Profile of the Graduate: A Blueprint for Merion Mercy Academy

Graduate profiles, also known as a Portrait or Profile of a Graduate, are becoming increasingly important to school communities as they clearly articulate outcomes for learners and provide critical guidance for staff and leaders. 

Mercy Education, of which Merion Mercy Academy is a part, has established a Profile of the Graduate that outlines how students come to manifest and embody our core values. Throughout the student’s journey, this blueprint defines the attributes they’re expected to acquire and the steps they’ll take to gain them. With the Profile of the Graduate, every experience and academic opportunity is linked to and aligned with our core values. 

These are our core values and their related student attributes:

Compelled by Mercy: Mercy students, in the spirit of our founder Catherine McAuley, are steadfastly determined to take Mercy into an interconnected world. Our shared sense of social consciousness is fortified by universal empathy and a conviction that all are worthy of God’s mercy. This deep awareness and compassion move us to take principled action and serve the needs of others.

Student Attributes:

Compassion: Having concern for the needs of all, including those outside our immediate circle.

Empathy: Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand their feelings and perspectives.

Responsibility to Serve: Fulfilling the duty to not just care about others, but to take action on their behalf.

Educational Courage: Mercy students welcome the challenge of pursuing their full potential in a culture of excellence, critical thinking and curiosity. Their multifaceted journey builds character while it builds essential skills. Our holistic program expects engagement, a thirst for knowledge and personal responsibility, while preparing students to thrive for a lifetime.

Student Attributes:

Curiosity: Being open to other ways of seeing the world and exploring new ideas.

Personal Accountability: Staying disciplined in decision-making, proactive in correcting mistakes and self-motivated in our studies.

Critical Thinking: Gathering and objectively evaluating and analyzing information through reflection and reason.

Inspired By Faith: Mercy students become living models of faith and forceful advocates for Gospel values. Grounded in our Catholic identity in the Mercy tradition, we welcome all faiths and are strengthened and shaped by these relationships. As we pursue a personal relationship with God, we strenuously follow Jesus Christ’s example of social justice, love and service.

Student Attributes:

Spirituality: Developing a personal relationship with a loving, merciful God, expressed in service and respecting other faiths.

Modeling of Jesus Christ & Catherine McAuley: Living life with abundant love, compassion, generosity and hospitality, demonstrating the strength of infinite mercy.

Ethical & Moral: Following a personal code based on Gospel values that guides action and choices.

Principled Leadership: Mercy students are poised to lead with their unique gifts. Prepared with an ethical and moral compass, we put Mercy values into action and work assertively for what is right. We’re equipped to make difficult choices, learn from our mistakes and develop high emotional intelligence. As an international community, we’re confident in our ability to make a positive difference and push for systemic change.

Student Attributes:

Integrity: Standing up for or doing what’s right, including when it’s difficult or unpopular.

Lifelong Learning: Always learning something new, gaining skills and wanting to know more, in all walks of life.

Emotional Intelligence: Recognizing and welcoming emotions within ourselves and others to build resilience and healthy relationships.

A Voice for Dignity and Respect: Mercy students honor the intrinsic value of the individual and recognize God’s presence in each person. We embrace a global vision and value differences of opinion, and are unafraid to confront hostile or hurtful attitudes. By standing up for those who can’t, we go beyond acceptance to help make sure everyone feels recognized and heard.

Student Attributes:

Grace: Allowing others to be fully human without judgment, while honoring what is God-like within each person.

Advocate: Being a forceful defender, supporter and sometimes spokesperson for the values and people we hold dear.

Inclusivity: Going beyond tolerance to embrace diversity, while accepting and serving with open arms.

Merion Mercy Academy alumnae are living examples of these core values. From their time as high school students to their years at college and on into their careers, our graduates have stood up for these ideals, holding themselves to the highest standards. 

To learn more about our graduates, visit the Graduate Stories on our website.