The music could be heard before anyone even stepped inside: songs like Landslide, Dreams, and DTMF filled the ballroom as the Class of 2026 gathered together for the first time in ten years.

From near the entrance, where everything could be seen at once, it was impossible not to notice the hesitation at first. 

Everyone looked older, more put together, and certain of themselves.

 But within minutes, the distance of ten years disappeared, replaced by the same energy that once filled Loretto’s hallways.

It had started as a simple idea, but somewhere along the way, it turned into something much bigger.

Marifer Reyes, the reunion planner, moved through the room, checking in on everything without making it obvious: quick adjustment to the music, a glance at the schedule, a conversation with the venue staff. 

It was different from the pace of her usual life, slower, almost calm compared to the constant movement of her work in diplomacy, but familiar in a way she admired. 

Rebecca Chavez was among the first to arrive, flying in from Boston after finishing graduate school and building a career in the medical field, somehow still finding time to travel. 

Soon after, Hope Tolentino walked in straight from a shift as a NICU nurse, already talking about weekend beach plans like it was routine.

Angelica Arrambide spoke about finishing her master’s degree while building her dream home, the kind with sunsets she used to talk about, now something she actually planned her evenings around. 

Nearby, Mireille Chavez described her life in San Diego as a dermatologist, married and constantly planning her next trip, while Marcela Lievano carried herself exactly like someone working in luxury fashion, balancing clients, creativity, and a life that looked just as curate

Joanna Huizar moved between conversations, talking about her business while also keeping up with her family, while Malia Means described a life filled with animals, plants, and a home that felt more like a sanctuary.

The room grew louder as more people arrived, and for a moment, Marifer paused, just long enough to take it in. 

Though ten years had passed, in that moment, she could feel the sisterhood that the Class of 2026 had built so many years ago alive again.

Majo Estrada Casanova flew in from New York, now managing multiple businesses while planning a future that still included the people she started with, while Natalia Espino reflected on years of school, now finally close to opening her own psychiatry practice.

At another table, Tere Benavente laughed about only completing part of her bucket list, though life had still turned out full, while Lucia Urrea admitted she was still figuring things out, just with more freedom and better stories. 

Olivia Fuentes and Valeria Villarreal spoke about running businesses while making space for relationships, and Penny Portillo scrolled through photos of trips that once existed only as ideas.

Across the room, Maddy Pirk talked about becoming a dermatologist and building the life she once joked about, while Ana Sofía González described creating a new home in Arizona, balancing independence with the possibility of something more settled. 

Evalon Martínez had fully stepped into the New York fashion world she once imagined, while Gianna Guerra described a life of travel, work, and family all somehow fitting together. Andrea Palm shared her path in government work, a direction that had taken her further than expected.

Nearby, Lucia Gallarzo Rojas Vertiz spoke about building her career in New York, while Precious Pieri described a life centered less on titles and more on the people she loved. Alix Gallo confidently talked about success and the life she had built through it.

More classmates filtered in, each story adding something different.

Jennavieve Mathie arrived with her family after establishing herself in psychiatry, while Alex Quevedo described steadily climbing the corporate world.

 Bárbara Wilson spoke proudly about opening her own pediatric clinic, balancing long hours with a commitment to the families she worked with, while Doryan Nassri reflected on traveling the world through biomedical engineering.

Orlyola Tantchou arrived fashionably late and was quickly surrounded, now deep into her path toward neurosurgery while still working with organizations that created real change.

Marina Delgado spoke about running her own clinic while spending her summers traveling and learning new languages, building a life that felt both successful and full.

Victoria Fernandez and Sofía Olvera described lives shaped not just by work, but by relationships, travel, and the futures they had hoped to build alongside someone else.

Amelie Perches reflected on continuing her family business while planning a future that stayed close to home, while Maria Enriquez talked about pharmacy school and the many directions her career could still take. 

Mariana Ortega described balancing real estate, construction, and family, while Victoria Sotelo spoke about building a business that allowed her creativity and her personal life to exist at the same time.

Mia Velazquez shared her journey toward pharmacy while starting a family, while Maria Joakina Otero showed photos of the golden retriever she had always promised herself. Isabelle Labrado reflected on her work while still making space for travel and eventually settling down somewhere new.

Monse Mirazo, Luisa Orozco, and Juliana Puentes looked back on the long path through law, each at a different stage but all moving forward. Clarissa Solis smiled at the idea of a quieter, more settled life, while Valentina Melgar summed hers up simply: successful, fast-paced, and exactly what she wanted.

Annasofia Valenzuela and Walae Abouri spoke about nursing, balancing demanding careers with building families, while Addison Rosales described managing both business and motherhood. 

Vera Chacon talked about starting her own law firm in Austin, while Aurora Ramirez focused on opening her own clinic.

Amber Soto reflected on a life built around travel and relationships, while Aubrey Reha described her path toward becoming a medical examiner. 

Mireya Martinez celebrated becoming a CRNA while building the family she had always hoped for, and Elisa Veronica Silva spoke about traveling, studying, and pursuing her PhD.

Toward the end of the night, even more stories filled the room.

Karla Sofia Gallardo described designing her own home on a farm, building a life that felt intentional and personal. 

Ximena Herrera spoke about steadily reaching her goals, while Laura Olvera Escobar talked about traveling the world before eventually settling down and starting her own firm.

As the night started to slow, Marifer found herself back where she had started, watching it all.

Years ago, the Class of 2026’s  futures had been written down quickly, somewhere between a joke and an actual plan.

Now, they existed in real life: beautiful, fuller, and more meaningful than anyone could have predicted.

As the ten year reunion came to an end and the Class of 2026 prepared to go out into the world again, they would be carrying with them the same laughter, memories, and sisterhood that had brought them together all those years ago.