-Name
Solange Gorleku, Nick Name: Solo
-Major/year
Marketing/Senior
-All time dream job
Currently my all time dream job is to work with the Marketing Department of the Walt Disney World Company, Marketing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Apple Company!
-In which ways are you involved on campus
I am the Director of Traditions within the Harborside Activities Board, a Deputy within the Marketing/Communications Team of Student Government, a part of the Digital Media Team for USFSP Connect, and a pledge of Delta Sigma Pi
-how has your experience been like at USFSP
Where do I begin!? My four years of being a student here has been absolutely amazing all around. If you were to ask me 3 years ago, “do you see yourself becoming a leader at your university? Do you see yourself holding multiple leadership positions as well as being an orientation leader? Do you see yourself being known at your university? “ I would have said no to all of these questions. Before coming to college I was known as a very shy young woman, someone who wouldn’t dare speaking in front of crowds or standing up for what I believed in. I came into USF St. Petersburg tackling down my shell by getting involved right away- taking the risk of becoming a leader of multiple organizations. To this day I am still surprised by the amount of growth I have achieved within myself, from competing in a pageant in order to represent my university to becoming an orientation leader and then running Homecoming. With that I can say my experience being a student here at USFSP has been a breathtaking experience that I will never forget.
-What are the pros/cons of USFSP
Pros: The plentiful opportunities for students to be involved and become leaders on campus.
The close-knit atmosphere
Being able to feel recognized by your professors/ faculty/ staff
Location of the campus is PRIME! Right next door to beautiful downtown St. Petersburg and the Dali Museum, and the Mahaffey!
Cons:
Some may say it is like “high school” because of the size
Programs trying to reach out to commuters
-When is your graduation date
TBA
-What do you plan on doing after graduation
I plan on going to graduate school.
-Words you live by“Show your love. One of the worst feelings imaginable is losing lovers, friends, or family without having shown them just how much you care”- Alexandra Govere
-Top 3 items on your Bucket list
1.To audition for a character look a like (Princess Tiana!!!) at Walt Disney World
2. Attend a Bucs Game with Bucs apparel! (born and raised in Tampa Bay but have never been to a game, #IsThatWeird?
3. This may sound cheesy, I have always wanted to be kissed under a mistletoe!
-Single/taken
Single
-Are you an active volunteer in the community/campus, if so, in which type of activities
I am only involved in the organizations on campus that I listed above, so I unfortunately do not have the time that I would wish to volunteer within the community.
-HAB has been extremely successful on campus hosting great events. What is the secret to the success?
How am I supposed to share a secret? ;-) ….
Harborside has always been lucky to have very successful leadership throughout the department and our advisers guiding us the entire way has been an extreme benefit to the organization. We are very organized and try to think ahead of the game by having our events scheduled for the next semester months prior. Our goal is to serve the students. What the student body wants to see- we will bring and we will always be prepared.
-On your time left at USFSP, what do you hope to see happen? new events/traditions, anything that needs to change?
I hope to see more students get involved and blossom into leaders. Each year seniors depart their leadership positions awaiting for the next generation of leaders to take the torch. We need to make sure we have that consistency going. I would also LOVE for USFSP to have it’s own Rocky D Bull. I honestly think this will fill in the gap of school spirit that we are missing.
-What has been your biggest mark at USFSP
To be honest… I have to say being the first non-Tampa student to represent a satellite campus at the Mr and Miss University of South Florida Scholarship Pageant back in April 2012. It was the first year they had opened it to students of all campuses, and even then I was the only student that was a non-Tampa student to apply, officially become a candidate, AND come home with a title of USF’s Miss People’s Choice. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. While it may not have impacted the USFSP campus directly, I felt like it was the biggest achievement I accomplished of representing USFSP.
-If you could get a trip all expenses taken care of, where would you take this trip
New York City. One of the most beautiful cities all around… my fear of air planes will be an issue!