.
What are some of your best memories or experiences from your time at KCP?
To be honest, I have a million fantastic academic and social memories from my time at KCP. I loved and participated in “nerdy” experiences like Math Olympics and Model UN but you could also find me testing my athletic prowess at any sport in all the Barranquilla/Cartagena or Binational Games. There are some moments, though, that I remember as if they were yesterday like the Egg Drop Contest in front of the library or playing tetherball and climbing up Rocky Park at recess, going to the Halloween Festivals, or just hanging with my friends and eating a pastelito de pollo with a Kola Roman from the Coke stand.
What makes you proud to be a member of the KCP Family?
I am very proud to be an alum of Karl C. Parrish School, an institution that values greatness, character, leadership, and academic excellence. It is an honor to be associated with a superior institution that has been dedicated to the social, emotional, and educational development of its students for over 80 years. I am proud to be in the company of the many exemplary and successful alum that is also part of this KCP family. Unfortunately, as I do not reside in Barranquilla my children will not have the opportunity to share in the education that I did and be part of this fantastic family. I am beyond proud to be a Tiger – Class of ’99.
