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Hello! My name is Melanie Hahn, I am currently a first year law student at Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson, Mississippi. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a law enforcement emphasis from the University of Mississippi in 2022, coupled with a double minor in Legal Studies and Political Science. From 2023- 2025, I pursued a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Policy & Practice at the University, where I also served as a graduate assistant. I am a proud graduate of Saint Mary School Class of 2015 and went on to attend Red Bank Catholic High School from 2015- 2019.
My years at Saint Mary School were packed with memorable experiences. I participated in cheerleading, basketball, and softball. I also expressed my passion for art by painting a mural of Mary and contributing to the hallway bulletin board, bringing more creativity to the school. While I could never choose just one favorite memory, some moments that stand out most are pizza days with Mr. Dolan (always remembering to bring two quarters), Scholastic Book Fair (buying posters and cool pens when my parents gave me money to buy books), laughing at recess with the best-of-the best lunch ladies, heading to the Junction with friends after a half-day, the excitement of Field- Day, Kindergarten Frolic, Christmas Assembly, Patriotic Assembly (learning all the state capitals–which has helped me more times than I’d like to admit), May Crowning, and, most importantly, coming together as a school for Stations of the Cross and Friday morning Mass.
To me, “Passionately Catholic. Academically Excellent. Filled with Joy,” is a calling to live with intention and heart. It means striving to use the gifts God has given me to their fullest potential, working hard not for recognition but out of gratitude, choosing kindness when it’s difficult, perseverance when it’s challenging, and faith when the path feels uncertain. St. Mary’s taught me that serving others—whether in small acts of kindness or meaningful projects—can make a real and lasting difference in their lives. That lesson stayed with me through college, shaping the way I approach every opportunity to help others, and ultimately inspired my decision to pursue law, where I can advocate for justice, give voice to those in need, and serve my community in a way that reflects the values I first learned at the school.
St. Mary’s was so much more than a school–it was the place that guided me to understand who I was and who I wanted to be. Within those walls, I was supported and challenged by amazing faculty and staff, who taught me lessons well beyond the classroom. They led with patience, compassion, and encouragement that allowed us to grow not only as students, but as people of character and faith. Their belief in us, sometimes before our own, became the foundation of our own confidence and strength. St. Mary’s not only prepared me for the next step in education; it grounded me in values that continue to guide me throughout life. For that, I will forever be grateful!
A note to future generations of Saint Mary students: As you sit in your classroom, surrounded by friends—some who will walk beside you in the next chapter of life, and others who may drift away after graduation—hold close every moment you share at school. Appreciate the laughter, the challenges, the “tough love” from your teachers, and even the quiet, ordinary days, for each memory shapes the story of who you are becoming. There will never be another moment when you feel the thrill of sharing a textbook with someone a grade above you. or when beating your own personal record on a times-table worksheet fills you with small, triumphant pride.
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