It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what makes Rose Puntel such a perfect candidate for Campus Celebrity- simply because there are too many incredible things to isolate one particular item. Rose works hard and plays harder at Fordham. She has rooted herself within the Fordham community, dedicating herself to some of the school’s most worthy causes. Even though Rose is diligent and committed to her activities and academics, she never fails to find some of the most interesting things to do around New York City. If you’re ever at a loss for what to do, Rose can run down a list of incredibly unique things to do within the five boroughs. Rose encompasses all that a Jesuit college experience should include: an unmatched social experience and appetite for adventure, combined with a true education and dedication to serving others.
Where are you from?Philadelphia
What year are you?Sophomore
What is your major? International Political Economy and French
What activities are you involved in? I’m the President of the Students for Fair Trade Club, I’m a Retreat and Christian Life Community leader, and I’m a Ram Van driver.
Favorite movie:I’m gonna have to go with the Lord of the Rings. I was quite the Tolkien fanatic a while ago, and I still have a weakness for elves.
Favorite band/musician:I am terrible at answering this question, because I am in different musical moods pretty much all the time. I’ve been listening to John Coltrane all day, but my artists of choice yesterday were Bruno Mars and Mumford & Sons.
Favorite book: The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Favorite TV show:I don’t watch TV much, but probably 30 Rock. Kenneth the page is the best.
How did you decide to come to Fordham? I knew I wanted to be a couple hours away from home, preferably in a city, and I love the Jesuits, so Fordham ended up just being the most logical choice. I have never once regretted my decision!
Do you have any tips for students who are trying to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, and other obligations like internships? I think it’s great to get involved with things other than schoolwork. However, being really involved can make it difficult to give schoolwork the time it deserves. I always find it helpful to sort of plan out my weeks in advance and make sure I know all the obligations I have for the week as soon as possible. And make sure to leave room for fun!
What’s your favorite thing about NY? Subways. I absolutely love how easy it is to get anywhere in the city.
What’s your least favorite thing about NY? How expensive food is. I really love food, and NY has so many different kinds of food everywhere you look. I just wish it were a little cheaper.
Do you have a favorite Fordham memory? One of my favorite Fordham memories is the Under the Tent dance last year. I loved seeing all the friends I had made in my freshman year and knowing that we would all continue to be friends.
Do you have a favorite NYC memory? I don’t know if I have a favorite NYC memory, but I really love just going into the city by myself and wandering around. I’ve also had some great times right here in the Bronx—a couple weeks ago, some friends and I went to Pelham Bay Park. I definitely recommend it!
What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Fordham? Probably my France: Literature, History, Civilization class with Dr. Lise Schreier. It was definitely one of the hardest classes I’ve ever taken, but I learned so much, not only about French language and culture, but about a lot of other really interesting and important issues in the world today.
What’s your least favorite class you’ve taken at Fordham? Chemistry. I thought I wanted to be a doctor when I first came to Fordham, and my chem class quickly cured me of that idea!
Where’s your favorite spot on campus? I’m going to have to say Eddie’s.
If you could give one piece of advice to an incoming Fordham freshman, what would it be? Definitely to get involved on campus. Find something you are interested in and do it! You’ll definitely meet lots of wonderful people. I’d also recommend applying for a Global Outreach project. My GO! experience was wonderful and life-changing, I’ll never forget it.
What’s your dream job? I don’t really know, but I’d love to work for an international non-profit, perhaps working on issues like sustainable development in a globalized world.
What’s on your NYC bucket list? I want to walk from Fordham to Brooklyn. I have friends who have done this, and it’s been a goal of mine for a while.
What do you think the best part of a Jesuit education is? Not to be unoriginal and quote Fr. McShane, but I definitely think the idea of being “bothered” by your education is a wonderful aspect of a Jesuit education. It might not always happen, but I think a Jesuit education has the potential to really challenge students to realize the injustice in the world and try to do something about it.
Who is your favorite professor at Fordham? It’s a tie between Professor Melissa Labonte in the Poli Sci department and Professor Lise Schreier in the French department.
What’s one thing everyone would be surprised to learn about you? I was homeschooled for elementary school, plus I didn’t have cable growing up, so I pretty much have zero knowledge of anything pop culture-related. I often pretend I know what people are talking about when they’re talking about pop culture. Whoops!
Pick one!
Bronx Zoo or Botanical Gardens? Botans. Zoos make me sad.
Arthur Ave/Fordham Road? Fordham Road
Cafeteria or Grille? Caf
Conway or Dr. Jay’s? Dr. Jay’s!
RamVan or Subway? I’m going to have to say Ram Van because I drive Ram Van, and it’s an awesome job! Other than that, though, subways are the best.
Duane Reade or WalGreen’s? WalGreen’s
Met or MoMA?Met.
Hot Dog or Bagel? Bagel.
Broadway or Off-Broadway?Broadway
Radio City or Madison Square Garden? MSG
Central Park or Brooklyn Bridge?Central Park