As Oak Knoll juniors prepare to embark on their final year as Upper School students, they recently heard a powerful message about resilience, purpose, and embracing life’s unexpected turns from alumna Tara Mahoney ’90, a licensed clinical mental health counselor and chief executive officer of the Equine Immersion Project.

Mahoney returned to Oak Knoll to share her own journey with the Class of 2027, reflecting on the many academic, professional, and personal pivots that ultimately led her to a career supporting veterans navigating trauma, post-traumatic stress, and the challenges of returning home from military service.

“The path is not the path, but there is always purpose,” she told students.

Drawing on experiences that ranged from transferring to Oak Knoll midway through eighth grade to changing college majors and career aspirations, Mahoney encouraged students to view uncertainty not as failure, but as an opportunity for growth and discovery.

Even attending Oak Knoll was not part of Mahoney’s original plan. After beginning the school year at Chatham Middle School, she learned just two weeks into eighth grade that her parents would be transferring her to Oak Knoll, where her two older sisters were already enrolled.

A three-sport athlete, Mahoney initially worried about being defined solely by athletics and began exploring other interests, including dance and theater. While some pursuits proved to be a better fit than others, she learned that trying something new — and even discovering it was not the right path—was valuable in itself.

The pivots continued after graduation. Mahoney initially attended Colgate University, intending to study archaeology before later transferring to Boston College, where she pursued neuroscience.

“Something really important in these pivots, what I learned at Oak Knoll, why is a pivot not a failure?” Mahoney said, encouraging students to surround themselves with people who make them feel “safe,” “seen,” and “soothed” during moments of uncertainty and transition.

Today, Mahoney has found purpose through her work with the Equine Immersion Project, where she serves as chief executive officer. Through trauma-informed equine-assisted therapy and experiential learning programs, the organization supports veterans navigating trauma, post-traumatic stress, and the often difficult transition back to civilian life.

To illustrate her own evolution, Mahoney briefly stepped out during the presentation and returned in a more ranch-ready outfit—jeans and a cowboy hat replacing her black dress—offering a visual reminder that life rarely unfolds exactly as planned.

Students also viewed video testimonials from veterans whose lives had been transformed through the organization’s work, bringing Mahoney’s message of healing, resilience, and purpose to life.

She summed up the mission of the Equine Immersion Project—and a message that resonated deeply with Oak Knoll students—through a quote from Pablo Picasso:

“The meaning of life is to find your gifts. The purpose of life is to give them away.”

Mahoney’s presentation connected closely with the juniors’ ongoing work in College Seminar, including a recent values and identities exercise, as well as the senior capstone experiences they will undertake next year.

The program itself grew out of conversations with Bailey Walters ’26, whose capstone exploring veterinary medicine and mental health helped inspire the presentation's focus on purpose and non-linear career journeys.

As students prepare for the opportunities and uncertainties of senior year and beyond, Mahoney left them with one final reminder that changing direction is not the same as failing.

“You’re going to miss, and it’s going to be freaking fabulous,” she said.

For more information about the Equine Immersion Project or to support its mission, click here.