By Anger, self-doubt, and a lack of love. That’s how Anna Jarman describes high school, be it treading the hallways or sitting in class.
“In high school, I was pretty angry most of the time,” said Jarman, hands neatly curled around her knees. “I didn’t put much stock in human relationships. If you look at it from a faith standpoint, I was all fired up about truth, but didn’t put much stock in love.”
Jarman, a senior math major from Richland, Washington, hoped for a fresh start in college. She searched for a place where she could chase her dreams and deepen her faith.
“Carroll has definitely helped me realize that faith and life require discipline,” Jarman said. “I didn’t really realize that until I came to Carroll and everything changed. Hopefully, I’ve come out a stronger and more mature person on the other side.”
Jarman was a good student who had many college options. A school in Ohio was her first choice.
“So, I was really only looking at Catholic colleges while graduating, and was looking for a degree in math,” said Jarman as she tapped at the frame of her laptop.
Throughout the whole interview, Jarman was neat and tight, her hands always locked together or wrapped around something. But, every so often, there was that quick, precise tapping.
“I was planning on going to Ohio, but my mom made me look at Carroll for a closer option,” she explained.
At this, Jarman’s face lit up and she described her first experience on campus.
“I loved the look of the building, and Montana is beautiful,” Jarman said. “I went to Mass when I was here, and I loved Father Marc’s homily and the community of students. I also sat in for a senior-level class taught by Doctor (Eric) Sullivan and fell in love with the way math was taught here. I loved how enthusiastic Doctor Sullivan was, and even if I didn’t understand the topic, it was fun. Also, the honor’s program was a huge draw.”
Her interest in math started in high school.
“I first started being interested in math when I took calculus,” she started. “Math is deeply logical and philosophical. As a strong Catholic, I believe I can see strong elements of truth, beauty, and goodness mirrored in math, and believe that math is a great way to see the ways in which God’s truth, beauty, and goodness are expressed.”
Jarman laughed when she was asked if this made Carroll the perfect school for her.
“It’s just beautiful,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in the pursuit of truth. It’s one of the main motivating factors of my life, and I think you’re able to do that in a very direct analytical way using mathematics.”
When Jarman tells people just how much she loves math, she’s often met with the usual reactions – people sharing their math phobias, telling her how brave she is, and saying they avoid math at any cost.
“Everyone should do math!” she said.
Math is a great way to see…God’s truth, beauty.
Beyond numbers, Jarman explained that Carroll has touched her in an irreversible way.
“When you go off by yourself, and everything you knew is gone – well, not gone, but different – even if you’re only going a few states away, you’re gonna run into some tough times,” said Jarman.
Her eyes were locked to the floor, as if searching for something.
“That’s just inevitable. You can either choose to succumb and break and become a horrible person, or you can choose to have trust and faith that things are going to get better.”
And things have gotten better; Jarman is an honor’s graduate, a peer minister, and a future Department of Justice employee.
“I met a lot of people I could really relate with and come to love,” she said. “I’ve learned to actually cherish human relationships as I should, especially friendships. I met a lot of great women when I first came to Carroll who showed me, in different ways, what friendships really look like. They taught me a bunch of different things, like how to be strong through difficulty, how to have hope, how to laugh. How to delight in different people, which I hadn’t really known before.”
And her friends here at Carroll return her love.
“Anna is the first friend that I ever made at Carroll,” said Claire Montowski, a senior chemistry major. “She’s always been someone I’ve been able to laugh with and has had my back. We’ve had a lot of crazy adventures, but I’ve loved that we can just go and get a cup of coffee and really connect…I can share my stories knowing that she’s going to listen.”
“Anna’s impact on Carroll is immeasurable,” said Shannon Frati, a senior nursing major. “She is not afraid to fight for her beliefs and is such a welcoming and kind presence to all who encounter her. She is an example of faith and friendship, and I am so blessed to count her as one of my closest friends.”
Now, as the journey winds to an end, Jarman has no regrets.
“I think Carroll attracted a lot of my friends for the same reason it attracted me,” said Jarman with a smile. “People who share a lot of the same values, who can be great friends and sisters for one another.”
