HCTU’s very own Art Director Marissa Pina is on Temple’s 2014 Homecoming Court! We sat down to talk with her about what this all means and why she deserves the crown.
Her Campus: What does being Temple’s homecoming queen entail?Marissa: Being Homecoming Queen is more than most people think. When you’re elected you’re held to a standard through MCPB and essentially the student body. You’ve been elected to represent the student body as an academic and student activities leader. It’s up to you to be able to translate that leadership position into doing something positive for your peers.
HC: Why should you be homecoming queen?MP: Everyone always asks why I should be chosen as homecoming queen. I think every single woman on the court is deserving of the title, but that being said I would love to be chosen as Temple’s Homecoming Queen. I’ve always wanted to step up, lead my peers, do something positive for them, and leave a legacy that hopefully will impact the student body and surrounding community. My initiative involves embracing the diversity not only on our campus but throughout the surrounding neighborhood around campus. I want to encourage mixing of all types of organizations to get students who wouldn’t usually mesh to come together and learn from each other. It is also my hope that these groups will take up more community service initiatives throughout the surrounding community to give back and get involved.
HC: What would it mean to you if you won?MP: I would absolutely love it. I’ve often thought about doing this since my freshman year and it would absolutely blow my mind if I won. I decided on a whim to follow all the dreams I had since my first year here at Temple, and I’ve already made it this far. It’s absolutely amazing what can happen to you when you just learn to go for it and say yes.
HC: Tell us a little bit about the legacy you wish to leave at Temple.MP: I want to be known as a girl who lead a group of students successfully, was completely involved in as many organizations and academic endeavors as humanly possible, and to be someone who incited change in one of various ways around campus. I also want to inspire others to chase their wildest dream and try everything once. You never know where that will get you. It might be Homecoming Court, it might be another country, it might be a dream internship, just embrace it and go for it.
HC: How have you already started to mold that legacy?MP: Since my freshman year, I’ve explored, auditioned for, and joined as many student orgs that caught my many interests. I’ve always worked really hard academically, which I hope will inspire others as well. I’ve taken up a few leadership roles amongst a few student organizations as I rose to my last year in Undergrad and have taken so many leaps of faith throughout this four-year journey. I travelled abroad, I worked in London, I went on a business trip to Kenya, auditioned for an a cappella group, made homecoming court and countless other things just by saying yes. I want others to do the same.
HC: Looking back to freshman year, are you feeling nostalgic about this whole process?MP: I didn’t think I would, but I actually am. Its kind of weird realizing this is my final year of school and that all the people coaching us through this experience are the same age as myself. I wouldn’t have guessed in a million years when I stepped onto this campus for the first time that I’d have as many opportunities as I had these past four years and being on the court really brought that into perspective for me.
HC: Being on the court, you are obviously a role model to the women on campus. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom to give?MP: All I really want to express is that we all are here for four short years. Take this time to take chances, push the limits, stand up for something you believe in, and discover who you truly are. I’ve laughed, cried, learned, failed, succeeded and experienced so much in these past four years and I’ve learned to be comfortable with myself and who I really am through all of this. Embrace yourself and enjoy!
HC: How can we vote for you!?MP: Voting is really quite simple, you can either follow this link or you can go onto owlconnect.temple.edu and login and vote right there. Voting closes Friday October 10th. I encourage you all to come out to our Homecoming Pageant on Thursday night (October 9th) because we’ll be debuting our dance and performing at 8 p.m. It’ll be a fun night. Don’t forget to vote!