Monica Tarasco ’98

From the time she was in second grade, Monica Tarasco ’98 knew she wanted to be a lawyer. She didn’t know any lawyers at the time — she just had a strong sense that this was her path. “My mom still has the drawing I did of myself as an adult,” Monica says. “I was behind a desk with a nameplate, wearing a suit. That was always the vision.”

 

She followed that vision with clarity and focus, graduating from Boston College with a double major in philosophy and political science, and earning her law degree from Case Western Reserve University. For nearly two decades, Monica practiced as a transactional attorney at local firms including Cleveland-Cliffs and Tremco CPG, handling international deals, complex contracts and strategic partnerships. “It was a wonderful career,” she says. “But  I started to feel like the wave I was riding had reached sea level. I was ready for something new.”

 

In January 2023, she made a bold decision: stepping away from law and joining the business side of Tremco CPG as its Director of Business Development. “It was terrifying at first,” she admits. “Law had become part of my identity. But the more I thought about this new role, the more excited I became. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That’s how I knew it was the right move.”

 

This transition has been part of a larger evolution in Monica’s life — one that unites her personal, professional and spiritual journeys. “For a long time, those parts of my life felt separate,” she says. “But over the last year and a half, I’ve experienced a spiritual reawakening that’s helped me integrate everything. I finally feel like I’m living one cohesive, authentic life.”

 

Gilmour Academy, she says, helped lay the foundation for that growth. “Academically, it was an incredible place for someone like me who was always driven,” she recalls. “The faculty were inspiring. I still remember when Dr. Fesler introduced the Gilmour Outcomes — things like being a lifelong learner. I think about those often. They’ve stuck with me.”

 

She also formed deep friendships during her time at Gilmour, most notably with her best friend Michael Nestor ’98, with whom she shared laughter, student council responsibilities and a sense of belonging. “He had a brilliant sense of humor,” she says. “Through him, I reconnected with Gilmour in adulthood, especially during the final stages of his illness. That experience brought many of us back together.”

 

Today, Monica values humor, presence and connection in all areas of life. She remains close with her parents, siblings, and young niece and nephews — Henry, William and Olivia — who “light up her life.” She continues to learn, grow and challenge herself in new ways.

 

Her advice to current students and young alumni is simple but powerful: “We spend so much of our lives working. Make sure what you do aligns with your heart. That’s when your light shines — and that light can change everything.”