Meet Michael Julve, the Bonner Scholar who just cannot get enough of finding more opportunities to help others!
(Photo credit: Jason Proleika)
This past year, Michael came up with an idea as he was walking around campus and saw a myriad of flyers up on bulletin boards of students offering services or looking to buy or sell an item. This sparked his creation of a new online marketplace for TCNJ known as SaySo, and with the help of his business partner Jason Palermo, a senior and Engineering major here at TCNJ, it has officially launched this week after a year of preparations!
Michael briefly describes his company as “a smart, social, and safe marketplace for students. So…a college marketplace of the students, by the students, for the students. Because of this, almost everything on the site is free.”
In order to join SaySo, one must have a TCNJ email account. This ensures that those on the site attend the school. It’s the perfect tool if you’re looking to sell those textbooks you still have in your closet from last year that are just collecting little dust bunnies. Aside from selling or buying items, students can provide services for one another! This can be anything from tutoring, fixing a cracked iPhone, or helping someone fix their broken fan (which we all know we wouldn’t be able to survive even one night without).
When envisioning his future, Michael’s first and main focus is on SaySo and its growth, however his ultimate hope for his future simply to make an impact in this world and truly help make it a better place. He’s also very excited to finish his time here at TCNJ strong and move onto Columbia University, where he was recently accepted.
Aside from being an Economics major and Philosophy minor, Michael is also a Marine Corps Reservist Intelligence Specialist, and a full-time big brother to two sisters (one who he’s happy to have on campus this year as a freshman!) When asked about his inspiration Michael said that his most direct form is his mother and sisters, but also that he is inspired by humanity as a whole. He’s terribly optimistic and always focuses on the positives in tough situations. “I tend to highlight all the good I see people do in my life; whether that is with Bonner service at the prisons/PEI, or a friend, or hearing about something on the news.”
Michael explained that everything he has done and is a part of has helped make him the well-rounded person he is today. “Each has contributed in one way or another to make me stronger. They also have impacted me very differently at different times. The military helped shape a lot of my drive and has made me goal-oriented. That had happened when I was 18…now at 21 I’m learning a lot more about compassion and really growing with people through service.”
Check out saysomkt.com to make an account and check out what other people are offering, along with posting about what you can provide. We anticipate hearing many great things about Michael and his future endeavors and successes!