Do you love cheese fries and coffee? Or have you ever wanted to travel to Thailand or Greece? Well, so does our profile of the week, Justyna Leja!
In the midst of syllabus week and in the jitters before we graduate, I wanted nothing more than to interview one of the hardest working, intelligent and undeniably beautiful people I’ve ever known. Luckily, I’ve had the pleasure of living with this incredible woman for the past two years, and had a mind-blowing time interviewing her with Her Campus ISU. I hope you love getting to know her just as much as I have!
Name: Justyna Leja
Year/Major: Senior/Communication Sciences and Disorders
Hometown: Burbank, IL
Favorite Food: Pizza and cheese fries… together!
Guilty Pleasures: Essential oils, coffee, & Spotify
Fun Fact: I have a crooked back? I don’t know! *giggles*
Her Campus ISU: Hi Justyna! Thank you so much for interviewing with Her Campus. Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?
Justyna Leja: Well, my name is Justyna! I was born in Chicago, IL and raised in a really big home due to my Polish family background. I am a transfer senior, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I am also currently applying to grad school, hoping to continue my education here at Illinois State.
HC ISU: So, you mentioned that you were a transfer student here. Do you have any advice you want to give to other transfer students?
JL: Get involved and join as many clubs and organizations as soon as possible! Don’t be afraid to spark conversations with other students in your major or anyone you encounter. In that process, don’t be afraid to be yourself!
HC ISU: You sound like you have this whole transfer thing under control! Can you tell me a bit more about what you do on campus?
JL: I am involved in Autism Speaks, the National Stuttering Association, Operation Smile, and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA). However, my biggest accomplishment would be that I started the first Polish RSO on campus, the Polish Students Leaders Assembly (PSLA)!
HC ISU: It sounds like you don’t have a lot of free time on your hands, but it definitely seems like your culture plays a huge role in your decision-making and who you are as a person. Tell me a little bit more about that!
JL: I believe that my culture has made me pretty open-minded when it comes to trying new things. And with that, I have built a love for learning about other people’s cultures apart from my own. I also think that where I come from has made me a people person, so I am definitely not afraid to interact with others.
HC ISU: That is so awesome! Thank you for sharing that about yourself. Now apart from school, what else are you interested in?
JL: Honestly, whenever the chance presents itself, I try to leave the country! I love to travel and have been to several places including Costa Rica, Germany, Panama, Canada, Poland, Austria, and the Dominican Republic.
HC ISU: You’re planning to bring me with the next time you go on a trip, right? Totally kidding (maybe), but where are other places you’d want to go but haven’t been to yet?
JL: Greece, Japan, Thailand, Africa… and I’m just going to stop there because otherwise we would be here forever!
HC ISU: So, we are all dying to know, are you single?
JL: Why? Do you want to take me on a date? Actually, I am currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend, John.
HC ISU: Oh wow! How is that working out for you, and do you have anything you’d like to say to someone who might be struggling with long distance?
JL: It’s great and still going six years strong! As for advice, communication is key in long distance relationships! I understand that we are all busy with school and our work schedules, but at the end of the day, that person should know that you love them. Also, you don’t have to talk to them 24/7 for them to know that you are always thinking about them.
HC ISU: That’s great advice! And lastly, since you are senior, what will you miss most about Illinois State when you graduate?
JL: This is so hard, but since I have only been here for two years, I feel like everything has flown by in the blink of an eye. I will definitely miss the friendships I’ve made and McAlister’s mac-&-cheese!
Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with Her Campus ISU, Justyna! It has been an absolute pleasure learning more about who you are.