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MEMORY LANE
7 QUESTIONS FOR A SAINT ROSE ALUMNUS
Jennifer (Davis) Dent
Class of 1988
Jennifer attended Saint Rose from 1979 to 1988. Her brother, Chad Davis, and sister, Katie Davis Meyerpeter also attended Saint Rose. Jennifer's mother,
Jo Ann Davis, was a teacher for many years.
1. Can you tell us about your current (if retired, former) profession and how your time at Saint Rose Academy influenced your career path?
I am the Co-owner and President of a company called Chalker Group. We are an all-female team that aids our clients in their recruiting efforts. In short, we “sell Birmingham” by curating very personalized visits to individuals considering relocating but have reservations about living in Alabama. Owning this type of business requires a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and love for our city. My time at Saint Rose instilled these qualities in me from a very early age through the high academic standards and even its physical location looking out over Birmingham. I spent 9 years at Saint Rose with primarily the same 12 people in my class. This undoubtedly taught me how to treat my class as a family and team. I refer to these days with my own team at Chalker, which is ironically about the same size of the class I grew up with at Saint Rose.
2. How have the values, the Sisters, the teachers, and/or the teachings from Saint Rose Academy played a role in your or your family's life and upbringing?
My husband, Matthew, and I have two children, Thornton (19) and Chapel (16). Matthew and I are both products of Catholic school and knew we also wanted our kids to experience growing up in an environment where their faith was at the center of their schooling and life. My Mother, Jo Ann Davis, taught at Saint Rose for many years. We said the rosary every day on the way to school and the Sisters were some of her closest friends. When I became a parent, I wanted my kids to have their faith woven into every part of their day in the same way I had at Saint Rose.
3. Looking back at your years as a student at Saint Rose, can you share some memorable times, lessons, or teachings that have stayed with you throughout your life?
I have very vivid memories of attending school Masses that were said in Latin as well as winding through the playground as we followed the stations of the cross. I also had a teacher who taught us that when we make a sacrifice or choose to put someone else’s needs above our own we were earning “pennies in Heaven”. To this day, I use this phrase to remind myself and my kids of our ultimate goal of getting each other to Heaven.
4. How did either or both the education or spiritual guidance you received at Saint Rose shape your beliefs and daily practices today?
I credit the discipline I have in my life to the foundation that was laid at Saint Rose. The academic grading scale demanded me to work hard for that A. The repetition of prayer throughout the day all those years never left me. I find that starting each morning with prayer sets a positive tone for my day.
5. Do you have any specific moments or experiences from your time at Saint Rose that you still hold dear or cherish as fond memories?
I love when people ask about my elementary school years and I get to tell them that I went to school for 9 years in a house, where classrooms had fireplaces and bathrooms had clawfoot tubs. The setting and the size of Saint Rose made it feel like one big family, especially since my Mom was my second-grade teacher!
6. Saint Rose Academy fosters a strong sense of family and community. Can you tell us if and how this sense of community has influenced your life and relationships?
I have always felt an obligation to give back to our community and realize in retrospect that
those seeds of philanthropy were planted at Saint Rose. I have been a part of many non-profit organizations over the years. My work at Chalker Group is centered around a passion for bringing diverse, amazing people to Birmingham, which I believe adds to the richness of our community.
7. What advice would you give to current Saint Rose students based on your experiences and lessons learned during your time at the school?
Embrace the academic challenges…I promise you will reap the benefit of the required discipline and hard work for the rest of your life. I know so many adults who struggle with their beliefs and question their faith. The spiritual foundation you are receiving will provide your future self with the gift of always knowing God’s powerful role in your life.
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