“Jan 27, 2018 – A number of visitors might come to your house today, Virgo.” A fitting horoscope for Marissa Elizabeth Rousseau on this chilly winter morning. But, it’s not a question of if this visitor will come, it’s a question of how many mischievous antics this visitor will get up to. A fond animal lover and an animal mom to two pups and a cat, Marissa has welcomed her roommate’s kitty into her local Framingham apartment this week. Her week had consisted of catnaps, play dates and making sure the cat doesn’t eat anything he shouldn’t.
Marissa’s ‘go to meal’ is spaghetti (actually noodles of any form) and it looks like she will be eating a lot of it this semester. Working two jobs while being a full time student has a busy schedule, so microwave meals have become her best friend (one of her favorites are microwave burritos….or any type of burritos). If you take the RamTram often or like shopping at Shopper’s World, you may have seen her working for Student Transportation or at Old Navy.
Marissa’s love for animals and food is not the only thing she took away from her childhood home in Uxbridge, MA. She talks fondly of the people she most admires, her mother and father. These are the two people who made Marissa the person she is today– compassionate, witty and athletic. Beyond playing sports, such as soccer, and swimming in the lake by her vacation home in Maine, she was always particularly musically talented from a young age. And, on one evening she shone on stage, glowing with self-confidence, overcoming her fear of failure.
Spot lights and eyes of spectators stung Marissa’s delicate skin as she stood on stage, acoustic guitar in hand and a microphone placed just under her lips. “… So, show me family, (Hey!) All the blood that I would bleed…” The words slowly flowed from her mouth. And with each flowing word, Marissa began to feel more confident in herself and performed a wonderful rendition of The Lumineers’ Ho Hey. By the end, Marissa was like a little rock star; her fear a failure slowly diminished, and finally, she let the music speak for itself.
6 years later, Marissa seems more sure of herself with all the activities she does. Whether it’s being Vice President and Senior Editor of Her Campus Framingham, painting, wakeboarding, hiking or kayaking. She even took the opportunity to participate in a triathlon, which was a quarter mile swim, 12-mile bike and a 3-mile run! Marissa has proved time and time again she will dominate anything thrown her way.
Today, Marissa, 22, is preparing to graduate from Framingham State University with a Sociology degree and double minor in Psych and Music. When asked what her post college plans are, it seems that arrangements are still being made. But, one thing is for sure: the humorous, sarcastic Marissa is destined for a bright and adventurous future.
So, next time you see the lovely blue-eyed Marissa in her classic beanie and a sweater, don’t hesitate to say wave a “Hello,” and experience the funky personality that is Marissa Rousseau.