On this episode of Always a Raven, host Janelle Menz welcomes Nina Gray, a 2024 Benedictine College graduate, to share her story of choosing Benedictine at the last possible moment, beginning college during the uncertainty of 2020, and discovering a community where faith was not confined to chapel, but woven into friendships, late-night conversations, service, and everyday life. 

Nina reflects on how Benedictine helped her see Catholicism as something truly universal — lived out in every vocation, every season, and every ordinary moment when people choose to show up for one another. From porch conversations and spontaneous invitations to adoration, to learning that community must be lived in person and not just talked about, she shares how her time on campus formed her courage to act, serve, and trust God more deeply.

Now living in Kansas City after graduation, Nina opens up about leaving the traditional work path to pursue a season of prayer, creativity, writing, and surrender — not because she has every answer, but because she refuses to live with the regret of never trying. Her story is a powerful reminder that being a Raven means remembering who you are, stepping into the world with faith and purpose, and trusting that God can work even in the half-baked, uncertain, and unfinished parts of the journey.