For Mary Nem ’26, choosing Notre Dame was about more than academics—it was about faith, community, and growth. A junior studying accounting and Asian studies, Mary’s path to South Bend started in Myanmar, took root in St. Louis, MO, and found a home at Notre Dame.

“I always knew I wanted to study accounting,” says Nem. “Notre Dame’s program stood out, and since I grew up in a Catholic family, continuing my education in a faith-based environment was important to me.”

She adds, “Financial aid is also a big part of my decision and why I decided to come here.” Nem is an AnBryce Scholar. The initiative is a four-year academic program for first-generation college students that “assists students in navigating their university experience and scaffolds the development of community minded, global citizens.”

Nem has found community in the program, along with an abundance of helpful resources. “They are my family on campus. I really can go to them with anything I need,” she says.

Nurturing Faith and Serving Others

Campus Ministry is a cornerstone of Nem’s experience. Among other faith-centered activities, she attends Mass at the Basilica and takes time for weekly adoration.

Nem also takes advantage of service opportunities whenever she can. Currently, she volunteers with a group of friends at Our Lady of the Road, a local agency that, among other services, offers communal living to guests needing a home.

Each week, she serves breakfast, pours coffee, and sorts donations for guests in need. She chats with guests all the while, sharing in moments of community and connection.

“I feel like, growing up, I was always on the receiving end of that kind of service,” she reflects.  “And now with whatever capacity I have, I want to give back in any way I can—even if it’s simply through my time, and coffee chats."

Nem has also participated in ND Bridge, a justice education course requiring eight weeks of summer travel for a placement with a service agency. She spent a stint working at Andre House of Hospitality, a Holy Cross mission in Phoenix, AZ. It is one of the highlights of her Notre Dame experience and where she made one of her closest friends.

During fall break of her sophomore year, Nem participated in an Appalachia seminar, where she was introduced to the cultural and social issues of the Appalachian region for the first time. Reflecting on the experience, she shares, “It reminds me of home [Myanmar]—the mountains, the falling leaves, and the serendipity of connecting with nature by pulling out weeds.”

She is looking forward to an On Purpose immersion during this year’s spring break, when she will be traveling to Los Angeles.

Exploring the World, Tracing Her Roots

Nem’s ventures beyond campus include a semester studying abroad in South Korea. It was a transformative experience, allowing her to explore a place she had always dreamed of visiting while deepening her connection to her Asian heritage.

“I recently went to study abroad in South Korea, which is one of my bucket list places to travel to,” Nem shares. “It helped me realize that I want to study more about Asian studies. Even though I’m from Asia, I feel like there’s never enough to learn.”

This experience led her to add Asian studies as a supplementary major, balancing it with her passion for numbers and accounting.

Finding Peace and Community

In the midst of rigorous academics, Nem has found small yet powerful ways to stay grounded. Her favorite tradition? Weekly meetups with fellow students from Myanmar, where they rotate study sessions between the dining halls at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College.

And when she needs a moment of quiet, she always knows where to go.

“I feel like whenever I feel really down, my comfort place or the place I’m looking for is always a church or a prayer place,” she says.

When she was studying abroad, Nem enjoyed relying on the nature and beauty around her for refuge and solace but says, “I realized there wasn’t one specific place where I could just keep coming back by myself. Here [on campus], I have places like the Grotto, and I’m so grateful for that.”

From classrooms to service sites, from South Korea to the Grotto, Nem’s time at Notre Dame is shaped by connection—both to the people around her and to something greater than herself.

“I’ve learned that every experience, every encounter teaches me something,” says Nem. “And I’m just grateful to be here.”

More Student Stories

• Faith and Friendship: A Q&A with Strategic Management Major Aleah Applin ’27
• A Q&A with Chemistry Major Zachary Koh '26 on Pursuing Undergraduate Research at Notre Dame
• Levi Cherek '25 Pursues Chemistry Research at Notre Dame