Twelve years ago, Mary Margaret Olohan walked the hallways of Chelsea Academy in Front Royal. Then a senior, Olohan attended Mass, played sports and devoured books, always asking questions in her literature class.
These days, Olohan is living the life of a White House correspondent, traveling on Air Force One, walking through Washington, and still asking questions.
“When I go into the Oval Office, I get to ask the president anything I want,” Olohan said, “Which is crazy, right? I never thought I’d do anything like that.”
Olohan, 30, spoke to the student body Nov. 24 at Chelsea Academy, an independent Catholic K-12 school recognized by the Arlington diocese. Olohan was part of the school’s third graduating class in 2014.
“I just want to tell you guys that you’re in a very special place,” Olohan told her young audience. “I know, because you go to Chelsea, that you are all learning to be very good readers and very good writers. I cannot tell you how fundamental those skills are for pretty much any job that you’ll do.”
After Chelsea, Olohan earned a bachelor’s degree in English from The Catholic University of America in Washington. During college, she interned at Regnery Publishing and began considering journalism as a career.
Her first job was with the Daily Caller News Foundation. She later worked for the Daily Signal and is currently the White House correspondent for the Daily Wire. During her career, she has covered social issues and was the first to report on Riley Gaines, the female swimmer who has become a national advocate against gender ideology. Olohan also wrote a book, “Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult,” published by Regnery last year.
“It was really neat seeing a Chelsea graduate doing what she’s doing,” said Andre Lagarde, a Chelsea senior. “I thought it was cool because she talked about how her education at Chelsea helped set her up for the success she is having now.”
Olohan spoke of her role as a reporter. “I’m not supposed to give my opinion. But I can share stories,” she said. “I can tell truthful things. That’s a huge asset in truth-telling. Just put it out there. It helps if you know how to say it strongly and have a good thesis statement.
“This is why you should all do a good job with your theses. You all have to write a thesis, right?”
Several of the students nodded.
“It’s so important, guys,” she said.
Besides advocating for writing excellence, Olohan emphasized the importance of their Catholic faith. Olohan comes from a faith-filled family, the second of 11 children. She spoke of staying close to the sacraments, attending daily Mass when she can, and praying her rosary daily.
“I don’t know why, but I thought when I went out in the world, people would think I was weird because I’m Catholic,” she said. “I wasn’t embarrassed because I love being Catholic; but maybe I had to be chill about it. But people love that I’m Catholic. It’s crazy how many people I meet in D.C. who are converting. It’s such a good witness to the Catholic faith.
“People should know you’re a serious Catholic, and that you love your faith. People respect that.
“As a journalist, I try to tell the truth, to be a good witness. I cover the White House, so I talk about politics, and not so much about religion. But when I do, I try to be really clear.”
When Olohan covered cultural issues, “I felt I had a good grasp on the beat (because of her faith). As Catholics, we are so interested in life and in dignity, our mortality … We care about history and culture. There are so many layers of beauty in Catholicism.”
Olohan took questions from the students. Several students lined up to speak with Olohan individually afterward.
“I really enjoyed it,” said Kenna Runkles, a junior. “I’ve been following her for a while now, and I read her book. I think she is an amazing role model,”
Thomas is director of college counseling and humanities teacher at Chelsea Academy in Front Royal.
