Snapshot of faith: God is at center of
Bishop Chatard senior Beth Reed’s life

By John Shaughnessy

Take your pick of the best snapshots from Beth Reed’s life.

Choose the one where the senior at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis humbly receives her award as a National Academic All-American in soccer—the only female high school goalkeeper in the United States to earn that distinction this year.

Or pick the photo of Beth planning a prom at St. Augustine Home for the Aged, an evening of fun, dinner and dancing shared by Bishop Chatard students and residents of the Indianapolis home operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Or select the image of Beth as the ultimate team player in soccer and basketball—the one who demands the best of herself, the one who demands the best of her teammates.

Or maybe you prefer this snapshot of Beth—leading a spiritual retreat for younger students and telling them to be open to everyone they meet, to be open to the presence of God in their lives.

Better yet, just keep all these snapshots of her. Keep the package because that’s what you get with this member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis—a total package with a purpose.

“Every aspect of my life, there’s some sort of Christian mark on it,” said Beth, the daughter of Sam and JoAn Reed. “My parents didn’t force God on me, but they show me he’s there. They’ve really intertwined God in my life. My faith is a stabilizer in my life, no matter what’s going on in school or sports or with friends.”

There’s always something going on in her life. She ranks third in her class of 183 students at Bishop Chatard. She will have earned at least 10 varsity letters before she graduates—four in soccer, four in basketball and two in softball. She works summer sports camps at Chatard. She does community service. She leads retreats.

“Her leadership just extends in everything she does,” said Ben Beasley, the head coach of Chatard’s girls’ soccer team, who has also taught Beth as a student in his English class. “My recommendation letter to colleges talks about her ability to adapt and excel in any situation. She’s also a perfectionist. I see kids in the classroom who will settle. I see players on the soccer field who settle for mistakes in practice. She never settles. She takes it to the highest level.”

That focus led to her recognition as an Academic All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. It helped her lead her team to Chatard’s first City Championship in girls’ soccer in 2004. It also helped her lead the school’s girls’ basketball team to its first-ever-sectional championship in 2005.

Beth smiles at the memories, but she doesn’t take credit.

“It isn’t just me,” she said while relaxing after school. “Every sport I’ve played has been a team sport. It’s bringing the effort that your team needs. It takes everybody to do it. When everyone realizes that, you have success.”

That attitude also marks her approach to spiritual retreats, according to Mary Schaffner, Chatard’s director of campus ministry.

“She’s going to be leading the student leaders at one of our sophomore retreats,” Schaffner said. “We just had a meeting with the team, and she’s asking questions, she’s taking responsibility. She’s not only concerned for her role, but she’s interested in being the leader of the team so it functions well. That’s rare. She’s also willing to be open about her faith.”

One of Beth’s favorite memories of her senior year so far is the four-day retreat she made with classmates.

“It was great—just hearing everybody’s experience in life and how much better our faith has made our lives,” she said.

Ask her about her role in planning the St. Augustine prom, and the first thing she mentions is the work of her co-planner, Lauren Fohl, a Chatard senior and soccer teammate who Beth describes as her neighbor and best friend.

“You never think you would make a connection between a nursing home and teenagers at a high school, but it’s really a special thing to do—bringing together the old and the young,” Beth said. “We set up [on] the day of the prom, and we always take pictures of the [residents] with their teenage dates. We put the pictures in frames, decorate the frames and take them over to the [residents]. It’s fun.”

As the fun and hard work of high school continue, Beth also focuses on her future. She wants to become an engineer like her father. One possibility for pursuing that dream is at the United States Naval Academy, where the school wants her to continue her soccer career.

“I’ve talked to people who go to Navy, and they say the administration wants you to be faith-based,” she said. “They say your faith is the one thing that’s stable in your life. I feel that’s true for me.” †