Senior Cathryn Bermudez Helps Create Community Online and in Houston 

For Cathryn Bermudez, online education offers not just flexibility but also a sense of structure and community. The UT High School senior, who serves as Student Council secretary, is working to build opportunities for student connections that make a virtual school feel like home. 

Bermudez’s path to UTHS reflects a journey of adaptation. Born in Tucson, she moved to Mexico City at age 11, then relocated to Houston at 15. When it came time to find the right high school, her grandmother discovered UT High School. “This one seemed much more structured than a lot of others, and the teachers seemed like they really were passionate about students,” Bermudez says. “It feels more like a high school than like how quarantine was when we were online.” 

Now in her senior year, Bermudez has fully embraced the self-directed nature of online learning. “The beginning was a little hard, just kind of getting used to not being in school and giving myself my own schedule,” she admits, “but I’ve really adapted to it.” 

Her academic interests reveal a student with a clear vision for her future. She excels in English classes and particularly enjoyed AP US History. Currently taking dual credit courses alongside her high school work, Bermudez is preparing for a double major in journalism and psychology at UT Austin, her top college choice. 

“I’d like to work in journalism and write about crime,” she says. Her interest in criminal psychology developed after moving to Houston, where she became fascinated with the justice system. “I would like to work writing about it and researching the justice system, but also having that psychology degree where I can interview criminals and help apply it to the law.” 

Beyond academics, Bermudez demonstrates a commitment to community engagement that extends both online and offline. As Student Council secretary, she’s championing initiatives to strengthen connections among UTHS students. She volunteered to help organize meetups in Houston connected to the time students would come take their STAAR tests and serves on the achievements committee, which is developing recognition systems for student accomplishments. 

One of her most personal proposals is establishing a mental health club at UTHS, inspired by her volunteer work with a similar organization in Houston. “You choose a certain topic, and then you read a book about it, and then you all come together and kind of talk about that book, your takeaways, how you can apply it to your life,” she explains. 

Student Council is also working toward organizing a prom and establishing various clubs—initiatives that address what Bermudez sees as the primary challenge of online education. “I really miss friends, being in the classroom with everybody, also maybe just more in-person teacher interaction,” she acknowledges. 

Her solution-focused approach is evident in her suggestions for improvement. She advocates for more live lessons, dedicated class discussion platforms, and regular meetup opportunities. “I think it’s just really wanting to connect with students and teachers more,” she says. “Students just want engagement.” 

Outside of school, Bermudez stays busy with the Houston Public Library’s teen advisory club and volunteers at the Friends of the Houston Public Library book warehouse. She recently started a job at Barnes & Noble, continuing her immersion in the world of books and reading that clearly fuels her academic and career aspirations. 

As she prepares for graduation and college, Bermudez embodies the evolving nature of online education—where students don’t just adapt to virtual learning, but actively work to create the community and experiences they need to thrive. Through her Student Council work and personal initiative, she’s helping ensure that future UTHS students find not just an education, but also connection.